First just let me say that I have been hit just as hard in sport karate as when fighting full contact and actually had more in the way of injuries from the first than the second because of the lighter gear that is worn. Fighting on the national circuit and internationally as well was several levels higher than what you normally would encounter at local tournaments is what I found. A lot of the center referees and judges want to see shots landed with authority and that have some impact in order for a point to be called for and awarded in the adult black belt fighting divisions at that level of competition. I have broken other fighters ribs in those matches as well as had mine broken and even knocked out one or two fighters in those matches and not been disqualified for use of excessive force for shots to the head and face. At the international level where it also was continuous type fighting, it was more akin to Chuck Norris's Fight League really and what that all allowed.
If I was to compare the two types side by side then I would have to say at the lower levels the TKD sparring is a little more realistic in terms of contact and such except for the prohibition of face and head shots. However at the highest levels of competition point sparring is anything but "point sparring" and is actually more akin and realistic to the real thing in my opinion based on it allowing harder, heavier contact at the adult black-belt levels and it allowing contact with hands to the face and head.
In open style point fighting, the ONLY thing close to real is you are allowed to throw hand techniques to the head. However they must be very controlled as there are penalties for excessive contact to the head and body. And the matches are only one round, two or three minutes per round, does not allow for any test of endurance. My main problem with this type competition is you can literally SMACK someone with the back of your glove to the head, all day long, and you can call yourself WORLD CHAMPION, but world of what? smacking people!
In Olympic style sparring at the highest level, there is no such thing as too much contact, but you are not allowed to throw or fake any hand techniques to the face or head area period very unrealistic! You are allowed and encouraged to go for the knockout to the head or body area via kick, or kick or punch to the body. You are however, required to wear chest protectors and head gear at ALL levels, local or international.
If you want real self defense and not just a show, seek out a school who teach actually self defense as a first priority, and sport second. Plus most fights will end up on the ground, so the school must have a ground game, which is why MMA is so popular now. Pointfighting especially, is going by the wayside, as it should!
The thing about sport arts is that's what they are designed for - sports and competition. You learn how to score points in a competition, as that is what the art is designed for. They're not completely useless, but if your goal is self defense then you should take up an actual martial art. Both are not really realistic and wold not help a ton in an actual fight. You should pursue an actual martial art.
They will both give you an edge in a street fight but in the long run, full contact sparring will be more beneficial than either simply because it is a better simulation of a street fight where there are no resets or rules.
- Hope this helps
Neither, both are for show and are martial arts systems not fighting systems. You want to take boxing, kajukenbo, jiu jitsu, or muy Thai for an actual and effective fighting system. My pick is kajukenbo, but that's just my bias since I love the art. Be warned though, its a tough style and they will beat the hell out of you, but they will make you tougher than any highschool punk.
Neither. And any respected art will take you some time to learn to get good at. Plus you should avoid fighting and especially at school.
Neither. The only sparing that really counts is full contact sparing like in boxing, mma, muay thai, bjj and so on.
which would you guys say is more realistic and helps more with highschool fights?
