I agree. My point was that a referee doesn't create a meaningful difference (to me, in my goals) between sparring and competition. The ref is there to ensure rules are followed (and to count points, in some formats). That can be handled by the combatants while sparring.
In training, what happens is the same that happens in everyone's training. We're all human, and that doesn't change just because I train for SD. But we fight on as best we can in the moment (including doing what we can to safely train when injured), and acknowledge the consequences of that situation if it were outside the dojo. If we could all heal immediately, the best approach would be to make every mistake very costly. That's impractical both for everyday purposes (we all have lives to lead) and self-defense purposes (getting injured a lot doesn't make someone more able to defend themselves).
I seem to remember a gym posting a video of a day they did that. IIRC, one of them rolled in a tutu.
I really don't understand, Steve. That's what I've been trying to say. It seems arbitrary to me, and that's out of character for you, so I don't think I understand. I don't see where there's a meaningful difference between sparring and competition, assuming similar intensity and ruleset. I talked about this with my wife yesterday, and something Drop Bear said gave me pause. He commented that he got tapped out in training, and there would have been more consequences if it were competition. I don't see that, at all. But then, to me, competition is about competing, not about winning. When I played sports, I wanted to win because that was more fun. But I'd rather lose than not play, because playing was fun, win or lose. And I played the same way in scrimmage as I did in games. Maybe that's why I didn't play soccer in college, though I was probably good enough. It was just fun for me, and that wasn't enough drive for me to put in that time.I don't know, Gerry. It's all there. I've tried to explain it several different ways over the years. If you really would like to understand, let me know. If you think you understand and are just telling me you think I'm wrong, I don't have the energy any more. You win.
I like that, DB. I don't have enough people to do a drill like that right now, but I'm adding the concept to my arsenal for advanced student training. It has a more direct purpose for MMA competition training (because you're more likely to need that amount of stamina), but the mindset part of it applies both places (keep fighting even when you feel like you can't) and is - if anything - even more important in SD. Thanks for sharing that.
I had this same conversation yesterday and said the same thing. The other instructor told me that our sparring was a waste of time for self-defense purposes. He asked how many times have I had broken nose or broken bones. He said that occurs in a real fight and if it's not happening in sparring then we aren't actually fighting.
This is my definition of exaggerate: "to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal". Source: If a punching technique in training extends beyond what would be considered a the normal application of that technique in fighting, then the technique done in training would be considered by definition, as an enlargement of what is done in fighting.
Just curious, not challenging: how would you define overextending?
When you say "normal", are you referring to that sort of "average across many styles"? In other words, what most of us are used to seeing?
Over extending breaks structure and greatly reduces benefit of the action. This is the definition I use for overextend: " to extend or expand beyond a safe or reasonable point" source. If my punch does this then I have put myself in an unsafe position in which my punch would have had no more power then a punch that I didn't overextend. Sometimes it makes the punch weaker because the structure required for the punch is broken.
When I say "normal" I'm referring to the normal application of a technique in a fighting like sparring or actual fighting scenario. For example a boxer's uppercut. There is a maximum range of effectiveness and that would be the "normal range." for a boxer's upper. Take note of what happens when the uppercut goes beyond that "normal range." The structure, breaks, he is wide open.
That's pretty much my point. I don't see competition as an end point. It's something that (under the right ruleset) could be fun. But I can't really see myself being overly concerned with winning. I'm more focused on the not-losing/winning when I consider self-defense, for exactly the reason you point out.
