Friday is the day for sparring. That is when I go to Versus 21 and try and put together what I learned there. It involves facing off against another human being and trying to get a good kick or punch in, and of course I take a few myself.

When I started sparring, I discovered what a huge challenge it was to apply what I learned in class on a heavy bag against a real opponent. Everything is changing. You have to pay attention. You get tired, sloppy, you miss, your opponent frustrates you, you drop your gloves or he or gets through your block somehow. Or maybe, the level of conflict escalates and its up to you how you want to respond. Its about taking responsibility for what you have learned.

I have heard a general criticism of martial arts before, that it is too much about an instructor at the head of the class, telling you want to do and you dont think for yourself as a student. To even warrant such a comment, there must be examples out there where that behavior is taken to an extreme, even parody. But sparring is the remedy for all that. You are put in charge of your learning.

And what a Its a huge shift it is from simply blocking that kick because the sensei told you to, and taking responsibility for it yourself. Its up to you to block that kick now. You dont want to block that low kick? Fine. Dont block the low kick. Feel the consequences. Because having the best sensei in the world wont matter if you dont take responsibility for the lessons you have learned. And by the way, it turns out that you lose less energy by lifting that leg and blocking that kick rather than leaving it on the ground and taking it.

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