Teacher Sparring Students

[RichardZ]

Some time ago I was discussing martial arts with another, and was surprised that he said his teacher does not spar the students.

He said his teacher does not do this because he is concerned he will hurt the students.

He said, the teacher used to spar beginner students only.

What do you think?

[Ichi_Geki]

Haha, why would he only spar the beginners then?...It sounds to me that he is afraid that he will get hurt himself..

Although in retrospect I would fear someone more so if they had no experience at all and just threw down like a psycho...

I think sparring with your students is beneficial...if they beat you by points than you know you trained them well...if they knock you out...then maybe you need to find a better 'hobby'...haha

[RichardZ]

Yeah, I mentioned to this guy that his instructor maybe worried about getting hurt or "loose face" by getting hit.

[KarateGeorge]

I personally think teachers should be sparring with their students. By doing this, the teacher has the benefit of being able to better understand what the student is doing and help correct weaknesses and build on their strengths through first-hand experience with that student. Secondly, it gives the student the opportunity to spar with someone of a higher skill level and helps bring them a challenge.

As for the instructor being afraid of hurting their students, that just makes me wonder about their ability to control their techniques. When training one should be learning to use the appropriate level of control to the type of training they are doing.

As a black belt, one should be able to adjust their fighting to that of a lower level student they're working with and trying to help them become a better fighter. For example, if I'm sparring with a white belt, I will intentionally leave openings and even point them out while sparring with the student to help them learn to look for those things. When sparring, say a blue belt, I may still give you opportunities but I'm not going to point them out for you. If you don't see the opening I've given you, I'll take it away after a few moments. When fighting another black belt, I'm not going to intentionally give an opportunity to strike, you'll have to find the opportunities to strike on your own.

[Ichi_Geki]

What did this guy say?

[RichardZ]

I would think, perhaps if a instructor gets really old, and has many ailments, then he may not waste energy and/or risk injury. Therefore either becoming awnery or more protective of himself.

[bushido_man96]

My current instructor has not sparred with us in quite some time. In the past, my instructors did spar with the students. I think it is important, as well.

[RichardZ]

Indeed. But could there be any other reasons the teacher will not?

[Ichi_Geki]

There could be one.

He only spars with beginners so they dont have to spar with any one else and risk injury....

[RichardZ]

Injury to himself or advanced students?