intimidating your sparring partner or not?

[aefibird]

Good post, White Warlock.

 

When I spar, I spar to improve my technique (whether I'm training with someone with more or less experience than me). If I spar with someone who's less experienced than me then I'm also sparring to help them in their technique and try and bring them on a bit - not in a superior "I know better than you and this is how you should do it" type of way, but (hopefully) in a way that we can both learn something from it.

 

If I'm sparring in competitions, then I'm sparring to win, but it doesn't mean that I can't learn stuff from it and improve. The thing with competition sparring is that you often haven't fought against that person before, so their technique and style is unknown to you. It keeps you on your toes a bit, because if you spar regularly with people at your own dojo then you get to know their fighting stratagies and techniques and you can sometimes predict what they're gonna do.

[JerryLove]

You'll do your partner the most service by showing no mercy - supposing you're somewhere around the same level.

 

I try to avoid sparring people "my level". I like to spar people either better than me or worse than me. I learn more that way.

[White Warlock]

You'll do your partner the most service by showing no mercy - supposing you're somewhere around the same level.

lol

 

"But, your Honor, we were sparring, see... and, well... i tore his lungs out, see... and, well... ... what? ... ... No your Honor, it wasn't self defense. Well, it was... sorta. I mean, we agreed to try and kill each other and... ... what? ... ... Yes your Honor... no mercy... ... Yes your Honor... i was doing him a service... "

[Kanzashi]

I have to agree with the mainstream here, sparring is a learning excercise. Both Uke and Tori are there to learn and try things out in a controlled manner.

 

As far as mercy goes, isn't that something like humility? After all, this is your PARTNER, not a thug on the street. Yes, you can spar to the level of your Partner, but always with control. Like last night's class, I showed a weakness and got my *ss kicked, but wasn't hurt by it all. I learned something.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

In the dojo, the last thing I want to do is to try to intimidate my sparring partner. That's not a friendly thingb to do, and can leave bad feelings afterwards. I do not allow it in my students either.

 

A real fight however, might be different.

 

One thing though, and I've had students tell me this anyway. I do tend to intimidate them anyway. Why? Well, I'm 6'6" tall and about 240lbs. Kinda hard, even when smiling I guess, not to intimidate lower students sometimes.

[blitzcraig]

I dont know about "intimidating" your partner. I would lean more towards confusing or suprizing. Like maybe a crazy move they wouldnt expect or tugging on your belt or something like that...you get the idea

[equaninimus]

I actually try to go out of my way to avoid intimidating my partner. This is especially true if they are a beginner.

[KarateDave]

This is especially true if they are a beginner.

 

Well that goes without saying, however when practicing in the dojo, (be it two line drills, or free style kumite) there needs to be an intensity and feirceness, otherwise you won't benefit from it.

 

If you ever get in a position where you have to use your training, your assailant will be fierce and will be trying to hurt you, and will possibly try to intimidate you.

 

Drills and sparring should emulate an actual confrontation as much as possible (without putting the participants in danger of injury obviously) So you can prepare yourself should you ever need to use your training.

[equaninimus]

Intensity, yes...intent to hurt or overpower, no.

[Red J]

I'll go along with the Warlock's initial response as sparring is about learning and practicing technique. When sparring with fellow students in my school intimidation does not enter the equation as we respect each other too much to pull that.