| Where Are You on The Sparring Scale? | | | | be different from mine. |
| George Carlin, the famous comedian, has a routine | | | | That's OK. |
| where he talks about the other driver. | | | | Of course, the opposite end of the spectrum from |
| He comments on how we all think we are good car | | | | no-contact, rule-bound sparring would be an "100% |
| drivers. Competent. Everyone else falls somewhere on | | | | No-Rule Fighting Session" -- lasting until someone |
| a scale. Those who are driving the same speed that | | | | couldn't continue. (Not the smartest way to train, in my |
| we are, are also good drivers. Those who are driving | | | | opinion.) |
| faster than we are are 'maniacs,' and those holding us | | | | Where Our Definitions May Differ |
| up are 'jerks,' or worse. | | | | You'll notice I didn't include UFC, No-Holds barred, and |
| I think you'll find a similar scale when talking about | | | | other rough-in-the ring- competitions in this discussion. |
| sparring in martial arts: | | | | Neither did I include one-step sparring. |
| Your Sparring Comfort Zone | | | | The UFC really is bound by rules -- lots of them. So, I |
| Your comfort zone is what you would call 'appropriate' | | | | would probably put it lower on the scale than some of |
| sparring. Anything less violent is perceived as "wussie." | | | | you would. To me, it lacks realism. Because of the |
| And anything closer to realism is "crazy." | | | | 'perceived' roughness involved, many of you would put |
| There is a scale, isn't there? | | | | it closer to free fighting. That's your prerogative. |
| At one end of the spectrum, we have folks who pull | | | | And for me, one-step sparring, two-step sparring, or |
| their punches and kicks, never make contact, and | | | | even my own idea of spoking (outlined in 'Secrets of |
| follow sparring rules of no punching to the face, no | | | | Teaching Martial Arts More Effectively,' are not really |
| kicking below the waist, etc. (This is about as far away | | | | sparring. I would give them their own category. You |
| from real street defense as one can get.) | | | | are learning efficient response -- but you aren't testing |
| Next, you have people who allow some contact, but | | | | what you already know as much, in these drills. |
| still limit the targets -- no shin kicks, no groin shots. No | | | | Reassess Your Training Style |
| eye jabs. | | | | I hope this article causes some of you to reevaluate |
| A little more open sparring allows all targets, some | | | | how you train. Do you need to go up one rung on the |
| contact, but control is exhibited. Nobody gets hurt. You | | | | ladder (scale), and make your training more realistic? |
| don't actuallypoke "into" the eye or hit the groin directly. | | | | Are you fooling yourself into believing that you are |
| The emphasis is on control. | | | | learning street self defense? Is your training "too |
| If you go just a little further on the scale, you have | | | | tame?" |
| sparring that looks very much like the last definition, but | | | | Or is your training too wild? Is it so freestyle that you |
| people do get a little 'roughed up.' You still exhibit | | | | aren't learning to make your techniques work, and it's |
| control. You punch at full speed, but not at full power. | | | | becoming more of a sloppy spar/fight? Do you need |
| Somewhere in this mix, you have full contact, hit as | | | | more systematic, controlled practice? |
| hard as you'd like, but the opponents wear a ton of | | | | Maybe you need to drop one or two rungs on the |
| protective gear, resembling the Michelin Tire Man. | | | | scale. |
| Where Do Fall On The Scale? | | | | Finally, there is nothing that says you have to stay at |
| Do you see how the scale progresses? | | | | one level of training. Learn the benefits of all levels of |
| You should devise your own scale, in the correct order | | | | control. Open up to learn realism, and become more |
| and progression for the "fight training" you have | | | | regimented for your precision. |
| witnessed. Your order of sparring realism will probably | | | | |