yep,that way u challenge your body to work harder and therefore make your body build more muscle to get used to it.Remember this thoug eat tons of protein.
"Moving text and crazy freaking colors that stab my eyes are NOT cool." I feel u.I see that u joined one of the martial arts groups I'm in(not sure which one though,but I saw u there).
"if you ever attend a bjj self defense session, it revolves mainly around stand up grappling." why?isn't it's way of thinking to take it to the ground?
I'll tell u this,it's point sparring/ light contact. In my school though, my sensei probably would say no because it's not in our curriculum.I've tried my punches from kickboxing and he told me to stay with karate.