Do you have to fight to train?

If you’re in a martial arts school, it’s likely that you’ve heard someone say something along the lines of “If you train Martial Arts, you really have to fight to train.”

But is it really essential to fight?

Believe it or not we’ve been asked that question multiple times, and it’s a somewhat situational question. There is a difference between knowing how to fight and actually fighting. In martial arts we practice. We learn to fight and defend ourselves in the most realistic way possible. We take advantage of our environment, upgrade our skill set, overcome adversity and improve with every passing day.

It is through sparring with your partner that you will learn how to properly defend yourself. We’re not teaching our students how to fight each other, instead we’re teaching them how to defend themselves.

I can’t visualize how you’d learn proper defense without sparring.

It’s important to understand that sparring is a controlled environment and will never come without risk. But it’s also an experience that will help improve your skills and prepare you for real life situations.

So when the opportunity comes—and knowing martial arts means preparing for these opportunities ahead of time—put on your gear and enter the ring with confidence.

The key is to find someone who is willing to fight you back, but not too hard. That’s the best way to get an accurate portrayal of what it’ll feel like to defend yourself in a real confrontation.