How do people expect their martial arts to work if they never spar full contact against live resistant opponen

Question

I never understand how there could be so many people out there who really believe they're a great fighter if they have never spar. How do they think they could even really fight if they have never tried to hit a moving opponent who will block, counter, or evade.

Like as with every thing else, martial arts need to be practice to be effective. You cannot simply play a racing video game then go and get in a real car and drive without crashing. Same apply to martial arts, if you never spar then there's no way you can do well in fight.

Answer 1

Martial Arts is a really broad thing. You can't say this for all martial arts. For many, full contact sparring using protective gear is a HUGE part of it. For others, sparring isn't a part at all.

In a street fight most martial art students can't apply the techniques learned in class. However, they do have more confidence and less fear which is a HUGE advantage. Also, if you've been doing martial arts for a while, you begin to see better (it's weird, but punches seem a lot slower than before).

A well seasoned Martial Arts master, however, will be able to apply techniques to a real fight. He/she understands the flow of a fight, the techniques necessary, etc. Also, most martial arts have a part where it's self defense/grappling. These techniques are very useful in fights.

Answer 2

Their Martial art too deadly to actually spar... heh, heh... joking.

Some people never expect to fight... some people do martial arts for a calming effect, for discipline, for the art itself, to get in better shape, etc. It is after all, an art. Although a lot of folks can fight...

For real world application and "ring" training, you need to spar...no doubts here. There needs to be some sparring that fits the competition. Training boxing for UFC may help, training it solo will leave gaps. Training jujitsu for a Judo competition will not help as much as training Judo. If you are training for self defense, your techniques must eventually focus on training against a resisting opponent and the more the merrier in a controlled environment. There must be discussion as well, as to what could happen (just about anything).

There are multiple paths to take

Answer 3

How can someone go to a training hall a few hours a week for a couple of years and get a black belt? How can people who focus merely on how to hit another person and call what they study an art? How can some schools spring up all around the world with claims of great historical significance offering incredible teachings so long as you sign a financial contract while they display parlor tricks most magicians won't even do anymore? Stop worrying about what the other guy says, or what the other guy claims, or what the other guy/school/system is/is not doing and just train. Please, just train . . . .

Answer 4

I totally agree with CM77's answer. You cannot dictate what you want from the art. It does to you what it does - put you in all those weird positions you feel are going to damage you. No martial art posture will put lateral torque on your knees unless the instructor is one of those unknowledgeable morons going around claiming to be a "master", who really doesn't know a damned thing. Now, if you want to lessen the strain on your knees, you have chosen the wrong arts " Xing Yi, Bagua and Chen Tai Chi". These arts are very demanding on your legs. I studied Sun Style Hsing I and worked out with a Chen Practitioner who showed me the first segment of Lao Jia. But even these won't put lateral stress on your knees. Martial arts stance training has been known to strengthen the knees, contrary to what you has been mislead to believe. Again, some teachers out there are teaching a BS art. Those are the "arts" that will be detrimental to you, in more ways than one. Most importantly, the Internal Arts are taught in levels. At the beginner level, the stances are not too deep. They build you up slowly - the right way. After you've been there a while, you're expected to sink deeper into your posture. Eventually, you will be able to sit in your posture because your knees, sinews, etc - are stronger. Now - all diseases are the result of bad nutrition coupled with environmental toxicity, negative mindset, etc. Hypertension is an easy fix - no matter what any doctor tells you. They don't train in healing, prevention and wellness, they train in matching pharmaceutical products to symptoms. They don't address the underlying causes of disease. Find a couple of schools you had in mind and post them on this thread. The senior practitioners here can give you an opinion based on the info given

Answer 5

You can practice kata all day long, but if you don't spar, then you definately are at a disadvantage on the street. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and that goes double for martial arts. With a little training many people may feel a false sense of security that their abilities can get them out of trouble, when they really have only learned enough to get themselves really hurt.

Is it necessary to train full contact? Full contact, yes, but full power, no. Even with lots of padding you can really hurt someone using unrestricted power, and of course in training there are certain techniques that you would never be able to use, like kicks to the knees, kidney punches, etc. that would not be helping your training partner learn anything except the layout of the local emergency room. You can still hit hard, 50% or 75% power, but I save full power for the heavy bag, not my classmates. It helps knowing what it's going to feel like if you really get hit, and that helps you learn to properly block and move. Training without sparring is only half training.

Answer 6

You are right, to many martial arts are half speed, all compliance. They are teaching techniques which may or may not be good, but they don't press them to use them in a situation where both fighters are trying to win.

The best whay to explain it is, you learn ABOUT a technique training and sparring, you learn to USE the technique when fighting. NOTHING can beat REAL FIGHT experience. A fight with a resisting opponent can be VERY tiring. I've seen people get tired and show signs of fatgiue in 2 mins (like me when I started). It takes serious heart and cardio to fight for real, not something dojo training alone can give you.

Answer 7

Part of this true. You do need to spar to horn your skill. But it can be deadly if you don't have the control. Find a sparing buddy and don't forget to use the pads and headgear. In time as you learn control you will be able to spar without the pads or headgear. Martial Arts is not about fighting or kicking butt. It is about defending your self. It's about self control, self respect. Knowing that you don't have to stay and fight but turn around and walk away.

Answer 8

I often ask that question myself....that is one reason why I put a strong emphasis on practical application of the techniques that I teach. every one of my students ahs been able to use the techniques they know again a variety of other techniques and in real life eituation. Most have gone on to work in related industries, personaly, private security, bodyguards, even military hand-to-hand combat instructors.

I have seen school where the students either don't spar at all, or train ONLY for competition. Neither of those are sufficient preparation for real life situations. I won't teach a student new techiques until they can, at least reasonabley use what i ahve already taught them. That applies to both empty ahdn AND weapons techniques.

Glad to know there are other's that see trhe benefit fo that....

Answer 9

We've actually conversed before, ninedemonsgod, and I think we have agreed to disagree on most topics, but I absolutely agree with you on this.

One can practice on a punching bag, shadow box, and do forms until he/she is blue in the face, but without that actual interaction with a real person, he/she won't know exactly how he/she might react in a real fight. Something as basic as practicing feints can't even be practiced without a sparring partner. What one does in a fight is greatly determinate on what the opponent does, and reading one's opponent is a technique that must be learned rather than taught! Aside from that, hands get hurt from strikes, arms and legs get bruised, and if you aren't conditioned for that, you're in for a world of hurt.

Heck, I've even seen people doing sets with flexible weapons (IE, sectional staff) and perform beautifully. I saw the same person practice against somebody with butterfly knives (practice grade on both weapons) but he then had no idea how to react with his sectional staff actually ricocheting off a block!

Bottom line, the only way to gain experience in something is to actually do it, or else practice in a method that most closely resembles it.

Answer 10

Martial art is NOT just an Art... we learn to use all sorts of tech to defeat other people... dont want to fight fair? who said I wouldnt already kick you in the nuts or punch your throat? A fight is a fight... there are no rules... Martial arts just gives you the upper hand.... fights are not like in the movies... and I have been in plenty and gotten out perfectly fine because of my training.