Sparring and Control

How do we know when we have complete control?

It is very subjective and can be perceived differently by others. Watching two people spar is a task in interpretation. Who made the best shot, the first shot, within range, who has a strategy, who is merely reacting and who has control?

As a student you have to determine if you have control of yourself. If you maintain control of yourself you systematically take away your opponents own self control.

How does one determine this?

I came across a description of control as an “option of compassion”.

Let me explain why I agree with it.

To follow the path of the martial artist, many hours are put into practicing the basics of centering ones self to gain control of your actions. The martial artist will then move on to practicing applications and techniques with a training partner.

Practice gives you the ability to react but it takes mastery to include control of the reaction.

This is the ability to apply a technique with a degree of control that allows you the

“ option of compassion”.

Meaning, I can either seriously hurt this attacker or I can choose to apply just enough pressure to ensure my training partner knows I have positively executed a strike or break without causing them pain or injury.

This level of control happens by choice not by chance. This is the control as a martial artist that we strive for through practice and feedback from our fellow training partners.
This is why it is so important to maintain a healthy training relationship with your peers.
The more variety and exposure the closer the goal of Control becomes.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada