Go down swinging

There are many elements to kung-fu but sparring has been the most cathartic for me.

Sparring has so many countless benefits for a martial artist. Development of timing and the ability to read an opponent, learning how to deal with adrenaline, overall cardio improvement, toughening up of an individual - and lots more.

Although it was a smaller part of my overall training I spent years sparring on a weekly basis and always got home with a deep sense of satisfaction from it. The satisfaction was akin to having had accomplished something. It was the kind of feeling I was looking for when I chose to start training in martial arts originally. I would not be close to the same martial artist if I did not have this experience, my 'vocabulary of motion' would not be the same.

It has very little to do with the 'fight' aspect of the activity, it is not a testosterone thing as some people may assume - it's more about being 'in the zone' and working at level 10. There is little else that has forced me to be in the moment more than sparring at a high level where is impossible to let your mind wander.

Sparring also serves as a fitness meter, it encourages you to stay in shape so you have speed, endurance and cardio week after week to rely on - if you don't stay in top shape you will fall behind and start to get your butt kicked - not much else keeps you this honest about your level of fitness by putting it to the test on a regular basis.

For a little while now sparring has not been part of my training in this way, and I have recently realized that I feel this as a big whole in my routine and a large contributor to how I feel about my martial arts.

I am going to take measures to rectify this (recognize and address). Since the world is going to end in 2012 anyways, I might as well go down swinging.