Etiquette When Looking for a Sparring/Demo Partner from Another Style?

[wingchun100]

Hello everyone,

I am sure we have all seen our share of videos out there that are meant to demonstrate one style versus another, in which the demostrator and the demo partner are BOTH FROM THE SAME STYLE. For example, you have a Wing Chun versus Grappling demo, and the person doing the grappling is someone else from that school. Well, I would like to break that mold. If I am going to make a video where I show "Wing Chun Vs. (fill in the blank,)" or if I am not making a video but simply want to see how my skills would deal with a grappler or kicker, then I want someone who REALLY does those styles.

The thing is, I am always worried about offending someone. I don't want to give them the impression that I am asking, "Hi! Will you practice with me so I can show Wing Chun is better than your style?"

So my question for the board is: how would you phrase such a question? Obviously I would have to approach the hypothetical partner in a way where they understand this practice would be mutually beneficial (I'm using WC to learn how to deal with their style, and they are simultaneously learning how to deal with WC), but I am still not quite sure how to phrase it.

 

[drop bear]

find out when whatever club sparrs. Ask if you can join in. a lot of clubs do open mats and have no issue letting new people in.

 

[WaterGal]

If you want to make a video series about Wing Chun vs Other Style, you need to make sure to think about "what's in it for them". Like you say, if it comes across like you want to make a series about WC beating everyone else's style, nobody will agree to work with you. You need to show their style in a good light.

Maybe you could propose to do a series where you and a practitioner of another style will each show a technique from your style and demonstrate how it can be used against a technique from the other's style. If you show the other style in a good light in your first video, I think it will become easier to recruit more people to work with you after that. But you might have a hard time talking someone into doing that first video, unless it's someone who already knows and trusts you.

 

[wingchun100]

If you want to make a video series about Wing Chun vs Other Style, you need to make sure to think about "what's in it for them". Like you say, if it comes across like you want to make a series about WC beating everyone else's style, nobody will agree to work with you. You need to show their style in a good light.

Maybe you could propose to do a series where you and a practitioner of another style will each show a technique from your style and demonstrate how it can be used against a technique from the other's style. If you show the other style in a good light in your first video, I think it will become easier to recruit more people to work with you after that. But you might have a hard time talking someone into doing that first video, unless it's someone who already knows and trusts you.

I was thinking of making it clear that (1) if I DID do a video series, I would say right at the start of the video "the intention is not to say WC is better than xyz. Rather, the purpose is that a lot of people ask how WC would handle other styles, so that is what I am answering against someone who ACTUALLY practices that style instead of having another WC practitioner faking it."

However, I do like your idea where, even if I made these videos on what is supposed to be my own "Wing Chun Youtube channel," then I could have the other practitioner show me how THEIR style would deal with someone from WC. Awesome idea!

 

[oftheherd1]

Hello everyone,

...

So my question for the board is: how would you phrase such a question? Obviously I would have to approach the hypothetical partner in a way where they understand this practice would be mutually beneficial (I'm using WC to learn how to deal with their style, and they are simultaneously learning how to deal with WC), but I am still not quite sure how to phrase it.

I think you have an interesting idea. Not which art is better in the mind of the practitioner of a given art, but how do different arts handle different attacks. And how they might react given a favored response isn't as effective as expected.

You might want to try and find a way to equate differences in training and ability. That even among different schools in the same art. But nice idea.

 

[JowGaWolf]

Rather, the purpose is that a lot of people ask how WC would handle other styles, so that is what I am answering against someone who ACTUALLY practices that style instead of having another WC practitioner faking it."

The only way to do this is through free sparring. Anything less will just be another demo..

If you just video tape your free sparring sessions then you can do an analysis and give insight on what you were doing and how you were trying to apply WC against another style. From there you can talk about what was working and what wasn't working and bring up any problems you were having with trying to do yoru WC techniques against that other fighting system.

If you do it this way then it won't be fake, and it will be as close to realistic fighting that you'll be able to get without actually being in a real fight and risking someone being seriously injured.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Outside of the video portion and just wanting to see how well your WC works against a grappler, for instance, I wouldn't make any mention of "is Wing Chun better than your style." I would say something like "WC has some anti-grappling techniques, and I just wanted to see if they work, mind if we try them out" in order to practice the specific techniques, or ask a grappler "I don't have a lot of experience against grapplers, any interest in a sparring match" (you can change that first part if you want, or leave it out entirely and just say hey, hows it going blah blah blah, any interest in a sparring match?)

With the video, then you need to make it clear what it is for and get their okay, but again don't use the word better, say something like "I'm making a video series to see what WC techniques are or aren't effective against various styles, do you mind helping me with it?" There's a solid chance they won't even ask for anything in return, and if they do it probably wouldn't be anything unreasonable (likely asking questions they have about WC or something similar).

 

[Buka]

Perhaps we could set a date, say eighteen months from now (to give everyone adequate time) and a bunch of us could meet at a location in the U.S. It would be best, obviously, if we met at a location where one of our members had access to his place of training.

I'll bet we would have a lot of fun, and learn a lot. And no doubt spend countless hours afterwards talking our fool heads off. I'm game if anyone else is, and I'll probably be flying further.

One caveat - I ain't going to Montana in the winter for nobody.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Perhaps we could set a date, say eighteen months from now (to give everyone adequate time) and a bunch of us could meet at a location in the U.S. It would be best, obviously, if we met at a location where one of our members had access to his place of training.

I'll bet we would have a lot of fun, and learn a lot. And no doubt spend countless hours afterwards talking our fool heads off. I'm game if anyone else is, and I'll probably be flying further.

One caveat - I ain't going to Montana in the winter for nobody.

I would absolutely be up for this; it sounds awesome! I have no idea how my life will be going at that time, but as long as it is possible I would go there.

 

[wingchun100]

Outside of the video portion and just wanting to see how well your WC works against a grappler, for instance, I wouldn't make any mention of "is Wing Chun better than your style." I would say something like "WC has some anti-grappling techniques, and I just wanted to see if they work, mind if we try them out" in order to practice the specific techniques, or ask a grappler "I don't have a lot of experience against grapplers, any interest in a sparring match" (you can change that first part if you want, or leave it out entirely and just say hey, hows it going blah blah blah, any interest in a sparring match?)

With the video, then you need to make it clear what it is for and get their okay, but again don't use the word better, say something like "I'm making a video series to see what WC techniques are or aren't effective against various styles, do you mind helping me with it?" There's a solid chance they won't even ask for anything in return, and if they do it probably wouldn't be anything unreasonable (likely asking questions they have about WC or something similar).

No, I would not use the word "better" at all. Instead, it would be something more along the lines of, "How would WC work against grappling?" Or something to that effect. I have no demo partner at the moment, so I have time to play around with it.

 

[mograph]

It's all about learning. You want to learn about their style.
This implies that you think it's good enough to learn from. Everyone wants to teach and share.

Then you go out and eat!

 

[JowGaWolf]

Maybe this video will help. Listen to what he says, maybe this will ease your mind.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

No, I would not use the word "better" at all. Instead, it would be something more along the lines of, "How would WC work against grappling?" Or something to that effect. I have no demo partner at the moment, so I have time to play around with it.

I wouldn't even phrase it like that, unless it's for the purpose of a series, since it's still implying "is my style better than yours". Just say that you know some anti grappling stuff, and want to experiment with it to see how it works. (Not if it works, how it works, subtle differences are important).

 

[Flying Crane]

The problem is, in order to really assess how you would apply your wing chun against a grappler, you would need to hit him hard enough to injure him. With a system that predominantly strikes, that's the only way to really know.

So the other guy has to be willing to accept that.

And if you don't stop him with powerful strikes and he throws you down and injures you, you need to be willing to accept that part of it too.

I can't think of another way to test this stuff , that doesn't include some amount of play-acting for the sake of safety. But if you are play-acting, then you don't really know.

This is problematic.

 

[KangTsai]

Hello everyone,

I am sure we have all seen our share of videos out there that are meant to demonstrate one style versus another, in which the demostrator and the demo partner are BOTH FROM THE SAME STYLE. For example, you have a Wing Chun versus Grappling demo, and the person doing the grappling is someone else from that school. Well, I would like to break that mold. If I am going to make a video where I show "Wing Chun Vs. (fill in the blank,)" or if I am not making a video but simply want to see how my skills would deal with a grappler or kicker, then I want someone who REALLY does those styles.

The thing is, I am always worried about offending someone. I don't want to give them the impression that I am asking, "Hi! Will you practice with me so I can show Wing Chun is better than your style?"

So my question for the board is: how would you phrase such a question? Obviously I would have to approach the hypothetical partner in a way where they understand this practice would be mutually beneficial (I'm using WC to learn how to deal with their style, and they are simultaneously learning how to deal with WC), but I am still not quite sure how to phrase it.

How about "Hi! Can I spar with you to try my skills against someone from a style different from mine?" You can ask anything other than your example.

 

[JowGaWolf]

How about "Hi! Can I spar with you to try my skills against someone from a style different from mine?" You can ask anything other than your example.

Or. Hi, Do you guys spar with people from other styles? If they say yes, then ask when. If they say no then don't ask again lol. I think the OP is going to find out that his techniques aren't going to be as easy to pull off when sparring against another system.

 

[drop bear]

The problem is, in order to really assess how you would apply your wing chun against a grappler, you would need to hit him hard enough to injure him. With a system that predominantly strikes, that's the only way to really know.

So the other guy has to be willing to accept that.

And if you don't stop him with powerful strikes and he throws you down and injures you, you need to be willing to accept that part of it too.

I can't think of another way to test this stuff , that doesn't include some amount of play-acting for the sake of safety. But if you are play-acting, then you don't really know.

This is problematic.

 

[hoshin1600]

It's the video concept that throws a wrench in the works because no one wants to be seen in a bad light. You should also be prepared to have your butt handed to you. Would you be will to put that on you tube as well?

 

[JowGaWolf]

It's the video concept that throws a wrench in the works because no one wants to be seen in a bad light. You should also be prepared to have your butt handed to you. Would you be will to put that on you tube as well?

I hope so. I would like to see it. I know I put my bad sparring videos online. It should be an issue for most people unless they bragged about how good they were or that they were going to show "real WC". sparring to learn also gives a person a way to save face in the event things don't go as desired.

 

[Flying Crane]

I'm not sure what I'm suppose to be getting from this.