Method and apparatus for recording hits while sparring

An apparatus to record hits to a contestant engaged in sparring with another contestant, said apparatus comprising:

• a first item of clothing having at least one first electrically conductive strip and at least one second electrically conductive strip, wherein at least one said first electrically conductive strip is adjacent to at least one said second electrically conductive strip;
• a voltage receiving mechanism, having a first lead and a second lead, wherein said first lead is electrically connected to said at least one first electrically conductive strip and said second lead is electrically connected to said at least one second electrically conductive strip;
• a second item of clothing, having at least one electrically conductive portion, which can electrically connect at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing, which occurs when said at least one electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing;
• a first indicating device that is electrically connected to said at least one first electrically conductive strip and said at least one second electrically conductive strip and provides an indication when said electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing electrically connects at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing, which occurs when said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing;
• and
• a first transmitter that is electrically connected to at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip and transmits an indication when said electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing electrically connects at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing, which occurs when said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing.

A method to record hits to a contestant engaged in sparring with another contestant, said method comprising:

• contacting a first item of clothing with a second item of clothing, wherein said first item of clothing includes at least one first electrically conductive strip and at least one second electrically conductive strip, wherein at least one said first electrically conductive strip is adjacent to at least one said second electrically conductive strip and there is a voltage receiving mechanism, having a first lead and a second lead, wherein said first lead is electrically connected to said at least one first electrically conductive strip and said second lead is electrically connected to said at least one second electrically conductive strip and said second item of clothing includes at least one electrically conductive portion that can electrically connect at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing when said at least one electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing;
• and
• providing an indication with an indicating device that is electrically connected to said at least one first electrically conductive strip and said at least one second electrically conductive strip when said at least one electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing electrically connects at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing, which occurs when said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing.

A method to record hits to a contestant engaged in sparring with another contestant, said method comprising:

• contacting a first item of clothing with a second item of clothing, wherein said first item of clothing includes at least one first electrically conductive strip and at least one second electrically conductive strip, wherein at least one said first electrically conductive strip is adjacent to at least one said second electrically conductive strip and there is a voltage receiving mechanism, having a first lead and a second lead, wherein said first lead is electrically connected to said at least one first electrically conductive strip and said second lead is electrically connected to said at least one second electrically conductive strip and said second item of clothing includes at least one electrically conductive portion that can electrically connect at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing when said at least one electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing;
• providing an indication with an indicating device that is electrically connected to said at least one first electrically conductive strip and said at least one second electrically conductive strip when said at least one electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing electrically connects at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing, which occurs when said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing;
• and
• transmitting an electronic indication with a first transmitter that is electrically connected to at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip when said electrically conductive portion of said second item of clothing electrically connects at least one said first electrically conductive strip and at least one said second electrically conductive strip of said first item of clothing, which occurs when said second item of clothing is in contact with said first item of clothing.