Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

There are significant differences between sparring and self-defense. Martial Artists and potential practitioners must understand the fundamental differences. These are two different modes that don?t really resemble each other when the fundamental differences are actually evaluated. It is vital to know what those differences are, so one is not caught in an inappropriate mental position. Sparring and self-defense will be defined, and the fundamental differences between the two will be delineated.

Sparring is actually a game. It is a fight between two Martial Artists. There is competition involved in that there will be a winner and a loser. The goal is to win just like any other game a person plays. There are definite rules that are applied otherwise there are penalties. There are different levels of sparring that begin with no contact to legal areas to gradient increases in contact to the body that could potentially do more damage. There are selected areas that a practitioner can strike to, and specific techniques that are legal. The game of sparring is scored by points given for legal strikes to legal areas of the body.

Self-defense is the attempt by the individual to protect his body and life from injury and death. A person is applying techniques to defend against strikes that are thrown his way, and he is using terminating techniques toward his opponent to end the attack. Terminating techniques are those type of techniques that do enough damage to end the hostilities. On occasion the techniques may be so powerful as to knock out, do severe damage to limbs, or kill the attacker if it is deemed necessary. One?s life can be on the line during a self-defense situation, which is the complete opposite of sparring.

A Martial Artist or potential practitioner must be able to discern the differences. It is a different mindset. If one is sparring, and has the self-defense mindset, one will maim and possibly kill one?s opponent. If one is defending oneself and has the sparring mindset, one will be vulnerable to being maimed or killed. The defender would not be applying terminating techniques, so the techniques would lose their devastating explosiveness. There are essential differences in the training for sparring and self-defense, so one must be knowledgeable about them. Knowledge brings one up to a point of responsibility and the control of the activity (KRC = knowledge, responsibility, and control).

Sifu Villanueva teaches in Vallejo and can be reached at 707-552-7598.