Level of Contact - Full-Contact

Full-Contact

Full-contact sparring is where the big dogs play. Full-contact sparring is not for everyone. One must understand the risks involved in full-contact sparring and be willing to accept the risks.

Full-contact sparring may range from making full-contact while wearing protective equipment with the intention of scoring points, to making full-contact while wearing little to no protective equipment with the intention of injuring the opponent to the point he or she is unable to continue. Olympic style Taekwondo uses full-contact sparring with contact only allowed to specific to specific targets while wearing hand, foot, head, and body protectors. Mixed Martial Arts style full-contact sparring uses only light hand protection and only prohibits inherently dangerous techniques.

Full-contact sparring is similar to playing American football. Football players put on protective equipment and then bang into each other full-power. Minor injuries are numerous and serious injuries are few, but deaths are possible.