Andy_S wrote:Rob:
Fair answers and I take most of your points. But still....it would be good to see some one-on-one sparring. Do any of your boys compete in any combative fora?
Andy, it looks like you are getting some good answers regarding sparring. I have nothing against traditional sparring (w/ gear). Done correctly, it can be used to develop attributes that can help in a real fight. If you do a search you will find some clips with Systema guys sparring with gear on. A lot of the times, even in Systema, the clips that show full-out sparring will look like brawling (or maybe sometimes kickboxing). I think much of that "look" can be attributed to the use of gear. Real strikes affect the body/psyche differently than something that lands with even a bit of padding. This is true especially for the facial area, head, and trunk. The unspoken "rules" of sparring can also serve to limit freedom of movement.
It is hard to get away from thinking your partner is a punching bag when you have gear on, when in a real situation, you are fighting the much-nuanced human being. Instead of delivering just the right amount of force and direction to overcome intent and action, the use of pads in training can condition you to go much deeper than necessary. There are other effects over time. The receiver may not respect the incoming punches/kicks as much if the promise of immediate and debilitating pain or damage is not apparent. Also, the one who delivers may over-compensate and break form due to his punches not doing "much damage." Would these habits be helpful in a real fight?
There are hundreds of ways to address the "sparring" issue in Systema in very creative, fun, and instructive ways. They teach the same lessons you would get from traditional sparring but without the ego trips and injuries. Please ask a qualified instructor near you to show you some of them during class since to put some of these on video would never satisfy the morbidly curious and might do more damage to Systema's already fragile YouTube image.
As for movements against the "1st move," since the outcomes of most fights/attacks are determined from first contact, a great deal of our training focuses on it. The goal is to achieve control, crush intent, and disrupt the balance as soon as possible, since it is difficult to regain form when it is lost at high speed. You must do this without breaking your own form/readiness. What better way to prepare for a possible second attack from the same person or attacks from others?
Kwan Lee
http://www.systema.us
