Head Shots?

Black Swan

At what age do you allow strikes to the head by students in sparring either during training or tournament?*

CTA rules (California TKD Association) allow kicks to the head for advanced belts beginning at age 12, while WTF rules only allow such strikes after the competitor reaches age 14. In both cases the competitors are to wear protective gear, including helmet and mouth guards.

Mininum age? Qualifications? Comments?



*Excludes simulated training (striking air or bag).

HammerHeadGym

In Thailand, it's from the word go. I think that when the're big enough, the're old enough. I guess it's down to what your training the kid for. If it's for competition, then the sooner he learns to give and take hard shots to the head the better.

yomchi

From word go with protective head gear. Some ITF groups don't allow any sparring until 16 and the student be at a level of blue belt.

arybvtcw0eolkf

When I was with Mugendo Kickboxing head shots were allowed from the word go, like the others, with headgear and gumshields.

A few year's ago we went from 8oz to 10oz gloves for fighter protection, and I know the arguments for and gainst the weight of gloves before someone starts

We also allowed kicks to the head, but no legs shots, go figure!.

Colm_OReilly

We don't have our Monkeys spar with headshots (4-8 year olds). In fact, they do no striking at all. They'll do striking drills like shoulder tag and foot tag (gets timing, distance, footwork)

Our Agoge (9-15) will strike with 16oz gloves and headgear in training. I know Davie and Mark have some older teens, would be interested in getting their perspectives on how they scale the sparring.

Black Swan

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

I know Davie and Mark have some older teens, would be interested in getting their perspectives on how they scale the sparring.

Indeed!