Sparring partner keeps shelling at every attack.

[ShojinWarrior]

I train in two martial arts simultaneously in one I am a belt away from black belt and the other is a new school that spars frequently (I love sparring and the strategy involved). In the new school I am now a yellow belt with all other student being yellow belts as well, and when we spar the current rule is very light contact and no attacks to the head or legs meaning I can only target the body. When we spar they frequently will just shell up and since I can’t target any other areas I either try throw hooks around there shell or I just disengage to kick. This experience has brought the question to me of, what can you do when you can’t target any other area to distract their guard and they don’t react to jabs except by shelling? Also this really throws me off because I’ve built my combos off jabbing the head or kicking the head and alternating to attack the body and vice versa. So I’ve been trying to strategize a way around this but I figured I’d ask you all, do you have any good combos or advice for getting through or around someone’s shell when you can only attack the body? Thank you, and God bless.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

When we spar they frequently will just shell up ...

You can pull your opponent's guard apart. You punch can be a punch followed by grab/pull. If there is no opening, you create that opening.

 

[drop bear]

You kind of have to bait them in to punching you. And then punch inside that.

Or go southpaw and pivot around them. Getting a straight line in between their elbows

 

[Fungus]

one favourite I have is to get the guards up a bit, when you don't strike to head is nail some hard upperchest/collarbone area strikes

if they start to parry your arm down, they will expose the ribs, and then feint and give them a close turning back kick to the liver, I love this combo, it feels awesome. Optionally they may back down, also giving you kicking space. But in sparring you can't go full force on the kick.