I want to ask everyone what they think about sparring in the FMA.
Padded weapon, training knife, full contact stick, and WEKAF style sparring.
IMHO...
Padded Weapon sparring: Excellent, cheaper than buying the whole body-padded suit, and safe for everyone. However, it can force people to be complacent at times and not move as much...they tend to underestimate the hardness of the padding. However, getting hit with a Smak-Stik hurts like a bitch lol.
Training knife sparring: Good for quick reflexes, footwork, and distancing, but overemphasizes dueling with the blade.
Full Contact Stick Sparring: Are we talking Dog Brother's-type stuff here? If so, it is beneficial for understanding the realities of the effect a weapon has on the body but the wear-and-tear isn't worth it, again, IMHO.
WEKAF Style Sparring: This is probably the worst of the four. It is just aimless witiks and abanicos being thrown back and forth, blow-for-blow, which is totally unrealistic. Remove the padding and see how long the two competitors last. However, it is better than nothing...and it does teach aggression. However, it isn't good for sharpening technique and learning how to respect the weapon.
My philosophy right now is "try it all." However, I question the direct application of stick or knife sparring because it is more like stick or knife dueling.
There is a lot of debate between dueling VS. assault methods in training. Many people feel dueling-style sparring develops bad habits for the street because it is widely believed that there is absolutely no dueling on the street...many people believe it's simply an assault. This is very much true...most weapons attacks are delivered with ruthlessness and aggression, without warning. However, there are many benefits to dueling. First off, not every criminal out on the street has the balls to just rush you and stab/club you relentlessly. I've heard of many situations from friends where the group of attackers (who were armed) didn't simply rush their chosen victim(s). In fact, many of them we trying to egg the other members of the group on...because they were hesitant to do anything. In times like these, when the criminal(s) are attacking, but
reluctantly attacking, dueling-type training may have some merit. However, I personally believe that 80 percent of sparring in training should deal with assaults as opposed to duels. Secondly, dueling-type sparring helps develop speed, reflexes, distancing, and timing, which also serves well in a real-fight, and it also promotes physical conditioning, which is also very essential in a real-fight.
If someone is assaulting you with a knife (i.e. rapidly and repeatedly thrusting the blade into your neck/torso without warning), and you happen to have a knife yourself (this is a rare situation I know but bear with me), it's important to not respond with equal aggression...even if you kill the guy, you will also get chopped to bits yourself. Sparring, while it may be dueling in many respects, teaches
controlled aggression, which is essential for real-world fighting as well. You need to be aggressive, but aggressive with a
plan. You can't just go in there and begin stabbing away...or else you will get hurt in the process. I'm not saying that sparring is the be-all-end-all of training, but it is essential.
I find it interesting to see how diametrically opposed some styles are on this issue. Some styles say this type of sparring teaches bad habits while others say it is the highest pinnacle of training. What does everyone think?
Personally, I think sparring is essential. I wouldn't go as far as saying that it is the "highest pinnacle of training" as you put it...but it is essential. Far too many FMA guys do sumbrada, sinawali, and other pattern-drills over and over without actually applying the techniques in real-time against a live, resisting opponent. However, it is important to do sparring in a realistic fashion. By realistic, I mean A) Respecting the weapon B) Not thrashing and bashing back and forth C) Being aware that there may be another attacker who can jump you from behind and D) Using real contact. Here are some ways to make your sparring more realistic:
1) Mass Attack Sparring: Try sparring 2, 3, or more attackers at once. The Mass Attackers should be able to circle you, blindside you, and rush you whenever they feel like it.
2) Team Tactics Sparring: Try getting a buddy and have the two of you spar against another pair of guys. Or, make it 3 on 3, or 2 on 5, or 5 on 10...whatever.
3) Floating Sparring: Spar against only one guy, but this time, have another guy in the room try to tag you lightly as you spar. This trains your awareness. The guy trying to tag you is the "floater".
4) Mixed Sparring: Instead of just sword VS sword, stick VS stick, or knife VS knife...try doing sword vs stick, knife VS sword, stick VS baseball bat, knife VS empty hand etc.
Hope this helps.
