"As long as things are done respectfully, I don’t see whats the problem. "
The problem is somebody always hits to hard, or rolls his eyes the wrong way, or casts a sarcastic smile, or gets whacked in the ear and gets ticked off.
Sparring partners should be people you can trust. Just because somebody seems like a “fellow martial artist” (whatever that means) says nothing about his character or his potential to harm you. Strangers are strangers.
EF, I see what you are asking, and I think some people just don’t understand your intentions. I think though if you were to go to the school with curious intentions, asked about sparring, forms, etc. then asked if there was anyway you could maybe mix it up with one of the students, then maybe, who knows, I do see where you would like to have an “inside connection” and maybe do this on nuetral ground or whatever. Whatever happens, remember to have fun, and learn something.
shaolinboxer
True..True!! I guess lots of people would act in such a manner. I guess I’ve just been lucky to train with MAs that were more interested in training and learning then boosting their egos.
Take care,
Jorge
Evo, perhaps the best thing would be to become friends with some of them and meet privately on neutral ground in an atmosphere of mutual sharing and learning and of respect. This way you don’t ruffle feathers, egos, or get your intentions misconstrued. Going into a school like that, no matter haow sincere you might be, always runs the risk of comming off the wrong way.
That’s the reason for this post, and an invite for lunch, chilling.
EF, you seem like a guy who is conscientious of tradition pertaining to CMA and martial arts in general.
Well, your request, no matter how sincere, will be viewed as a challenge by just about any MA school, especially a traditional CMA school. There’s really no getting around it, thats just the way that kind of request is viewed, its tradition. As a matter of fact, many challenge matches have been arranged like that. I know from experience, I really needed new sparring partners about 4 years ago and told some friends to ask some people they new at other schools if they wanted to get together for friendly sparring. I just wanted to have fun and chill out like youre saying, so I know where youre coming from. But all I got was a bunch of egos and people looking to prove something. They though I was brash and challenging, but I really just wanted to have fun and was curious. I think thats what you will find. Maybe you’ll be lucky and meet some cool people, but my guess is that if you carry on like that, the schools will take it as a challenge and it might not be as casual and fun as you had hoped. Unless youre just baiting for some fights, then youre on the right track.
Just my $.02, good luck! 
If Jerry is still there he may be interested.
Everybody used to call him “Chi Man”.
However, when we were training together he was not interested in sparring/fighting.
If he is still there, he’s probably top dog.
Mutant Warrior. You are so very right!
There is nothing but truth to what you write.
Luckily, my prayers have been answered. My old sifu, a great guy, we still keep in touch, is going to be training some young athletes from the Freemason society. I here they are a fun bunch.
Anyway, I used to be 1 of 5 guys he trained, but for various personal reasons the group got disbanded just as I met my curent sifu, master Bond Chan – incredible fighter.
Anyway, the group is rejoining for sparring sessions staring the end of CHiense New Years. They called me to come out and celebrate. I know the crew of five is very interested in fighting as much as possible, with full gear though.
That’s all we did for the two years I was with them.
So, I’m hoping they’ll be willing to let me join them from time to time to fight. Looks like its going to happen. With this internal I’ve been learning a lot of principles, rules, theory – incredible boost to technique. Plus a whole knew technique, better, more efficient, on top of that.
I actaully have an advantage. Since the guys disbanded a year ago they have only gotten together a few times. My old sifu’s favorite, getting some time in with the teach here and there. I chi saud with him a few months ago. He was impressed with the way my sifu’s technique worked – though I’m still a poor rep.
I’m hoping I’m going to give these guys hell. Good variety. One taller but thinner. One tall Chinese, about 6’2", small frame but built and very fast hands. And then one big portugues or Arab guy, about 6’4, 256 – construction worker, contractor. ( always had hell with this guy. Very powerful. I’ve turned him afew times, but caught many element blows to my head too. He actually kind of knocked me out once.
I think I’m ready for him though. This Ba Gua, Hsing-I and crazy E-Chuan stuff is rediculous. It’s like some hid the cheat codes from me all these years – like, “O’ of coarse its supposed to be like this.”
Of coarse it is.