the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

What percent of what you train and/or teach can you regularly use in a full-contact sparring match against an opponent of roughly equal or lesser skill?

For me it's about 95%. The last 5% will depend on the opponent's fighting style and ability and whether we are wearing gloves or not. Obviously, if I am outclassed and fighting against someone far superior than me that percentage will decrease.

What about you? Be honest with yourself.

100%

full-contact sparring match? With or without gloves?

Controversial thought: - if it's 90 - 100% you have simply stopped growing as a martial artist. Go and learn to do something you can't already do.

Depends on the rules e.g I shouldn't really use a low single leg if it's a kick boxing match. Or a low kick in a sub-grappling match.

As for training vs. use in sparring/tournaments. I have a fair number of things I won't use in sparring/tournaments. Even in amateur mma you can't attack the joints, knee the head when on the ground, hit the back of the head etc. Come to think of it these moves are also banned in the ufc.

Even for realz - I have been taught things I would think twice about doing. I've seen the effects of spiking someones head on concrete (& on another time into a brick wall) and I can't imagine tearing someones hand in half (one my sifu's did this).

Bao wrote:full-contact sparring match? With or without gloves?

Whichever you prefer.

GrahamB wrote:Controversial thought: - if it's 90 - 100% you have simply stopped growing as a martial artist. Go and learn to do something you can't already do.

I just spent the last 17 years learning. Now I'm refining, improving my system and experimenting with different combinations and tactics, which is not the same as not knowing what you are doing?

dspyrido wrote:Depends on the rules e.g I shouldn't really use a low single leg if it's a kick boxing match. Or a low kick in a sub-grappling match.

As for training vs. use in sparring/tournaments. I have a fair number of things I won't use in sparring/tournaments. Even in amateur mma you can't attack the joints, knee the head when on the ground, hit the back of the head etc. Come to think of it these moves are also banned in the ufc.

Even for realz - I have been taught things I would think twice about doing. I've seen the effects of spiking someones head on concrete (& on another time into a brick wall) and I can't imagine tearing someones hand in half (one my sifu's did this).

I understand what you are saying, but my question was what you CAN use, not what you SHOULD use..

Do you expect to do a lot of fighting?

I work in a prison, so it's better to be at least somewhat prepared..