Conserving effort when sparring

[Darthwing Teorist]

There shouldn't be ANY adrenaline dump in sparring IMHO. That's why it's sparring not fighting. It's a "game", so "play" it, don't "work" it.

I agree 100% that sparring is not fighting. But I guess that it depends on your definition of sparring weather you still get the adrenaline dump or not.

Me, it depends who I fight. Most people are no problem. But sometimes knowing that I have a tough partner, it does make me "adrenalized". For example, I got hit on the nose a few times by the same guy while sparring, everytime making me bleed. He is very intense, so I usually get an adrenaline dump when sparring with him.

[Dmitri]

Ouch... I see what you're saying; I guess it does depend. Personally I would talk to such a guy and ask him to tone it down a bit, or (if he refused) I'd probably stop sparring with him altogether. I'm too old for getting a bleeding nose on a regular basis.
Oh well, everyone trains differently...

[qiphlow]

I still have a lot of trouble staying soft while grappling.

don't fight it, mix.

Surely a contender for the Double Entendre Hall of Fame...
Qiphlow that was fast.

as it was intended to be.

[Andy_S]

FWIW, my answer:

(1) Move

(2) Breathe.

Sounds simple, but so many people don't.

[Butterball]

Breath well and spar alot. Relaxing gets much much easier the more you spar and the more you make an effort to conserve effort while sparring. Getting rid of excess fear helps alot too, but I think that comes with experience, imo.

[The Possible Human]

Staying relaxed is the really the key. When you first start sparring, you are typically a ball of nervous or anxious energy. This alone will sap your your strength while you are standing still nevermind while actively fighting somebody else. While consciously trying to settle yourself down does help, sparring frequently is the most sure fire way to cure this. Eventually it will become just another training exercise for you and there is no reason consciously or subconsciously for your body to get all amped up. The same goes for competing if you ever chose to sport fight. It is easy to gas your first handful of fights. Each fight it gets progressively easier to relax thus negating any premature gasing and allowing your body to do what you trained it to do. It is only when you are truly calm and relaxed in situations like this will your full ability be able to be tapped.