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What changes from a real fight to a sporting one?

No matter what kind of training the contenders did, a real fight does not look like:

Forms, sequences (etc., read also Are Karate’s Kata, Kung Fu’s form (etc.) useless?)
Martial arts movies’ choreographies (read Martial arts: movies VS reality, 7 differences)
Ring combat (boxing, MMA competitions, etc., read Declared techniques, sparring & sport competition)

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

Let’s therefore see the main differences.

The 5 crucial differences

1) A real fight does not have rules:

No time limits
No recovery times
No prohibited targets
No prohibited techniques
We cannot stop the struggle by simply tapping on the ground
…

A note by Master Kongling – In proportion, the risk of dying or suffering serious damage is incredibly high (read Self-defense, martial clash and war clash).

2) In a real fight there are no protections:

Mouthguard
Gloves
Shell
Safe environment
…

A note by Master Kongling – There being no restrictions of any kind, we always have to cover all our weak parts (genitals, eyes, etc., read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///) and we cannot count on all those techniques that leave uncovered our weak parts: all of this drastically changes our approach.

3) In a real fight is seldom possible to choose when to fight:

Not after 2-12 months of psychophysical preparation (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///)
In most cases by surprise (eg. during the night, maybe when we are sick, etc., read Self-Defense: is it possible to always be ready to fight?)
Without stretching / warm-up (read How to correctly perform stretching and How to correctly perform warm-up)
…

4) We cannot choose or refuse our adversaries, they can be:

People without any kind of honor / respect (read Dojo (guan): rules, respect and etiquette)
Opponents bigger and stronger than us (read How to deal with a taller opponent: 12 functional tips)
Multiple opponents (read Forget everything you know about multiple opponents fighting)
Armed with improvised objects or real weapons (more or less visibly, read Improper weapons in a real situation)
People who do not feel pain (due to altered mental states from drugs or alcohol, etc.)
People with contagious diseases (HIV, etc.)
…

A note by Master Kongling – It is important to stress that these are not case limits, in most scenarios, those who decide to attack first, always try to start with an overwhelming advantage (eg. choosing a victim that they know is “inferior” to them or imposing a widely numerical superiority).

5) In a real fight:

In most cases, we have to expect legal problems (whether we think to be right or wrong, read Best martial arts for self-defense)
We (or our opponents) could be dressed in a favorable (eg. boots with a hard tip) or unfavorable way (eg. clumsy clothes)
Sometimes, simply, we have no chance to prevail and the only real solution is to negotiate or escape (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///)
…

A note by Master Kongling – All this to say what? That in a real fight there is no proportion, there are no expectations of loyalty and we almost always start at a disadvantage (read Sudden aggressions: the disadvantage of self-defense).

Final notes

A few conclusive thoughts:

Deceived by the hype, many people think that the most complex, difficult or dangerous fights are those of circuits like UFC but this is totally false; a fight on the street is infinitely more dangerous (when there are other viable options, accepting to fight in such a scenario, is in fact simply crazy, read Personal defense: the S.A.F.E. method)
It should not be forgotten that in sports matches, many rules are established not only to protect the safety of the athletes but also to guarantee quality shows for the public (see for example the possibility for the referee to block an excessively static action, read UFC MMA rules in brief)
Said all of this, it is important to stress that we are not saying that sports combats are easy (on the contrary, there we have the certainty to face adversaries that, at minimum, are at our level); what we are trying to say is that, in real fights, the potential risks are hidden but infinitely higher (nothing more, nothing less)
There are crucial differences between a fighter and a warrior (read The fighter and the warrior) but both of them, try to avoid real fights as much as possible
…

In-depth video courses

Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu exercises – All our core technical exercises to build real martial skills
Mind self-control hacks – A selection of effective methods to obtain the best from our mind
Self-defense: not violent self-preservation – What to do to protect life before recurring to violence
Self-defense basics: how to – Everything you need to protect yourself and who is with you
Basic free hand fighting techniques – A course that explains all 6 Dragons Kung Fu core techniques
Weapon disarming: what works and what not – What we can do, what not, how and why
Worst combat errors to avoid – The mistakes that make you weaker than you could be

In-depth articles

Why martial arts do not work: 5 reasons – Why martial arts are not good for self-defense
How to use martial arts in a real fight – The necessary premises to avoid failure

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

What is the biggest difference between street and sports combats?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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