This is why I never enter Tournaments because they too many rules and not very realistic for actual combat. In class I been known to forget about these rules. For instance i seem to like kicking to the groin (its not intentional!) by instinct and sometimes I have the urge to use a spinning backfist but have to stop myself because I'm told I'm not allowed to do that. I spar with my fellow students, most of whom have not been training as long as me and probably think they would be able to take care of themselves when it mattered but I wonder if they would remember out other kung fu techniques such as clawing, eye gouges, elbows, knees, spinning back fists and a good old kick to the crown jewels when needed.
These sound like bad habits if i were using them in a tournament situation but if my life depended on it I woudl use every dirty trick to survive.
In my class we do San Shou so we can throw and use submissions while we spar as well. Unfortunately when when you're put in a hold you can't break free by using pressure points or biting which i would most likely try in a real confrontation. These are our rules, you can punch to the head, kick to the head, use some low kicks, throws, holds and submissions can only last for a count of 4. No hook punches, no back fists, elbows allowed though. So with all these rules someone who enters competitions a lot is going to be used to this and think they are good when they are not!
There are some good tournament fighters in my class but how they woudl fare on the street is anyone's guess, with no gloves, head gear or cup.
This is why I only use just my gloves and foot mits and no groin protection so that I learn to take hits to the face and I learn to cover up, evade and block.
