How Useful is Free Sparring?

[TheBadger]

I am curious to hear opinions. I have been to traditional dojo that do regular free sparring and I have been to other dojo that have eliminated in and replaced it with different types of kumi drills. From a self defense aspect, I do not really feel sparring does much but develop timing and distance. It is much more effective to perform closing and defensive tactics.

What is your opinion?

[bu-kusa]

Why not ''perform closing and defensive tactics'' as a part of free sparring, it is possable to use randori inside the constraints of the ''kumi'' area. Free sparring doesn’t have to only use competitive sports targeted methodology.

Theres an excellent discussion on this at the moment in the shorinji kempo section.