Full contact or Non Full Contact

MisterMcDojo · White Belt

Hello everyone. I'm just curious in regards to the benefits in training in full contact karate, and the benefits in training in non-full contact karate.

I hear that training full contact, like Kyokushin, helps much more in the overall training experience because the focus on the training is tougher. You are supposed to throw actual strong punches to your opponent, to not only improve your skill as a fighter, but also hard training strengthens your body.

It's not a point system. Where one touch gets you a win. I, personally, don't see the benefits in training in non contact. Because how is that supposed to make you a better fighter? In a real fight, you can't just touch your opponent and win. You are doing yourself a dis-service to training in the martial arts by not practicing in full contact.

Martial arts has really become "martial sports", if you understand what I mean. If you look at how karate has become. The JKA is one of those heavy influences in spreading "martial sports" around, and I don't think it benefits the user in the long run to train like that. Full contact, from my research, is the best way to train. To become a better martial artist.

However, I could be wrong. And as so I dedicated my question over here on the forums. What are the pros and cons between the two training regiments? Is my entire assessment flawed? How so? I'm curious, because I would like to get solid closure on my question. Is there a benefit to training non full contact over full contact?

ps1 · Black Belt

Welcome to the forums.

I don't think you're gonna find alot of people around here who will tell you that full contact is bad. However, there is a direct correlation between the level of contact and the likelihood of injury. The best full contact fighters in the world don't spar full contact all the time. They deconstruct the skills and train them individually. They do full contact maybe once a week...sometimes even less, depending on their training cycle.

So, to answer your question, I would say both. Full contact is certainly necessary, IMO, if you're looking for skill in combat situations. But doing it too often will break down the body for sure.

That said, I see virtually no self defense benefit to point sparring. If you're doing light sparring, it should still be with combinations.
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Dobbersky · Black Belt

A Blackbelt SHOULD be able to fight in any arena.

Non-contact is like sending a soldier to the frontline with an M16 after only ever trained with a broomstick
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bushido_man96 · KF Sensei

brickshooter · Green Belt

No one daily trains in full contact. Full contact is reserved for competition.

Here's how professionals do it: They load up the sparing partner with a ton of protective gear. Then the Champ gets to pound the sparing partner who is only allowed to hit back at 1/4 power. Nevertheless the Champ goes through 3-5 sparing partners per day because getting pounded is exhausting even if loaded with gear. In other words sparing partners are paid to be human punching bags. That is real life full contact training.

DaveAbramson · White Belt

In my opinion... one would obviously be better (more skilled and certainly tougher) if they only sparred full (100%) contact. But this too would highly increase the chances of getting injured... and what good is an injured fighter?!
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sensei8 · KF Sensei

sensei8 · KF Sensei

As its been already mentioned, both non-contact and full contact have their unique training advantages that I think can't be ignored nor denied.

I do both, personally as well as professional. Personally, I love the full contact just as I love the air which I breathe, the more, the better. Professionally, my students need the vehicle of non-contact because it drives them to understand the mechanics of sparring.

Don't do full contact if ones only doing it because "it's cool"; one's heart has to be ready and prepared for full contact.

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seikokaistudent · Yellow Belt

Train full contact for sure. Full contact is generally for younger people who have time before their knees get blown out, and who recover/heal quicker. If you are young and have a sensei you really like who does not practice full contact (like me). Find an MMA gym to go to or spar full contact with your friends outside of class.
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chrissyp · Orange Belt

What do you mean by full-contact? Do you mean full force, or full target range, like leg kicks, face punches, ect?

As mentioned, do BOTH. You need full contact (not 100% full force though) to physicaly train both you mind and body for combat...prepare it for whats to come...

as for non-full contact, use that time to work on perfect technique, have fun, play around with new things without worrying about getting smashed, aka time drills, handicap sparring.

Point sparring, is great for beginners, cause it teaches control, while not realistic though, it does build confidence up. I find the biggest thing is a lot of people are scared to spar, even light contact.

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