FearlessFreep
Senior Master
No, I don't mean this to be an argument of one versus the other. Some discussion in the MMA forum and others has me thinking that maybe it would be good for all of us to try to articulate how a sparring match (of any variety) compares or contrasts to a real 'street' encounter. Not for the sake of argument but to discuss a) what can/do you do in a sparring match that will be of use in a street encounter b) what about the two environemtns is *different* that you have to be aware of?
I'll throw out some examples (and I may be wrong)
Differences:
1. Motivation - In a match, you're motivation is to score points. On the street, the motivation is to get home alive, with your friends and loved ones. This changes your reasoning about what and why you will do something. Matches require aggressiveness to go out and 'win'. Even if you are a counter-fighter, you are still being passive-aggressive in that you are waiting for the opponent to commit before attacking, but you are looking for a way to attack. In a self-defense situation, you want to de-escalate the encounter to avoid physical confrontation if at all possible, and if it gets to that point, your actions are based on a desire to end the conflict, not rack up points.
2. Legal Ramifications - If you spar clean, you don't fear legal action based on your actions. On the street, you need to be able to articulate why you did what you did, so some actions (ground and pound?) may not be something you want to do. Once you have successfully defended yourself, beating the heck out of someone ma not be legally defensible, so you have to know when to stop.
3. Terrain - contrete and asphault surfaces. Chairs, tables, or cars. Etc...
4. Friends - He may have friends, they may get involved, watch your positioning for an unexpected attack
5. Weapons - Ditto.
Simularities:
1. Conditioning to be used to getting hit/hurt - If you spar..you will get hit. Fighting past the pain and continuing to function is not automatic but is something you need to get used to.
2. Speed - You spar all full speed, you get used to moving at full speed.
3. Randomness - Sparring gets you used to reacting instantly to an outside, independent agent who may do what you are not expecting
4. Adrenaline and Focus - Keeping adrenaline under control to keep your mind and eyesight focused is important to sparring, and to surviving.
Just some examples, and I may be wrong. Those who do MA for self-defense but who also spar as part of your training may have othe insight into what your sparring teaches you, and what it doesn't...
I'll throw out some examples (and I may be wrong)
Differences:
1. Motivation - In a match, you're motivation is to score points. On the street, the motivation is to get home alive, with your friends and loved ones. This changes your reasoning about what and why you will do something. Matches require aggressiveness to go out and 'win'. Even if you are a counter-fighter, you are still being passive-aggressive in that you are waiting for the opponent to commit before attacking, but you are looking for a way to attack. In a self-defense situation, you want to de-escalate the encounter to avoid physical confrontation if at all possible, and if it gets to that point, your actions are based on a desire to end the conflict, not rack up points.
2. Legal Ramifications - If you spar clean, you don't fear legal action based on your actions. On the street, you need to be able to articulate why you did what you did, so some actions (ground and pound?) may not be something you want to do. Once you have successfully defended yourself, beating the heck out of someone ma not be legally defensible, so you have to know when to stop.
3. Terrain - contrete and asphault surfaces. Chairs, tables, or cars. Etc...
4. Friends - He may have friends, they may get involved, watch your positioning for an unexpected attack
5. Weapons - Ditto.
Simularities:
1. Conditioning to be used to getting hit/hurt - If you spar..you will get hit. Fighting past the pain and continuing to function is not automatic but is something you need to get used to.
2. Speed - You spar all full speed, you get used to moving at full speed.
3. Randomness - Sparring gets you used to reacting instantly to an outside, independent agent who may do what you are not expecting
4. Adrenaline and Focus - Keeping adrenaline under control to keep your mind and eyesight focused is important to sparring, and to surviving.
Just some examples, and I may be wrong. Those who do MA for self-defense but who also spar as part of your training may have othe insight into what your sparring teaches you, and what it doesn't...