The first rule: control gates are pass/fail

Before judging “skill,” confirm safety and control. If these fail, the round is stopped or intensity is reduced.

Gate 1: Stop command

• Stops immediately on “Goman”.
• No extra shots, no “last hit.”

Gate 2: Contact control

• Contact is light and controlled (unless a specific sanctioned rule set says otherwise).
• No visible shock, panic, or injury response.

Gate 3: Emotional control

• No anger, retaliation, or escalation.
• Respectful behavior before, during, and after.

Review: Safety & Control Gates.

What graders should be looking for

Sparring is evaluated by the quality of decisions and execution, not by aggression. These are the most common ITF-aligned criteria:

• Distance: correct range without leaning or crowding.
• Timing: ability to score using before/during/after windows.
• Angles: off-line movement, not straight-line trading.
• Balance: stable finishes, no stumbling or hopping.
• Control: clean touch, safe contact, immediate stop on command.
• Guard & recovery: hands return, foot returns, stance resets.
• Composure: calm breathing, calm decisions, no panic.

What “good sparring” looks like in a grading

• Clean exchanges: enter → score → exit.
• Quiet feet: control is visible in movement.
• No chasing: resets happen naturally.
• Clear technique: judges can identify tools and targets.
• Respect: bowing, courtesy, and calm behavior.

Judges should not need heavy contact to identify skill.

Rank-appropriate expectations (practical guide)

Exact requirements vary by association and school. This section gives a clean, practical progression aligned with ITF teaching logic.

White–Yellow belt: structure and safety

• Expected: three-step and two-step performed cleanly.
• Must show: distance control, correct stepping, stable stance.
• Not expected: advanced tactics or high speed.

Green–Blue belt: timing beginnings

• Expected: one-step with correct interception timing.
• Must show: guard recovery, balanced kicks, calm composure.
• Not expected: high-volume combinations.

Red belt: decision-making under pressure

• Expected: semi-free and controlled free sparring.
• Must show: angles, entry/exit discipline, timing windows.
• Not expected: heavy contact or reckless aggression.

Black belt level: composure + clarity

• Expected: clean free sparring with visible tactics.
• Must show: control at speed, multiple timing windows, strong footwork.
• Optional: model sparring / pre-arranged free sparring for demonstrations.

Common grading failures (and what they reveal)

Failure: Too much contact

• Reveals: lack of control or ego problems.
• Fix: reduce intensity; return to semi-free rulesets.

Failure: Chasing and brawling

• Reveals: weak exit discipline and poor angles.
• Fix: score-and-exit training.

Failure: Leaning and falling

• Reveals: distance and stance weakness.
• Fix: no-lean rule; step-in/step-out drills.

Failure: Panic retreating

• Reveals: fear and poor footwork.
• Fix: angle-out drills; controlled timing rounds.

Failure: Hands drop

• Reveals: lack of guard habit and over-focus on scoring.
• Fix: guard reset rule; freeze finishes.

Instructor grading checklist (fast)

• Safety: stop command, contact control, emotional control.
• Distance: no leaning, no crowding, no constant collisions.
• Balance: stable finishes, controlled recovery.
• Footwork: angles exist; no straight-line retreat forever.
• Tactics: shows at least one timing window intentionally.
• Discipline: exits and resets are visible.

How to prepare students (simple plan)

1. 2–3 weeks out: focus on distance + control (score-and-exit).
2. 1–2 weeks out: timing window rounds (before/during/after).
3. Final week: short clean rounds with strict control gates.

The goal is not to look “tough.” The goal is to look skilled and controlled.

Next

Want a quick “common questions” page for students and parents? Continue to FAQ & Common Mistakes or review Free Sparring.