I am writing this based on my minimal experience i have had with sparring . Coming from an Aikido background , i initially dismissed the idea of sparring and thought that i could win any fight . Then came the mini scuffles and fights i had at school , that woke me up . I remember my early days many years back when i sparred with my cousins . I had absolutely no fighting skills or techniques and i got my butt kicked .
Recently , i have been sparring for quite a while . It was difficult for me at first as i was actually thinking of what technique to use . By then , i got taken down to the ground . That's when i realized that in sparring or in a real fight , you don't think of what to do . Whatever comes at you , you deal with it . I was also afraid of getting hit initially . But recently , i got some boxing gloves . This gave me the courage to hit and also take a punch . In a real fight , i think it is necessary to be able to withstand attacks and either neutralize the attacker or get out of there .
Going back to what i wrote in the beginning , coming from an Aikido background , sparring is not really discussed in class . Due to this , i had a thinking that i could win any fight , beat and throw my opponent the same way i did in class . Also i remember once during class , one of my instructors said that the technique he was demonstrating works as it was tested in the battlefield . I did not think much about it . A while later, i was sparring a couple of Japanese jujitsu guys . I was shocked when i realized that he could easily counter a technique by simply rolling out of it .
Through sparring , i found out many techniques that worked for me . In contrast , i also found out stuff that did not work for me . It is not like i have gone through years of full contact sparring . I am just simply stating my opinion . Personally , i think sparring is essential as it allows you to find the imperfections in your system . From there , you can work on them and refine your techniques . As for me , i am serious about martial arts and studying practical stuff that works for me . Moreover , i think sparring also removes the fear of getting hit . Honestly in my opinion , a person who has spent a lot of time sparring would have no problem in a street fight , if you were to put away the idea of multiple attacks and weapons involved .
When you read up about old school martial artists who went out on the streets and tested themselves , it many inspire some to do the same to test themselves . However , in this day and age where laws and security are tight , it is almost impossible to do it . Hence , the closest thing available is sparring .
Thus i conclude my post . Sparring is essential if you serious about being an actual martial artist .
Recently , i have been sparring for quite a while . It was difficult for me at first as i was actually thinking of what technique to use . By then , i got taken down to the ground . That's when i realized that in sparring or in a real fight , you don't think of what to do . Whatever comes at you , you deal with it . I was also afraid of getting hit initially . But recently , i got some boxing gloves . This gave me the courage to hit and also take a punch . In a real fight , i think it is necessary to be able to withstand attacks and either neutralize the attacker or get out of there .
Going back to what i wrote in the beginning , coming from an Aikido background , sparring is not really discussed in class . Due to this , i had a thinking that i could win any fight , beat and throw my opponent the same way i did in class . Also i remember once during class , one of my instructors said that the technique he was demonstrating works as it was tested in the battlefield . I did not think much about it . A while later, i was sparring a couple of Japanese jujitsu guys . I was shocked when i realized that he could easily counter a technique by simply rolling out of it .
Through sparring , i found out many techniques that worked for me . In contrast , i also found out stuff that did not work for me . It is not like i have gone through years of full contact sparring . I am just simply stating my opinion . Personally , i think sparring is essential as it allows you to find the imperfections in your system . From there , you can work on them and refine your techniques . As for me , i am serious about martial arts and studying practical stuff that works for me . Moreover , i think sparring also removes the fear of getting hit . Honestly in my opinion , a person who has spent a lot of time sparring would have no problem in a street fight , if you were to put away the idea of multiple attacks and weapons involved .
When you read up about old school martial artists who went out on the streets and tested themselves , it many inspire some to do the same to test themselves . However , in this day and age where laws and security are tight , it is almost impossible to do it . Hence , the closest thing available is sparring .
Thus i conclude my post . Sparring is essential if you serious about being an actual martial artist .