3 Sparring Tips for Beginners in Self-Defense

Can a few basic sparring tips make a difference in a real-life self-defense situation? Absolutely!

I’m not saying that combat sports and self-defense are the same—they’re not! But there are some fundamental principles that apply to both. Here are a few I hope you’ll consider.

You can watch the video below or scroll down for the transcript. Keep fighting for a happy life!

3 Sparring Tips for Beginners in Self-Defense

Okay! Sparring. You already know you should keep your chin down, hands up, and keep moving. Those are the basics.

Now I’ve got three more tips to not only make you safer and more effective in sparring, but if you face an attacker in real-life—and you can’t run away—these should help you defend yourself, too.

Tip #1: Know Your Range, Know Their Range

When you’re hitting a bag or a partner, pay attention to how long your arm is… and your leg. You should know when someone is in your striking range. But that’s not all—you should also pay attention to your opponent’s striking range.

Whether someone is taller than you or shorter than you, look at their arm, look at their leg, and calculate the distance of the “danger zone”. Where can you get hit? Do not hang out in the danger zone unless you are attacking or ready to counter their attack.

If you want to step back a little to clear your head, catch your breath, shake out your arms, or get a plan together, that’s fine. But once you drift back into their striking range, don’t be surprised if you suddenly get punched or kicked in the head. You were basically asking for it!

If you’re dealing with an out of control sparring partner, here’s a video for you.

How to Deal With an Out of Control Sparring Partner

Tip #2: Don’t Start Over

When you touch gloves to spar, or set up at a tournament, or if some bad guy gets in your face for real, recognize that you are starting off on the most dangerous spot on the planet. Take a step back, safer. Step to the side, safer. On a plane to Poland, safer.

Still, some people throw their favorite combo, get an angle, then drift right back to where they started. Or they dodge an attack, get an angle, then walk back into the danger zone. NO!

If you get an angle, fight to keep it. Don’t put yourself right back where they want you. Make them turn and make them move to find you.

By the way—when we talk about sparring, we should also talk about taking care of your brain. I’ve got another video with my advice on hard sparring. Here’s the link. Check it out.

Click here for more on Hard Sparring.

Tip #3: Strike Your Way In, Strike Your Way Out

Look—you may have some really slick combinations, but remember, the fight’s not over when you stop throwing punches—the fight’s over when the other guy stops throwing punches.

So, don’t get caught attacking, then get popped in the face as you back up or break away, because you assumed the fight was over and you were safe. You always want a clean getaway and that means covering your exit with strikes.

Don’t go in like a lion and out like lamb. That will get you killed. Enter a lion, exit a lion.

Hey! If you made it this far, I’ve got a bonus tip for you—don’t waste time! Some people spend half of their sparring time avoiding the actual sparring.

Let’s just presume that you’re already very good at running around and staying away from your partner. Good job! Now stop that!

Believe me, if you have a living, breathing partner to practice sparring with, that’s a gift. Make the most of your sparring time by getting in there and experimenting. Figure out what’s working for you and what’s not.

All right. Know your range, don’t start over, and strike your way out. If those tips are helpful, let me know—leave a comment. And for more martial arts tips you can use on and off the mats, don’t forget to subscribe to the channel.

Until next time, smiles up, my friend. Let that smile be your shield and your sword. Keep fighting for a happy life.