Now that I'm starting to enjoy sparring, I am also having to deal with the inevitable consequences of throwing punches and kicks at someone - pain. Invariably the person has more experience and skill than I do. This is good - the more experienced the better - an experienced practitioner is much less likely to injure you in my limited experience. However, minor injury is part of the deal. Not broken bones, but the odd bruise and in my case, sprained or broken toe. Twice now, once each side - I did my right foot, so I used my left leg more and did my left foot. Now I have two sore feet and high heels are out for the time being. Something that male martial artists don't have to consider for the most part. Fighting without kicking is not as effective and more importantly, it's less fun. I suffered a sprained finger only once and now I never leave them sticking out, but you can't make a foot-fist to tuck your toes away. Toes are just out there, tiny weak things ready to be snapped. It's not that my opponents are out to get me or lacking control, it's just that it takes very little force to break a toe. Both mine were done by people not unreasonably blocking my kicks. I'm going to invest in some more substantial leg and foot shields, but most of these devices leave your toes sticking out like the ones I've got. Until I become massively better at sparring, I'm not sure what the solution is.
I've turned to youtube. Watching good fighters is a good way to learn if you're a total beginner like me - this chap Rafael Aghayev is great to watch and he seems to incorporate judo throws which is a nice touch if you can do it. Also the sparring is remarkably controlled with both competitors trying to score the point rather than inflict damaging force. In fact looking at the WKF footage the fighters in general are very respectful of each other. Despite this, theirs toes are still sticking out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKrfJuQjTP4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0GD9kanca4
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