Cognitive mechanisms of sparring

Rolling, sparring or randori are important parts of martial arts training to test progress. Sparring functions as a test of progress and uncovers gaps and deficiencies for future improvement. Martial arts that don’t encourage or practice sparring are self-limiting and are essentially calisthenics exercises. 

The mental and physical processes involved during sparring are very complex. They are also what makes sparring valuable to our training.

Often we hear the layman arguing that there is no time to think during sparring but only to react. This observation is not without value. Zen masters often encourage "a mind without a mind"  state as the prerequisite of focus. While both the layman and Zen master are correct, it is just as important to know the cognitive processes responsible for such reactions during sparring.

Perception and Intuition

The two most important cognitive processes happening during sparring are perception and intuition. These two cognitive processes are the ones that kick in first during a fight -- they are the roots of all of our sparring reactions.

Perception is the subconscious process of perceiving or observing an object, reflecting that object in our mind before inducing a judgement about it.

Intuition is also an unconscious process, the mental equivalent to knee-jerk reactions. Like perception, there is no time in intuition to make judgements. Instead, intuition is based on a process of recognizing past experiences. Intuiting an opponent's intentions is an involuntary process and it appears on a sudden basis. Suddenly you know it but you don't know how you know it.

Perception enhances intuition and so intuition induces reaction.

Sparring happens at an unconscious level mostly because it is time sensitive. Perception not only leads to awareness, but it is also how intuition appears. Perception is the sense we get about a situation, and intuition is the solution that is revealed to us. Perception enhances intuition because it links past experiences to the present circumstances.

Once you intuit what the opponent's intentions are then the right reaction is provided. Often during sparring, a beginner will think that the more experienced opponent is reading his mind. The beginner has no movements but the master already moves. If the beginner moves, the master arrives first.

The martial arts that encourage sparring enhance these two cognitive processes, perception and intuition. Without them, no one is able to spar successfully. 

Lede illustration by Jin Ling