Declared techniques, sparring and sport competition

The first 3 types of fighting

Continuing the discussion about the various types of martial clash (read The 6 types of martial clash) we start analyzing the peculiarities of the first 3:

  • Declared techniques
  • Sparring
  • Sportive fight

Declared techniques

The (direct or implied) exchange of declared techniques is the most common and elementary form of training (read A scheme to quickly learn any kind of technique); it allows the learning of particular mechanisms through a controlled application:

  • Sometimes there are protections but, except for the errors, the practitioners do not risk any type of injury
  • Typically this kind of training occurs in adapted environments, protected and muffled (mats, padded walls, etc.)
  • Hits are brought to sign with technical care but without force, intensity or excessive speed (punches, kicks, ground fighting, etc.)
  • In case of use of weapons (read Learning the use of real weapons) they are modified in a way that does not hurt and/or there are good protections (or at least, there is no real contact)
  • The goal is to learn and make our own a particular technique of struggle (read 4 Tips to effectively apply any fighting technique)
  • The fight can end at any time (with voice calling, knocking on the ground or on the opponent)
  • The spirit of this confrontation is to work together to learn the techniques as a common aim (read 5 effective ways to find a training partner)
  • The voluntary exchange of declared techniques is, of course, legal, non-violent and often followed by an instructor and / or training partners
  • The emotional stress is null

Sparring

The sparring is a typical practice that follows the study of techniques to provide their “lighter” but concrete application:

  • In some cases there are protections (face, hands, genitals, teeth, etc.), in other not (read How to do sparring)
  • Typically these “clashes” occur in adapted environments, protected and muffled (mats, padded walls, etc.)
  • Blows are brought to sign with good speed and technique but without too much force (punching, kicking, ground fighting, etc.), no dangerous targets, no intent to hurt
  • The risk of serious damages is very rare but not impossible
  • In case of use of weapons (read for example Sparring with Nunchaku), they are modified so as not to be too dangerous and / or large protections are worn (in any case the idea is not to cause the biggest damage)
  • The aim is (in theory) to improve our technique of struggle and not to prevail on the opponent
  • The fight can end at any time (with voice calling, knocking on the ground or on the opponent)
  • The spirit of sparring is to work out a joint agreement to share experience and eliminate our defects
  • The sparring is legal, non-violent and often followed by an instructor or training partners
  • If done correctly the emotional stress due to the clash should be low

Sportive fight

In many martial disciplines (eg. Kudo) is scheduled a sports application of fighting techniques:

  • In some cases there are protections (face, hands, genitals, teeth, etc.), in other not
  • Clashes occur in limited environments, adapted, protected and muffled (mats, padded walls, etc., read What is the difference between real fights and combative sports)
  • Hits are brought to sign with high speed, power and technique but not with a deadly purpose, permanent damages are nevertheless possible
  • In case of use of weapons, they are modified so as to not be lethal and / or large protections are worn
  • The goal is to prevail on the opponent with competitivity but with an almost “partial” attention of his physical safety (thanks to strict regulations)
  • In general, the clash ends with abandonment, the end of a predetermined time, a knockout, prolonged immobilization or the inability to continue of one of two challengers
  • The spirit of a sport confrontation is to apply fighting strategies in a competitive environment but limited by well-defined rules
  • The sportive clash is legal, needs correctness, mutual respect and is always followed by a referee who ensures consistency
  • Emotional stress due to the clash is high (the higher we climb the category)

In the next article of this series we will analyze the last 3 types of martial clashes: self-defense, martial clash and war clash (read Self defense, martial clash and war clash).

In-depth articles

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

  • What types of martial fights did you take part in?

Author: Master Kongling

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