Sunday, July 29, 2012

Thoughts On Sparring

I sat down the other day to make this video, regarding some of my thoughts on sparring in relation to the whole of martial arts. However, I hesitated to post it, because although it is in part a response to Sifu's recent video "Just Keep Sparring And You'll Figure It Out," I do not want it to be perceived as contradictory to that teaching. In my experience, as Sifu attests, sparring is the unparalleled tool for fairly rapid development of readily applicable combat skills. On the other hand, beyond my personal experience (i.e. outside of something I can attest to having successfully embodied myself), I have witnessed combat skills in action that are superior to what is normally gained through even extensive sparring, and this involves a talented utilization of some of the more complex and seemingly less-efficient techniques, specifically those nested in traditional forms and katas. There is a narrated example of this in my video. 

In addition, it is my experience that there are far more benefits to martial arts practice/training than preparation for combat. For instance, I don't know that my wife would be alive right now, were it not for the unique, full-body, unassisted, physical-therapeutic aspects of practicing simple martial arts techniques. You saw her in a couple of my earlier videos... Can you imagine that she spent nearly two years in a wheelchair, absolutely unable to stand up or even close her hands, because of a debilitating rheumatoid condition? Karate has played a big part in her battle against this auto-immune disorder, drastically increasing the results she was getting from modern medicine.

Even once you learn to fight fairly well, I would not recommend moving on to something else, and leaving martial arts behind. I did that myself, for at least eight years, and look now... I'm right back, trying to regain the conditioning, flexibility, and rhythm I never should have let myself lose. There is a certain type of whole-body connectedness that is developed through martial arts practice in a manner that, at least to my knowledge, cannot be gained through just any athletic practice.

With Sifu's permission, I'm posting my thoughts this evening:


4 comments:

  1. Glad your wife and you have the strength and energy to keep striving forward.... Thank you for posting.
    Kong

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  2. Although I have not seen the video yet, I have read the post & I agree with you, you are helping Todai's gain an understanding on the other aspect in order to assist them to gain a more thorough understanding. I see Martial Art to be a balanced development of the Body, Mind, & Spirit. Sparring is only a very small component to this development, I would not advise anyone to abandon training in its entirety, as long as it is Zen Fitness or Zen Martial Arts, they will be relatively balanced in their development. The passion to practice combative techniques specifically is an inner passion that is not common, those that do not hold that passion will benefit much from Zen Fitness. Zen Martial Art training can be challenging to the body, but without Zen Fitness, it is not complete. Thank you for the post.

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  4. "I have witnessed combat skills in action that are superior to what is normally gained through even extensive sparring..."

    THE LORD PARTED THE RED SEA AND THE ISRAELITE S
    WALK ON THROUGH....
    A MAJESTIC DESCRIPTION AND TRUE!!!!!!!!!! PRECISELY SO...THE HUMAN BEING IS FAR MORE CAPABLE ON ITS OWN COGNITION THAN WHAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY INVENTED MODALITY....OF ITSELF.....FOR THAT IS WHERE IT COMES FROM ANYWAY....A HUMAN BEING THIINKING AND DOING.

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