After a few months training, most of you can not wait to try your hands at sparring.

It is your chance to test your skill, speed and agility against an opponent

(who at any other time may be a very good friend).

The smell of testosterone fairly pervades the dojang as you try to out-kick, out-punch and out-wit your classmates.

Your instructor might sometimes have to stop you and remind you that the contact should be light.

You may feel that he or she is a kill-joy; after all you can take it.
There are a few truths about sparring that you should remember:

 

•It should be fun, not life or death
• Not everyone likes sparring
• Not everyone likes to be hit
• People much smaller or lighter than you may break easily
• Injuries, however minor may result in time off work and loss of earnings
• Anyone can punch or kick someone hard, the real skill is not to.
• Your instructor has the responsibility to keep everyone in the class safe

At the most recent competition, Master Gayle received complaints from parents that their children had been warned for excessive contact.

P.U.M.A. supports any referee’s decision (and in fact encourages referees) to clamp down on contact.
P.U.M.A. has for some time been supplying closed- hand safety gloves.

These are safer as they eliminate common injuries such as a thumb in the eye.

They are also more padded than the dipped-foam gloves and this reduces the impact force on contact.

Although they look a bit like boxing gloves they are much lighter and softer.

P.U.M.A’s insurance and your instructor’s indemnity insurance stipulate the use of these gloves as they are safer.

Claims could be refused if an accident occurs involving alternative styles of glove.

We do not insist that you replace existing equipment immediately,

but using the old- style gloves you may have to adapt your sparring accordingly and only the closed-hand gloves

supplied by P.U.M.A. may be worn in competitions. We encourage you, therefore, to replace them when you can.

Please purchase all safety equipment through your instructor, then you can be sure it conforms to safety standards

and that you can spar confident in the knowledge that you are unlikely to cause anyone serious harm.
Above all, enjoy sparring as you enjoy all of your training.

There are great opportunities within P.U.M.A. for talented sparrers of all ages and both sexes.