Jiu Jitsu translated: This is a translation of an article from Carpe Diem Jiu-Jitsu in Japan. The link to the original article in Japanese is http://bjjaoyama.com/wordpress/852
What is sparring? I'm sure there are many interpretations on its meaning, but I would like my students to know that sparring in practice is something completely different from an actual match at a tournament. You explain it as the use of technique without having to depend on strength or speed, which could be defined as "Practice in a match setting to better you and your training partner's technique while maintaining a calm mind, heart, and spirit."
Since we're engaged in hand to hand combat injuries are going to happen, but I believe you can progress quicker and efficiently without getting hurt. If you're sparring every day with the intensity of a match you're bound to get a severe injury that will prevent your from practicing. Some may argue that in order to become a world champion you have to have the body to withstand injuries even with frequent and intense sparring. However, at our dojo we don't practice that way.
Tap quick and when finishing with a submission finish slow and with control. When you try to finish a submission with control they might get away. Who cares…. It's just practice anyway. As long as you can believe you would have been able to finish it in a match then that should be good enough. Another thing to keep in mind is that if the submission looked finished but you had to force your way out of it, you should be self conscious. There are some submissions where if you don't finish it right away you won't finish it at all. I tend to shy away from using them in training. It's more of a personal esthetic issues than anything else. Really, as longs as it's not illegal you can do anything but I'm really not that interested in submissions that might injure your partner or moves that just simply hurt. I spar while being tied up in the esthetic of things, but I like that. Those guys who are in their prime might not be saying things like that because they simply must win. And I can sympathize with that. But sparring like that can be done by competitors who are mutually training to be at the most elite levels.
When you're sparring there is no win, there is no loss. It's only your ego that cares about those things. I'm a black belt and my skills are presumable much higher than lower belts, but at times there are blue belts and purple belts of mine who will put me in a submission to tap. I believe frantically trying to escape that finish and avoid tapping looks much more lame. When it happens I just tap and give them bitter smile while saying, "you got me!" It's no exaggeration to say that when we're sparring our personality shows. It's really disappointing to see someone who has good character and personality clicking their tongue while sparring.
If you want to prove your potential then you should compete in tournaments. In a match, there really is no need to be aware of how your opponent is doing. That's the referee's job. Until the referee says "Paro" to stop the match, you don't need to let go of the submission. If you let go before the referee signals the end of the match with the verbal command, there is a chance the opponent claims they didn't tap. That actually happens once in a while. I was always the type to just let go. Some have escaped submissions as a result of that. Since that's my attitude toward things, maybe that's why I wasn't ever the best. But in the end, all I can say is "oh well."
I'll write this much and there are still going to be people that spare with excessive aggression during practice. These people shouldn't just be left to figure it out on their own. Those who intentionally hurting training partners, being unable to follow the manners of sparring even after ample corrections, will eventually be asked not to practice at our dojo. They might even be asked to leave our team. It's not a pretty job, but if it means avoiding a preventable injury I won't hesitate to do so.
Translated by: Eliot Kelly
For more information on jiujitsu in El Dorado Hills visit http://www.edhbjj.com El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu offers a comprehensive martial arts program for all ages. Call to schedule a free trial lesson 916.595.4064 Thank you Carpe Diem Jiu Jitsu for the great article!
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