sparring

[senseiblackbelt]

what is the purpose of sparring?

 

[Dirty Dog]

Practicing the skills you're learning is a looser, more free flowing, less structured, non-choreographed setting.
Competition. Because people.
It's fun.

 

[JR 137]

It's like a science class (I'm a science teacher, so of course I'm going there)...

The basics, kata/forms, drills, etc. are the textbook theoretical knowledge.

Sparring is the lab portion of class where you apply what you've learned from the textbooks and lectures.

 

[Juany118]

It's like a science class (I'm a science teacher, so of course I'm going there)...

The basics, kata/forms, drills, etc. are the textbook theoretical knowledge.

Sparring is the lab portion of class where you apply what you've learned from the textbooks and lectures.

^^^^ pretty much this. Look at it this way, forms, magazine, drills, these teach you various techniques and applications. Sparing is when you learn to turn that teaching into a practical skill.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

- Polish and maintain your old skills that work in sparring.
- Test your new skills that have not yet work in sparring.
- Develop your personal "plan".
- ...

 

[drop bear]

To separate what is from what appears to be.

 

[marques]

It is the step between basics, or basic drills, and fighting and should prepare for the fighting. The ruleset is largely flexible and defined according to aims. So sparring can mean many things. In some styles, sparring is already the competitive fights.

 

[JowGaWolf]

awesome responses. Everyone is right so far.

 

[ozm8ey]

In my opinion it teaches you to react to random attacks and also to boost confidence.