Editing Sparring

{{short description|Type of training for combat sports}}
{{About||the online role-playing style|Sparring (online role-playing)|the Swedish hockey goaltender|Jonas Sparring}}
{{redirect|Sparring partner|other uses|Sparring Partner (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Tommy Burns sparring.jpg|thumb|right|350 px|[[Tommy Burns (Canadian boxer)|Tommy Burns]] during a sparring session]]
'''Sparring''' is a form of [[training]] common to many [[combat sports]]. It can encompass a range of activities and techniques such as punching, kicking, grappling, throwing, wrestling or submission work dependent on style. Although the precise form varies, it is essentially relatively '[[Aliveness (martial arts)|free-form]]' fighting, with enough rules, [[Convention (norm)|customs]], or agreements to minimize injuries. By extension, argumentative [[debate]] is sometimes called sparring.

==Differences between styles==
The physical nature of sparring naturally varies with the nature of the [[skills]] it is intended to develop; sparring in a [[Strike (attack)|striking]] art such as [[Karate]] will normally begin with the players at opposite sides of the mat and will be given a point for striking the appropriate area and will be given a foul for striking an inappropriate area or stepping out of the area. Sparring in a [[grappling]] art such as [[judo]] might begin with the partners holding one another and end if they separate.

The organization of sparring matches also varies; if the participants know each other well and are friendly, it may be sufficient for them to simply play, without rules, referee, or timer. If the sparring is between strangers, there is some emotional tension, or if the sparring is being evaluated, it may be appropriate to introduce formal rules and have an experienced martial artist supervise or referee the match.
[[Image:WTF Taekwondo 1.jpg|thumb|left|160px|A [[World Taekwondo Federation|WT]] [[Taekwondo|taekwondo sparring match]]]]

In some schools, permission to begin sparring is granted upon entry. The rationale for this decision is that students must learn how to deal with a fast, powerful, and determined attacker. In other schools, students may be required to wait a few months, for safety reasons,<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Are White Belt Fighters So Dangerous? |date=8 October 2010|url=http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/white-belt-fighters-so-dangerous/}}</ref> because they must first build the skills they would ideally employ in their sparring practice.

Sparring is normally distinct from fights in competition, the goal of sparring normally being the education of the participants.

== Use and sport==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2020}}
{{original research section|date=December 2020}}
In any sparring match, precautions are often taken to protect the participants. These may include wearing protective gear, declaring certain techniques and targets off-limits, generally lighter contact and shorter round times, or various other limitations depending on the style being practiced. These precautions have the potential to offer a false sense of security when transitioning to tournaments. Many schools recognize this problem but value sparring nonetheless because it forces the student to improvise, to think under pressure, utilise the techniques they have learnt and apply them, and to keep their emotions under control.

The level of contact is also debated, lighter contact may lead to less injuries but hard contact may better prepare individuals for competition or [[self-defense]]. Some sport styles, such as [[sanshou|sanda]], [[taekwondo]], [[Tang Soo Do|tang soo do]], [[kyokushin]], [[kūdō]], [[karate]], [[kendo]], and [[mixed martial arts]] use full contact sparring, though some of them, such as taekwondo ([[World Taekwondo|WT]]) and kendo make use of full-body protective gear.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}

== Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ==
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu sparring is full contact and injuries are rare {{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} as it does not involve striking but rather forcing the opponent to submit using grappling techniques.

== MMA ==
There is much controversy in [[mixed martial arts]] about the benefits of full contact sparring vs career-threatening injuries. Former [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] fighter Jamie Varner came to an early retirement because he had much head trauma in full contact sparring.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hauser |first=Steve |date=24 March 2015 |title=Former UFC fighter Jamie Varner warns young fighters: Too much sparring can lead to early retirement |website=Bloody Elbow |url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/3/24/8282165/ufc-jamie-varner-sparring-warning-head-trauma-retirement-training-mma-news |access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref>

UFC former welterweight champions [[Robbie Lawler]] and [[Johny Hendricks]] do not do full contact sparring.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryder |first=Matthew |date=16 March 2014 |title=Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler: How Safe Sparring May Change Contact Sports |website=Bleacher Report |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1994748-johny-hendricks-vs-robbie-lawler-how-safe-sparring-may-change-contact-sports |access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref>

== Names and types ==
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2012}}
<!-- Would this list be better if integrated? -->
Sparring has different names and different forms in various schools. Some schools prefer not to call it sparring, as they feel it differs in kind from what is normally called sparring.
[[Image:Half guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.jpg|thumb|[[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]] practitioners 'Rolling']]
* In Western [[fencing]], including [[historical fencing]], the combat is called in English "free play," "sparring," the "assault," or simply "fencing," depending on the form of fencing studied.
* In [[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]] sparring is commonly called rolling.
* In [[Capoeira]], the closest analogue to sparring is jogo (playing in the [[Roda (art)|roda]]).
* In [[Chinese martial arts]], sparring is usually trained at first as individual applications, eventually combined as freestyle training of long, medium and short range techniques. See [[sanshou]], [[pushing hands]], [[chi sao]].
* In many [[Japanese martial arts]], a grappling-type sparring activity is usually called [[randori]].
** In judo, this is essentially one-on-one sparring.
** In most forms of [[aikido]], it is a formalized form of sparring where one aikidoka defends against many attackers.
* In [[Karate]], sparring is called [[kumite]] (組手),<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Stewart |first=John |date=Nov 1980 |title=Kumite: A Learning Experience |journal=[[Black Belt magazine]] |pages=28–34, 91 |url=https://ultimateactionmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/black-belt-magazine-nov-1980.pdf}}</ref> see also [[randori]].
* In [[Kūdō]], it is called sparring
* In [[Taekwondo]], sparring is called [[kyorugi]] by the [[World Taekwondo Federation]] (WTF) or matsogi by the [[International Taekwon-Do Federation]] (ITF).
** In the WTF, the majority of the attacks executed are [[kicking]] techniques, whereas the ITF encourages the use of both hands and feet. The ITF does not always spar with head guards, but it is known to occur in some organizations practicing this form.
* In [[Silat]], the act of sparring may either be referred to as ''berpencak'' or ''bersilat''. Another form of competition is [[silat Melayu#Silat pulut|silat pulut]] in which the practitioners take turns reversing each other's moves.
* In the Indian martial art, Shastarvidya, sparring is done in the form of martial games called Sonchi. The level changes from indicating strikes, to touches and in advanced level, landing full contact blows. However, caution is always maintained in order to avoid any kind of injury or trauma.

== See also ==
* [[Aliveness (martial arts)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{martial arts}}

[[Category:Mock combat]]