Sparring is the closest you may get to a real combat situation. It is always controlled for safety reason and a better performance. During a confrontation where a fight might ensue, the body goes through a physical and physiological change in readiness to fight or flee. This is a spontaneous primeval survival response that will manifest itself in various ways. Learning to recognise those changes will allow you to be better prepared than most.
However, sparring does not always replicate those changes (unless conducted in a negative environment). Free and uncontrolled sparring creates an atmosphere of discontent, as some students cannot control their arousal level. By understanding your own abilities and the capabilities of your opponent, you become a better a martial artist. The emphasis is on quality defence using tactics, rather than fighting wildly without objective. An automatic reaction to pain is to protect the injured part so being hit time and time again on the same spot does not induce confidence, but fear.
Our teachers will provide you with the ability to think on your feet, so that when you spar with another, you learn from each other. However if you spar against each other you will learn nothing in the process.
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