Sparring

Sifu Lai: "From the 1st January 2010 we shall no longer be using our full-contact rules with limited techniques in gradings, and shall instead adopt a set of semi-contact rules with a much wider range of techniques derived from the internationally-used qingda rules. These techniques will be introduced at various grades giving students the time to adapt to the use the strikes as they progress up the ranks. In order to make this wider range of techniques both realistic and safe we insist that no technique be applied with more than 10% power."

The new rules will be as follows:

Second Yellow Belts and Above:

Pre-2010 sparring techniques consisting of any kicks above the waist and punches to the body, with no holding or grappling, plus the new techniques of backfist to the side of the head, and hook punches or cuffing to the side of the head. Notes:
Under no circumstances should kow chiew or swing punches be used, whether to the head or the body, at any grade.
For yellow and green belt candidates punching techniques to the head should always be pulled before actual contact is made (called "marking"). Students at these levels will be penalised for actual hand-to-head contact, including failing their grading due to lack of control.
At this level grading candidates must wear 10oz boxing-style gloves for safety purposes, even though hand to head contact is not permitted for yellow and green belt students.
For yellow and green belt adults head protection with a full visor to protect the face is optional.
For hygiene purposes all students are required to bring their own protective equipment to the grading, including gloves and head protection. Failure to do so may result in the student failing their grading.
More than 10% power will be penalised for lack of control; to avoid doubt students should only mark the strike if they are unable to use it with the requisite control.
Children's sparring will be permitted, and full protective wear including body pad and head guard must be worn. (The age limit for this will be 16 years old to 18 years old).

First Blue Belt to Black Belt Candidates:

Techniques as above, plus the new techniques of front leg sweep, front leg reap, turning kicks to the outer thigh, and straight punching to the face. Notes:
For 1st blue and above candidates hand-to-head contact is permitted for the specified techniques subject to the use of no more than 10% power.
Low turning kicks may only be performed to the outer thigh, and never to the inner thigh, to the front of the thigh, or below the knee.
A front leg sweep must be performed with the sole of the foot and aimed at the ankle/lower calf level without holding the opponent; higher sweeps will be deemed as illegal low kicks and penalised accordingly, while grabbing the opponent to sweep will be deemed an illegal hold.
Front leg reaps are strictly performed back-of-leg to back-of-leg with control; aggressive chopping motions and reaps to the front of the leg will be deemed as illegal low kicks and/or lacking control, and penalised accordingly; it is permitted to push or guide the upper body downwards when executing a reap provided no contact is made with the head/neck and provided the hold is not sustained for more than 3 seconds.
Sweeps and reaps to the back leg, including those performed while an attacker is kicking, are not permitted up to and including Black Belt candidate level.
At this level candidates must wear 10oz boxing-style gloves for safety purposes, and to demonstrate full control.
For blue belts and above head protection is compulsory, and a full visor to protect the face is recommended but not compulsory.
For hygiene purposes all students are required to bring their own protective equipment to the grading, including gloves and head protection. Failure to do so may result in the student failing their grading.
More than 10% power will be penalised for lack of control; to avoid doubt students should only mark the strike if they are unable to use it with the requisite control.
Children's sparring will be permitted, and full protective wear including body pad and head guard must be worn. (The age limit for this will be 16 years old to 18 years old).
At this level sparring will always be conducted on mats.

Black Belts:

Techniques as above plus uppercuts, dumping, sweeps and reaps to the front and/or back leg, including: sweeps and reaps performed in response to having grabbed an attacker's leg, forward and backward sweeps and reaps, 360 degree sweeps. Notes:
Black belts must demonstrate the highest level of control and accuracy of all students.
Uppercuts may be performed to the body and to the head, subject always to the 10% power rule.
In executing dumps, sweeps and reaps in response to a kick, the hold may not be sustained for more than 3 seconds.
No application of pressure against joints is permitted at any time.
Black Belts must wear 10oz boxing-style gloves for safety purposes, and to demonstrate full control.
For Black Belts head protection is compulsory, and a full visor to protect the face is recommended but not compulsory.
For hygiene purposes all students are required to bring their own protective equipment to the grading, including gloves and head protection. Failure to do so may result in the student failing their grading.
Children's sparring will be permitted and full protective wear including body pads, and head guard must be worn. (The age limit for this will be 16 years old to 18 years old).
At this level sparring will always be conducted on mats.

For yellow and green belts body pads, shin and instep guards will be compulsory. For adult blue belts and above, body pads, shin and instep guards and chest protectors (for female students) will be optional.