Hi Tim

I have a question, which you can answer at your discretion & I hope it is not interpreted disrespectful in any way.

I saw your free sparring clip with one of your students, a few of the lads got a look at it at work who also practice MAs and we all agreed we were seeing a master at work.

My only query is that is it a type of co-operative sparring like Aikido in some respects, or to what extent are you both "trying" to not let the other student throw you. You will appreciate the skill level is so high it was hard to tell.

Thanks

Hi Jason,

The sparing you watched was light contact, spontaneous and non-cooperative. They aren't being super aggressive with each other, but Meynard is trying to hit, kick and/or throw Tim... but Tim repeatedly counters, throws and submits Meynard.

Class mates agree to the level of intensity before sparring. Sometimes they agree to Vale-Tudo intensity infrequently resulting in bloodshed and knockouts. But in most cases contact is kept fairly light.

Cooperative drills are great for learning the mechanics and feel for certain techniques, throws and submissions- but non-cooperative sparring is the only way to gain understanding of your own skill level. One can't learn how to counter like that in a rehearsed or cooperative setting.


Tim is a master- and his throws are really difficult to get out of (if you do, he counters your counter and you go down). Also, it's hard to tell in that clip, but Meynard is a great fighter and very skilled at not-being thrown.

Jason,

Shane summed it up, that clip is of non-cooperative sparring, but light contact. We almost never train without some resistance (unless drilling a new movement or technique).

Heavy contact sparring is usually done with some protective gear.

Thats cool

I'd be first to sign up for a neijia seminar if your ever in the UK

While on the subject of non-cooperative sparring I once tried the throw associated with Yangs Squatting Single whip or Snake Creeps Down (the firemans carry type cirle throw) on my first Taiji teacher (I thought my throw was good but he decided to show me my own weakness in application) I ended up with his hand pressing "An" on the back of my neck and a Knee rising up into my face banging my nose (it hurt but it was a good lesson learned!), been dead wary of that technique eversince, but I later found out the best way ("for me") to avoid the knee to face counter was to enter with "Kao".

I suppose IF you have taken a knee if your still coherent to ignore it a still continue with the throw ? but what about Thai boxers who can quite easily take off throwing their bodies and can fly in with the knee at all types angles. Even with a well timed "Kao" to displace before the throw some of em can still recover and quickly fly in with then Knee.

Any advice or feedback on this one would be much appreciated

The Snake Creeps Down/ Fireman's carry should be done (for real) with a shoulder strike like you mentioned. You can also strike the groin with the arm before you underhook the opponent's crotch.

It is also helpful to start in a tie up with the opponent leaning forward. With the opponent's upper body weight forward it is easier to enter the throw, and you are less likely to eat a knee.

Thanks Tim - I appreciate your feedback and sincerity, it's nice (and unusual) to be able to "talk shop" to a international renowned Internal MA and get a straight down to earth answer

I've got some more discussion detailed below, as usual I'm thankfull for any feed back from group users and your self - On my travels I've come across advanced level Yiquan/Chen stylists whom I've not been able to throw and budge and they've only used "peng jin" aspect to counter, putting the counters in at subtle and unoticable angles, OR in other words not doing an overt physical I do this you do that counter, but tied into and off balanced my centre and gaining control without my realising, I moved I was off centre, off balanced before I got to do anything.... hopefully I've improved over the years

Bear with me this is hard to explain...
I'm saying only "ting jin" listening skills, coupled with strong peng jin (mega strong, unbendable arm, hell unbendable everythink including their pinkie) and fali/fajin were used

but this was the wrestling skills, and in many cases I was defeated by instant contact, this was only wrestling... and I often wondered if a quick dig (punch) would unsettle the masters ability to do the above things... but hey I used to like my teeth (he he) however now I'm getting an old ugly sod I'm not that bothered

In the above instances it's worth bearing the masters requested hands were crossed/connected to begin with.... so there is that other problem of when you have developed these skills you need to be able to connect/gain contact... difficult with a skilled boxer running around throwing the jab for example

Kind Regards

Jay