| Does non-contact point sparring actually decrease | | | | know" how to move in on, or around your |
| your ability to defend yourself in a real situation? | | | | opponent. The more time you spend in simulated |
| After all, you're pulling punches, avoiding eye | | | | fighting practice, the better able you are to "feel" |
| gouges, bone breaking, wrist locks and the like. | | | | what your opponent is going to do. |
| How can you learn to defend yourself when | | | | Increased Endurance |
| you're restricting your options? | | | | This might just be the perfect cardio workout. |
| And what if the fight ends up on the ground? All | | | | You're in continual motion, or, sometimes, holding |
| your skills at dancing around in a padded helmet | | | | perfectly still as part of your strategy, then |
| isn't going to help you get out of a brutal rear | | | | engaging in sudden, explosive movements. Watch |
| mount arm crank! | | | | the competitors at a tournament. By the end of a |
| Or Is It...? | | | | good match, they are usually very winded. |
| If you take a good, objective look at it... | | | | Also - during all that movement and bouncing |
| Sparring May Be The Most Perfect Martial Arts | | | | around on your feet, you're playing a game of |
| Exercise Ever | | | | physical chess in your mind, and that game is FUN! |
| I won't lie to you-I'm in favor of sparring. I think | | | | Because you're mind is into the game, you don't |
| there are no other exercises in Martial Arts that | | | | as easily notice the effect the workout is having |
| can accomplish as much in as little time as good | | | | on your endurance. |
| sparring practice. | | | | Improved Balance |
| Here's why... | | | | Repeated shifting of your weight develops better |
| (And bear in mind, I had to keep this article short | | | | control of your movements, which translates into |
| to prevent it from turning into a book-length | | | | improved balance. High kicks and spinning attacks |
| discourse!) | | | | all require good balance. |
| What If You Could Combine All Your Training | | | | Stress Release |
| Needs Into One Easy Exercise? | | | | Combine the cardio benefits of with the mental |
| Think I'm exaggerating? Sparring practice | | | | discipline and you have the perfect stress reliever. |
| improves a wide variety of essential Martial Arts | | | | It teaches you to accomplish difficult tasks while |
| requirements all at once. | | | | in a state of practiced, relaxed energy. |
| Consider this short list of Benefits: | | | | Quick Thinking Under Pressure |
| Faster Reflexes | | | | Forces you to learn how to make quick choices |
| The ability to react instantly gives you the | | | | while under pressure. You become adept at |
| freedom to think and plan under pressure. Quick | | | | considering options and remember useful |
| reflexes allow you to take control of the situation. | | | | information during stressful situations. |
| Improved Timing & Distancing | | | | Having Fun! |
| Trains you to eliminate unnecessary movement | | | | To put it bluntly, good Martial Arts Sparring |
| by moving only when and as fast as you need to. | | | | practice is just plain fun! It is, after all, a game |
| This makes you less predictable and harder to | | | | much like chess where your various techniques |
| read. You seem faster to your opponent. Your | | | | are the pieces on the board. It requires strategy |
| ability to accurately judge distance increases your | | | | and acquired skills. As you learn these, and |
| speed because you do not have to consciously | | | | become adept at using them, the exercise |
| stop and assess the situation. | | | | aspects of point fighting are more enjoyable |
| Improved Accuracy | | | | when they become aspects of a game. |
| It is relatively easy to attack a stationary target. | | | | All of which mean... |
| It takes a special, acquired skill to attack a moving | | | | Sparring is the perfect way to improve your |
| target with exact precision. Fighting practice of | | | | martial arts skills! |
| this kind develops the skill to make your attacks | | | | Of course, you might think all of these benefits |
| at the right place, at the right time, and with | | | | can be attained in other ways. Well, you're right, |
| minimal margin of error. | | | | they can. But what other Martial Arts exercise |
| Instinct | | | | helps you to develop all of these skills-and more-all |
| Helps you develop the ability to sense, or "just | | | | at one time? |