Kind of an aside to the "Sparring without Instructor" thread.


I find that when I spar with medium or heavier contact, I frequently get injured. Right now I'm nearly recovered from a frustrating month with a badly bruised rib.
Light sparring is fun and fine, and what I usually do, but lacks the feel of "reality."

For those of you who spar hard on a regular basis, what do you do to avoid injuries?