Sparring vs. Fighting

Sparring is a mutually beneficial tool used by two persons who have established a relationship of trust where both teach/learn how to apply karate techniques derived from waza basics, kata bunkai, and ippon-kumite/drills (san-bon-kumite, etc. too).

Some refer to this in sparring as a tori-uke relationship. One gives, one takes and then they switch roles with the purpose of applying correctly martial techniques until they can be instantly applied in varying situations due to varying stimuli with no set pattern or rules. It is one of trust so that both persons as the speed and power are elevated to higher levels remains mutually beneficial with little or no injuries. The goal is to achieve a level of proficiency where it can be applied in the most realistic manner possible closest to what may be encountered in a street confrontation, physical.

This assumes that the first 90% of self protection/defense is trained in avoidance, etc. so when the 1% becomes reality the person or persons can "act" appropriately.

Fighting is not a mutually beneficial act/tool. It is singularly meant to achieve some dominance of victory of damage to another human being. There is no trust for if there were then it would not be a fight. There are several levels of physical encounters from a school yard scuffle to a all out full blown predatory attack with the sole goal of hurting you fast so they can achieve some nefarious goal such as tribal status or simply stealing your valuables.

Fighting is violence. Fighting is illegal. Fighting involves getting hurt by both participants unless it is predatory and the attacker gets you down and out so you cannot respond. Fighting has additional far reaching effects beyond the physical damage. There is psychological for the participants. There is legal issues both parties will deal with as to criminal and civil actions by the courts. There are psychological effects that all persons related to the participants that are damaging such as to family dealing with hospital bills, rehab to get past the damages, lost work, lost income, and so on ... you can see that fighting leads to a lot more than simply winning or losing.

Sparring is something that is acceptable to those parties who participate and has no goal of simple violence or dominance of others if done correctly and if taught correctly. It is a tool to achieve proficiency in actual karate techniques. It is controlled.

Fighting is something that is NOT accepted by society and those parties who participate even if willing are breaking the law for the goal is to hurt another human being, to dominate others for some unknown reason and is not taught in normal society except in a sport aspect such as boxing.

Sparring vs. Fighting can have a vague line separating the two dependent on training and practice with the instruction, good or not good, of the Sensei of the dojo. Sometimes a form of fighting is taught in lieu of the nature of trust and benefit of both parties by one or the other leaving behind the rules and spirit of sparring to gratify their own need to be stronger and dominant which is just another form of less than adequate self-esteem which in turn feeds the ego and so on. Sensei must make sure that sparring, i.e. tori-n-uke relations of trust, are never violated.

It would be assumed, traditionally, that a dojo is a tribe that has mutual goals and comes to achieve a relationship that is conducive to survival of the dojo along with a trust pact that remains morally upright, etc. It should be something that promotes the growth of the groups potential not only in the world of martial technique but also the spirit of life itself.

Such descriptions as valor, benevolence, truth - honesty, loyalty, rectitude, humility, respect, courage, patience, endurance, and will. These more esoterically driven goals must be an intricate part of training, practice and instruction to take karate past its brutal possibilities to a more martial system.

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