Study the rules

• Know the rules of each tournament regarding acceptable techniques, amount of contact allowed, out of bounds, tolerance, etc.
• Know the rules for appealing a contest.

Study Opponents

Watch opponents while they are warming up before competition. This is a time when competitors like to show off to spectators and are not thinking about you watching so they may give away some of their secrets

• If person warming up using very flexible exercises, he or she will probably be a high kicker. Many flexible kickers like to kick so they do not train very much using their hands.
• If the person is not too flexible, he or she will probably be a flat-footed puncher while sparring.
• Watch the way the person shadow boxes. Does he or she have quick hands or quick kicks? How quick is his or her footwork and other body movements?
• Examine body types.
  • A tall person will use reach to his or her advantage, using kicks and long punches.
  • A short person will either try and to get inside or will probe you with kicks and punches to get you to attack so he or she may counterattack.
  • A person with a strong upper body will most likely be a puncher and will probably like to press the attack, leading mainly with punches.
  • A person with a strong lower body will probably use kicks from the outside.
  • How long are a person's legs compared to yours?
    

Watch opponents during pattern competition. Usually, pattern competition comes before the sparring competition, so the best time to analyze possible opponents is while they are performing their pattern. By observing the way they move, you may get some idea how they probably will spar.

• If the person uses a really deep sitting stance or uses high kicks with perfect technique, you know he or she is very flexible and will probably a kicker while sparring.
• If person performs a monotone pattern, he or she will probably be easy to time while sparring. He or she will most likely not use off-speed timing, making it easy to catch him or her between movements. The person will probably use the same movement over and over, so you could time the attacks and strike while the person is in transition.
• If opponent has a large fluctuation in the way he or she performs the pattern, he or she may be a harder opponent to spar. He or she may be more difficult to track and score upon since he or she is unpredictable. You could expect some off-speed timing and agile techniques. 
• To find out whether an opponent is a deceiving fighter, watch how his or her sequences flow. If the person stays mainly at one height when going through the movements, then he or she will probably be able to hide techniques rather well. If the person bounces up and down a lot, it will easier for you to predict their techniques from their movements.
• Watch the hand and foot timing of the person. If the timing is off and the feet are faster than the hands, he or she is probably a kicker with a slower upper body during sparring. If you notice the hands are faster than the feet, the person will probably use more punches and have slower kicks.
• If person keeps his or her chest square during the pattern, it will be easier to score on him or her because there will be a larger area to focus upon.
• Watch how the person blocks. If the person overextends, you know that he or she will likely throw blocks too far. This will leave an opening and make it more difficult for him or her to get to guard to block your next technique. If they stop too short with the blocks, then you know you may score by pushing a technique through the blocks. 
  

Watch opponents during pattern competition. Usually, pattern competition comes before the sparring competition, so the best time to analyze possible opponents is while they are performing their pattern. By observing the way they move, you may get some idea how they probably will spar.

• If the person uses a really deep sitting stance or uses high kicks with perfect technique, you know he or she is very flexible and will probably a kicker while sparring.
• If person performs a monotone pattern, he or she will probably be easy to time while sparring. He or she will most likely not use off-speed timing, making it easy to catch him or her between movements. The person will probably use the same movement over and over, so you could time the attacks and strike while the person is in transition.
• If opponent has a large fluctuation in the way he or she performs the pattern, he or she may be a harder opponent to spar. He or she may be more difficult to track and score upon since he or she is unpredictable. You could expect some off-speed timing and agile techniques. 
• To find out whether an opponent is a deceiving fighter, watch how his or her sequences flow. If the person stays mainly at one height when going through the movements, then he or she will probably be able to hide techniques rather well. If the person bounces up and down a lot, it will easier for you to predict their techniques from their movements.
• Watch the hand and foot timing of the person. If the timing is off and the feet are faster than the hands, he or she is probably a kicker with a slower upper body during sparring. If you notice the hands are faster than the feet, the person will probably use more punches and have slower kicks.
• If person keeps his or her chest square during the pattern, it will be easier to score on him or her because there will be a larger area to focus upon.
• Watch how the person blocks. If the person overextends, you know that he or she will likely throw blocks too far. This will leave an opening and make it more difficult for him or her to get to guard to block your next technique. If they stop too short with the blocks, then you know you may score by pushing a technique through the blocks. 
  

Watch opponents during pattern competition. Usually, pattern competition comes before the sparring competition, so the best time to analyze possible opponents is while they are performing their pattern. By observing the way they move, you may get some idea how they probably will spar.

• If the person uses a really deep sitting stance or uses high kicks with perfect technique, you know he or she is very flexible and will probably a kicker while sparring.
• If person performs a monotone pattern, he or she will probably be easy to time while sparring. He or she will most likely not use off-speed timing, making it easy to catch him or her between movements. The person will probably use the same movement over and over, so you could time the attacks and strike while the person is in transition.
• If opponent has a large fluctuation in the way he or she performs the pattern, he or she may be a harder opponent to spar. He or she may be more difficult to track and score upon since he or she is unpredictable. You could expect some off-speed timing and agile techniques. 
• To find out whether an opponent is a deceiving fighter, watch how his or her sequences flow. If the person stays mainly at one height when going through the movements, then he or she will probably be able to hide techniques rather well. If the person bounces up and down a lot, it will easier for you to predict their techniques from their movements.
• Watch the hand and foot timing of the person. If the timing is off and the feet are faster than the hands, he or she is probably a kicker with a slower upper body during sparring. If you notice the hands are faster than the feet, the person will probably use more punches and have slower kicks.
• If person keeps his or her chest square during the pattern, it will be easier to score on him or her because there will be a larger area to focus upon.
• Watch how the person blocks. If the person overextends, you know that he or she will likely throw blocks too far. This will leave an opening and make it more difficult for him or her to get to guard to block your next technique. If they stop too short with the blocks, then you know you may score by pushing a technique through the blocks.