Sparring vs Scenario Based Training
There seems to be a little misunderstanding out there about sparring and it's benefits compared to reality based scenario exercises and role playing.
I am going to start with what I understand as sparring and what it helps us develop.
Sparring is a great way to test particular skills against an uncooperative training partner. It helps us check out what works under certain conditions, challenges our physical fitness and tests basic skill sets. Our partner agrees to resist our attempts and makes us work for a win. Protective gear of some sort is often used and there are rules of engagement that protect the participants. Sparring is primarily used to test sporting based martial arts that have a competitive component to them.
Sparring is primarily concerned with developing physical skills, endurance, speed, competitive spirit and has a strong component of sportsmanship like all athletic events. The level of intensity can be varied depending on the skills of the participants and rules can be adjusted to test particular skills.
Sparring has a place in martial arts, but it is limited in what it offers and what is developed in the participants. Sparring is often also style based. For instance in Tae Kwon Do take downs and ground fighting skills would not be tested. In BJJ kicking skills would not be used. If you are training for a point, no contact, tournament then those rules would be followed. Sparring is a sports tool. It can be geared to develop many aspects but it is limited in many ways.
Scenario based training can test everything you can in sparring and much more. Decision making, tactical and strategic thinking, use of weapons, cover, concealment, escape routes, use of force, proper use of environment are just a few examples. Like sparring there are rules to protect participants and protective gear is often used however the purpose and approach are totally different and much more diverse.
To start with, here is an example of how a scenario based training exercise could function.
You have been in a weekend workshop focused on how to use barricades, obstacles and weapons of opportunity against an attacker. The focus is on de-escalation, maintaining a position of tactical advantage and immediate neutralization of an imminent threat. OK, so here is a big difference. When have you ever heard terminology like that used during a sparring session?
So the scenario is this. You are walking to your car in a parking lot at the mall. You had to park a fair distance from the door because it was very busy when you arrived. It is now 9 pm, the parking lot is almost empty and it is getting dark. There is no security to call to walk you to your vehicle and you are alone. As you approach your vehicle a male walks up to you and asks for some money. He seems harmless at first but as he gets closer he reaches out and grabs your shirt. As you attempt to pull away he steps in and pushes you against your car. You have pepper spray in your purse and a tactical flashlight in your hand. There is a car on both sides of you and the mall entrance is 75 yards away. There is no one else in the parking lot.
Well, if this ever happens to you you made several mistakes to begin with, but that is not the focus right now. The response here in a scenario is to do what ever is necessary to remove yourself from the situation as fast as possible. There are many options available to you. Which ones you choose and why are what is being tested. Your immediate physical response and the intensity of your attack is being tested. How quickly did you disable him? What was your fear level? How did you deal with it? What other factors came into play? How do you describe what happened to the police? How do you justify your use of force if he is on the ground moaning, holding what used to be his testicles and bleeding all over the pavement?
Scenarios can be used to test knowledge, skills, decision making and much more. They can be simple or complicated. They can take place in parking lots, bedrooms, living rooms or an office environment. They can include weapons, multiple opponents and just about anything else you can come up with. Put some protective gear on, bring in multiple attackers and you have a challenge that will test anyone at any skill level.
Reality based training is an important element of a complete martial arts or personal protection program. If your school or program does not use scenario based training then talk to them about incorporating it. Sparring has it's place but as I said before reality based training goes much deeper and has many more aspects to it than sparring alone.
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