Originally Posted by
Shaolin Wookie
To be honest, I wouldn't want to train with too many restrictions. Sure, there's no use trying to hurt anyone. But I've learned invaluable lessons about maintaining a guard in all scenarios--on attack, defense, on the move, etc. (especially with regard to the face and head [and groin]). Someone can tell you to always maintain a guard, and you can practice it, but if you don't have to during sparring, you probably won't when you really need to. All stances should negate concerns with those anyways with regard to leg/hand position. I firmly believe tournament training/cheap sparring waters down the essentials in order to cater to what's legal, not what's effective or available.
I couldn't agree with you more about that. I think that the way sparring is taught in most SD schools can lead to bad habits IF that's all that was taught. I do think you should start out lighter and work your way up and that the sparring should always be controlled, but it should be a progression to the point where we are sparring with mor practicality than playing a game of tag.
Or were you talking about tournaments? We don't really have those down here. Seems to be a Do thing exclusively. Not doggin' ya JP, just pointing out geographical differences. I saw your vid of sparring in Asheville 'gainst a "Shaolin" guy. You had him down pretty quick on most of the matches.
That tournament was an open style tournament. I participate in some of the SD tournaments too, when we have them, but I like fighting agasint other people from other styles as it tests what I'm taught versus what else is out there.
PS--he wasn't SHaolin. He was practicing Isshun-Ryu Karate. That arm waving cadence/toe stepping is unmistakable.