“Free sparring is a soft skill, A skill that requires creativity, different experiences, and calculated risks to improve upon!”
As discussed in my previous article about one step sparring. Free sparring is a soft skill, A skill that requires creativity, different experiences, and calculated risks to improve upon!
In The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle, he suggests that the right environment to improve upon these skills is similar to a skate park. Think of that imagery. At a skate park you see skaters being friendly and casual with each other (Coyle 24). This casual vibe allows the skaters to make themselves vulnerable and to try new things and to try new tricks!
When I think of the most meaningful experiences I have had in free sparring inside the studio, none of them are from a formal class! All of them are from after class where we all just put on pads, play with different techniques, and have fun discussions. When we train our sparring in the context of class, there are times where we get stiff and nervous due to the militant atmosphere of a formal class. Our sparring takes a hit, in this case, as a result!
Next time you spar, whether it be in or out of class, take a “play” mentality when working with your partners. You will learn and improve drastically from this mindset!
REFERENCES
Coyle, Daniel. The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills. Bantam Books, 2012.
