tallgeese

Kuma made a comment I agree with ealier about, as far as LEO work goes, you can actually learn or refine quite a bit via sparring. This is espically true if you include rounds that will allow tie ups, joint manip, and takedowns. MMA focues sparring will do this, as will specifically taylored "rule sets". As to the offensive/defensive terms, I can pretty much see everyone's point. When it comes to mindset, however, defending is something I only do if I'm suprised by an attack. And then it only serves to allow one to survive. At that point, or any point where you become aware of an attack, you need to become offensive. That dosn't mean reckless, it just means that everything severs to allow effective attack. It's a turning of hte switch to "predator" mode. This is again, the sort of thing that sparring can help condition if crafted correctly.

I can't speak to your specific training regimine or your art's training modalities. I can say that sparring, if trained to increase your capacity to impliment tools against a resisting opponant, is very helpful in developing one's ability to defend one's self. Like I said, everything will be artificial to a point. I do agree that spontanious attack and defend drills (and the needed training to build up to them) should be included in a training regimine. It's not the only tool, but it is a highly versitle and useful one. I go back to my feeling that training against someone actually trying to hit you is high valuable as a tool for training. I'm not sure what bad habits you're refering to unless it's performed poorly. For instance, an understanding of keeping hands up, coving various and unspecified attacks in random order, moving to accomidate unexpected manuvers by an opponant, and dealing with the adrinilene dump of being hit, are all positives, not negitives. Again, we have to look at how the sparring is being done, and again, we have to look at how it's matching with your training goals. As to training tools used in a fight you have to ask: Is one implimenting those tools during resistive sparring? Is at least facsimilie contact being made to targets that would be helpful in an all out sd context? At least from time to time? I can say that in my experiance (and mine alone), fighting is much more like sparring than it is pre arranged drills. I think the one of the most useful fight simulations is full on defense against an armored opopnant, but that's not the question. It's about the integration of sparring, which I still feel is a great training tool.

3 mile run Feels good to be outside again

Based on comments on other threads I thought I'd get a read on everyones thoughts on sparring. I know, that's alot of ground to cover. I wondered how everyone viewed it and threw out some questions to get everyone started. How intergal is it to your training? What role does it serve in your system? Is it integrated into the other facets of your art or is it something you do seperately? What kind do you do, what does you system hope to gain by this? I'm curious to hear what everyone things and/or does. For me, it's an important part of what we do. I've seen people post here that it isn't like fighting, and this is true. Any sort of training is artificial in nature to some degree. However, sparring gives you the opportunity to work on tools at speed against an adversary that is 1)trying to to be hit and, 2) trying to hit you back. This stress innoculation training is very important of survival during conflict. Of course, this means that the sparring must endevor to mimic reality in some fashion. Because of this, I like sparring to include a wide range of targets at good contact levels. That means you don't need to knock each others heads off each time, but some contact is imparitive with heavy contact occuring from time to time. Sparring should occur with different focus each time you train. You can't just go out and spar each time. That will let everyone have a good time, but no one gets better (that being said- you'll need to "just spar" from time to time). Sometimes you'll need to work ranging, sometimes crashing and in-fighting. Sometimes, you'll need to work with a more combative atmostphere and almost designate and "attacker" for a "defender" to wrok against. There's a fine line between this type of sparring and simulated encounters. Integration of skills should be the goal of free fighting as well. Taking all the tools you work and putting them to the test against a "live" partner is very helpful. This means that you'll need varying levels of protection during your outings to help facilitate what you're doing that day. I look at the ma from a combative lens. So, all the modalities I use I want to lead to that end. This might not be the case with everyone. Some will want to train for competition, others for personal betterment. All that's good. And in some cases sparring might not need the treatment I give it. For a combative ma-ist. I feel it's still a valuable tool for preping one for conflict if used properly. So, everyone else...

Welcome aboard!

Try warming up with shrimping drills at the outset of every class as well and empasis the importance of moving. You can also work what we call 30 second drills. Go over then practice escapes from a certain posture. Then go live with the guy in superior position simply grappling to hold position, the escapee then has to move quickly to try and escape in 30 secs. It get's people moving well. Just don't let them get sloppy. Try setting up series of movemets to work. There's a thread down a bit further with some good flow suggestions from a few people. Drill a single movements, then begin to stack on couthers and counter-counters. Get this up to about 4-6 movements and you'll get them moving well. Just some thoughts.

I'm a cop, like a few other LEO types on here, and work at a pretty good sized Sheriff's Dpt. And, I'm biased, but it's the greatest job in the world. Something new everyday, despite the tediousness of dealing with some of the same people over and over again. I just made Sgt. last year so it's been different. But still fun, I'm saddled with more supervisory stuff now, but I get to cherry pick the calls I show up to. I had to leave the swat team and range staff when I got the promotion, but even so, it's been a good move. They still let me teach DT here and there. Really, God willing, I'll do this job the rest of my life.

My answer to your particular question, Traymond is a "maybe". It all depends. We're such a small group, we can test pretty much whenever we want. So I'd probibly just do it when it's covinenant after reaching the 30 class mark. If it's a now or later decision however, it's just a big "maybe" for allowing him to test. How good are his movements? His understanding of the principles of the system? His applicatin? How much experiance does he have elsewhere? In what? Ect. Not to mention, where does he fall in realtion to the rest of the club? Is this going to be a guy who sticks around for awhile, or just another guy looking to test. It does matter. Sorry I can't give a more concrete reply. But there are alot of factors. I could see it going either way.

today- crossfit (modified)- 5 rounds of: 10 pullups 20 push ups 30 sit ups 40 squats back/bis Cool down with knife work again. Working on streamlining footwork and movement with the patterned responses I've been putting together. Have to test against a committed attacker soon.

First off, sorry to hear about the bummer week. I agree, and I've found at similar times, that training at it's best does block out all that garbage and allow you really focus. Glad it helped out, and hope things swing up from here. I think it's imperative that we as insturctors or students try to keep other things off the mat. What we're doing there is too important to be distracted.

Everything has pieces that are compatable. However, you're right, not all will be. When this occurs, it's up to the user to experiment and decide which is working better for him in the situations for which he expects to use them. If one realistically evaluates his/her needs and then spends time thouroughly learining and understanding dimetrically opposed movements from different arts, then one can elect to forgo that aspect of one and take up that of another. All while integrating the most useful aspects of each for what they are doing. That means that not all of us will have the same goal. Hence, we won't agree on what should be scrapped and kept. Notice that this never means that one has to stop useing one art, or even that aspcet of an art altogether. One can, if they choose, continue with both as seperate non-integrated items.

No offense taken, sensei8

As for physically being ready to test, I tend to think that there is a certain amount of paying one's dues involved here. Some one with advanced training in a system similar to a new one he's piciking up will definatly tend to progress faster. But, if he's an outsider to the art and group, he'll still have to stick around and put some time in. That's just my opinion. But remember that this guy is going to represent you. You want to make sure that his game is to the standard at all ranges that it needs to be to meet your criteria. You'll also want to make him put in some blood and sweat with you in the tradition of your art. So, can one go faaster, yes. Can they ever get past spending a certain amount of time in? Not with me. Espically at bb rank.

It certainly won't ruin it, but if you stay with it long enough you'll find certian aspects of it will filter into your training. This is not a bad thing, it will only serve to elevate your game. Over time, you'll start utilizing the best of both in free-form situations. However, if you do keep training on each seperatly, you should easily be able to deliniate your karate for testing and teaching and such.

Welcome to KF!

That's the idea. Of course, sometimes it works better than others.

There's a world of difference between bad sparring incidents and fights.

Just enjoy yourself and have a good time. Take the training seriously and listen to your instructor on the fine points. Free roll and spar as soon as they'll let you and you'll get more out of it.

Give it a go. If it's not for you, then you can always move on. Personally, I thought my time spent doing it was invaulable. The science of working hands, distance, and angles is very apparent in the drilling you'll do. You'll also develop some great feel for "live" fighting. The impression you have is based on televised competitions. And certainly, there is a great deal of trauma to be had. But I think you'll find that there is much more to training than that, including most of the stuff I mentioned above. As to the violent level, the end result of boxing should be the nearly the same as well executed ma in a sd context. You inflicting damage quickly and effectively to an opponant.

As to the board kind of a thing. I think it can be a good idea. I don't think it's needed for kyu ranks. A group from within the local school can do that. I think for bb and above however, it's important to get the input of bb's outside the local school. I think that admission to that circle should be voted on by others who've already moved into that group. They should get a say on how well a given individual will uphold what' s been established as the "norm" of porficiency for their group.

today- 1 mile run chest/tris spent a cool down working knife patterns

I'd disagree about your assesment of sparring and what it's for. It's actuallly a very good modality that can be used to train a wide variety of skill work, including any sort of trapping and distance control. But that's really another thread...

Sorry, joe. I ment that to be an "or" in there. So, I either back or circle out of distance v. the head level kick or crash into the baddie and stay tight.

My opinion, and that's all it is, is that it's all body mechanics, physics and intent. Nothing more. It is impressive to see done well. I do think that sometimes people lose sight of why they train it. It shouldn't be and end to itself. If you're training it to learn to generate power in short spaces and tight confines, then by all means, practice away. If you're just doing it to be able to do a good one inch punch, then it falls into the parlor trick catagory.

A world without Spidy???? Too dark a thought to consider.