In defense of sparring?

Question

it bothers me when people say "oh but theres no real fighting" or "ya cant learn anything from sparring"

sparring allows you to understand your moves, it helps you become a better fighter. when i was 15 or so my mom would always get upset becuase after i sparred i would come home drenched in sweat and have some kind of injury, i would be throwing up sometimes becuase of the intensity. it all really helped i competetively sparr in full contact and point sparring.

people say its not real fighting, it is, although its controlled, your still learning how to use your moves in a real fight, if need be, just becuase of the rules does not mean it will cripple your abilities. you havta fight in a controlled fight if you are going to get better, right?

(WHO AGREES WITH ME?)

Answer 1

I agree with you and sparring is one of the few ways that a person has a chance to try their skills without being in an actual fight against a person that they may know nothing about-especially if it is in competition. It also gives them the opportunity to work on their timing, aim, and skill at hitting or kicking a thinking, moving target that is trying to evade, hit, or kick them. While it does not necessarily simulate a street situation, especially one that goes to the ground, it does help that fighter to learn how to think, react and move while fighting so that they are more capable of being able to do that in an actual fight. While this is no guarantee that they will actually win out in a street situation it is a big advantage that they may not otherwise possess if they don't spire at all or at a very low level.

In my school my hard core fighters are thinking four and five moves and combinations ahead sometimes and can pretty well frustrate another lesser experienced fighter if they choose to or at any point deliver a three or four technique combination that if they meant to would end the fight. This also carries over into their Ju-jitsu and grappling skills and while they may never beat someone like Randy Couture they certainly can more than adequately hold their own in a street situation.

Answer 2

I completely agree with you that sparring is a real fight, and a controlled one at that.

Sparring, from my view, is the intended clash of mind, body and spirit in order to overcome a person whom you believe could beat you or whom you believe might possess the skills, if honed enough, to be a great fighting force. I have sparred, and know that it feels like a real fight; it is a real fight. I started learning Aikido from a friend and he would spar with me after the lessons, and he was genuinely impressed with my work. Yes, it was a pair of friends fighting to improve skill, but each fight became harder. He would attack me fast and more relentlessly, and I could keep up because of the sparring of the previous lessons.

Sparring requires restrain. In a fight against a true aggressor, you would fight to the death or until one would give up. Sparring is fighting to the point that someone gives up, but it does not include massive, extensive damage (most of the time). In an absolutely real battle, adrenaline will push you the limits for fighting ability and stamina. Sparring is a way of improving ability and extending stamina.

Yes, you must fight to improve. A lack of practice will make you forget what you learned and cause a decrease in ability. So, why learn a martial art if you will never have the will to practice? Maybe you love it. Most people who love it will practice. But all in all, sparring is the best way to make sure that you are going to get better in an environment that will allow you to leave close to safe.

Answer 3

Anyone can memorize moves, but there is no effectiveness to what is learned unless it's applied. Otherwise, at best, you're getting a choreography lesson, which is meaningless in a fight.

Count me with the pro-sparring crowd.

I'd rather spar and get beaten senseless to learn where my techniques need improvement than find out the hard way out in the "real world". Besides, there is nothing in the rules that says sparring has to be full-contact (though it helps). There is something to be said for getting used to being hit.

Answer 4

Sparring is good and a safe way to get some experience in a fighting type situation. I tend to think though you can be a little more creative with it so it's more effective as a teaching tool. The reason many of the moves used in point sparring are so ineffective anywhere but in point sparring is because of the rules. (no kicking below the belt, to the knees, etc, no contact) So, creative sparring would include doing it sometimes with contact, sometimes with low kicks (and padds) sometimes only hand work, sometimes only grappling, you know, creative sparring)

Answer 5

Sparring is just a simulated contact drill. There should be no winner or loser.
It is nothing like a real fight.

Also, you mention that you have done "full contact" fighting. I doubt that you have. The only full contact fighting I have ever seen is when it is for real in the street. Anything that is regulated is not full contact. Even UFC has rules ( eye guauges and groin strikes).


I agree that sparring is helpful for many fundamental principles but do not think it is like a real life situation, because it is not.

Also, please remember that there is a HUGE difference between fighting and defending yourself from an attack. A fight is a willing physical clash of two or more egos. A self-defense situation is when you are not given a choice in the matter. It is dirty, unfair, unexpected, uneven, sloppy, dangerous and no one says "go" or "point" or "stop" and there is no time limit.

Answer 6

depends on the level and type of sparring you are talking about.

if we are talking about sparring with unrealistic rules like point sparring or you must spar in slow motion or call out where you will strike, then it makes you a worse fighter than doing nothing.

however if you are talking about doing realistic sparring then that is a different story.

of course with most martial arts there are still techniques you can't spar that are legit techniques (breaks and certain joint locks) or else you will soon run out of sparring partners and your MA peers will all be laid up with broken bones, however you should be able to do hard contact sparring with 90% of what you are learning (the core of your training) and not have a problem.

those who say "sparring doesn't help you" are the same ones whose training is based on these "unsafe" moves or moves that are totall baloney or ineffective in a real fight with adrenalin going (pressure points, death touches, chi koes, etc.) and they are looking for an excuse not to spar becasue it will expose thier training as ineffective.

training methodology is just as if not more important than the techniques themselves (I know thats just like saying whats more important, your right or left leg?). you can't really learn the techniques taught without learning application, that is what realistic sparring is.

Its also why systems designated "sport" systems, that have rulesets like bjj and judo are so effective. And why grappling systems are. because grapplers can train at 100% every time. even boxers and muai thai boxers can't and don't train at that level every time. Its just not possible for a striking art to do so due to safety concerns and injury recovery time.

EDIT: sure there are random factors that don't enter into a sprring match that exist outside, but take sparring for what it is- learning to apply your techniques, nothing more nothing less then you will be fine. in sparring you won't have to worry about passing cars, cops, runaway badgers and hot lava in the street.

Or terraign, would you shoot for your opponent on a street with broken glass or would you try an upper body throw instead. you need to spar to learn how to do both so you can then make the tactical decision of which to use when faced with the "real" fight.

EDIT2: also it is important to mention that the more intense the sparring, the closer you have it to the level you would find in a real fight. so obviously if you are training for a pro fight- even one with rulesets (boxing) then the closer your sparring is to the intensity of what a real fight is.

Answer 7

Yes and No! I regurarly practice sparring in our dojo for a variety of reasons, none of which is competition related (we don't do any since it is too far removed from a real street situation). Students square off against a variety of people with different strengths, weaknesses and skill sets.
Some guys are kicking experts, others grapplers, others like sweeping your legs out, next one is a fast and furious puncher, sparring teaches reaction, reflexes, evasion, footwork, blablabla.
But sparring follows rules and in the street there are NO rules, so it is never like the real deal.
If you have the testosteron charged idiot on drugs (or drunk) having a crack at you because he doesn't like the look of yours and thinks or rearranging your facial features, there is no holding back and anything goes, groin kicks, headbutts, etc.

Answer 8

I agree with you. Sparring has a place in training. For one's psyche and psychology if for nothing else.

The more familiar you are with an action the more comfortable you will be with that action.

Few things are as physically/psychologically challenging as combat. Where else or how else are you going to develop familiarity and a comfort zone other than by doing it?

If you look at all of the combat arts, I mean true combat arts where people get hit, or throw, or submitted they all spar.

That speaks volumes doesn't it?

Answer 9

I feel that sparring is a good thing to do. It helps you to learn how to react to an unpredictable opponent within a safer environment than the street rather than constantly practicing the same drills over and over again to build an "uncreative block" when you fight. That's not to say that drills are bad. They certainly should be practiced...but it's good to touch hands with others as well.

While it isn't the same experience as a true fight...it's certainly a great arena to learn in.

Answer 10

Sparring is a great way of finding out what you can do and what you need to work on.
If you really want to find out what you can do in a self-defense situation, you need to practice and spar in your "street clothes" as well. Back in the old days, I don't think they wore clothes as tight as some people do today. What you can do in your gi, may be restricted by your choice of "street clothes".