Anybody else perform better in play sparring with no protection compared to sparring with full padded protection?
I've seen so many videos on social media recently of some serious hard sparring, of course I think its beneficial and necessary to have hard sparring sessions, especially as a fighter however I cant help but think how play sparring is very important and beneficial too!
Its only recently that I've noticed how much better I perform when I just play spar without any equipment on compared to sparring with full padded equipment. Which is un usual because you would think having full protection on you would perform better because you know you are less likely to feel pain allowing you to relax more.
However I think personally sometimes full padded sparring can cause you to fall into a safe illusion causing you to unconsciously throw shots and not worry about the outcome because you are protected and unlikely to receive pain. Which some would argue is a good thing and the main point of sparring but when it then comes to a real fight those habits of sparring will play effect in the fight.
My main point being is when you are in this safe illusion you throw shots you necessarily shouldn't or wouldn't in a fight, for example I may throw a kick in full padded sparring without analysing the distance, timing and if it will be blocked or not because Im not going to feel pain. But you wouldn't throw that same kick in the fight without analysing first because one it will hurt if its blocked/caught and two you may not score a point.
So why do I think play sparring is so important and beneficial?
The fact you have no protection on instantly makes you concentrate more, you are aware if you throw a shot and it get's blocked or doesnt land correctly its probably going to be painful to either you or your training partner, especially if its a kick being blocked by a shin.
I feel knowing this and being aware of it forces you to slow down making you pick your shots more wisely. You become more conscious of your trades and wait for the perfect timing and opening before attacking your partner.
Perhaps we throw less shots in this scenario but most likely we have more success with these fewer shots rather than to the ratio of throwing a higher number of shots in full padded sparring.
This type of sparring can really benefit your fight performance, as it helps to improve and develop your your timing, distancing and reactions.
Here is an example of play sparring, featuring Kru Manasak Pinsinchai and myself.
Tips to remember when play sparring to avoid injury.
Keep your hands open not in a tight fist, so essentially your punch will become a light slap.
Even if you can try not to block the kick with your shin, catch it or take it on your arm/back.
Avoid power shots, neither of you have protection on and this is not a real fight.
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