I'm 14, and a yellow belt in American Kenpo. At my school you must begin sparring when you are Orange with one tip test (mini tests). My belt exam is in April so I will have to start sparring sometime in May, but you can start BEFORE orange belt; if you do they have to take it easy on you at first which they DO NOT do if you wait. I will have to have knee surgery this summer, my parents don't want me sparring until then but I HAVE to because of the belt exam. I want to start early so I can atleast get good while they are taking it easy so the risk of injury goes down when I'm orange. Should I go ahead and start since I will have to before surgery anyway? I don't know about sparring, what are the pros and cons of starting now or waiting?