[devante]

Originally Posted by swamp_fist

LOL! Is that you, Tony?

My training was many years of Kyokushin, and it was good experience. But my experience this summer sparring a Muay Thai guy was what got me to start up boxing.

No, I didn't get wrecked, but I was definitely working with a handicap. It's true that full contact sparring does translate to some extent, but there are also strategies and experiences that don't translate very well outside of the bareknuckle body-only experience.

For instance, it's hard to find someone outside of Kyokushin who will stand toe to toe for a Kyokushin broadside exchange (like two 18th century warships). The Muay Thai guy I fought would come into range to strike, then get back out of range as soon as I made a move. I was reduced to counterpunching even as I steadily advanced.

Another example is the blackout of vision when blocking face punches. Jabs to the face temporarily hide the followup shots coming your way, and that's a different experience. In fact, frequent, stinging jabs are foreign to Kyokushin praticitioners, as is any type of head movement - let alone ducking a punch. Handicap.

Gloved punches to the body are super easy to take after having endured bareknuckle punches - that's an advantage. But it's hard to land punches to the other guy's body because the boxing gloves don't pierce through small gaps in the arms the way a bare fist does. Handicap.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point. Learning bareknuckle has advantages, but it's not complete. By the same token, strictly training boxing or Muay Thai isn't complete either, as there are quite a few things that change when the gloves come off. Had the Muay Thai guy sparred by Kyokushin rules bareknuckle, he would have been the one with the handicap to overcome, not me.

Nothing's as simple as noobs think.

good post, bare knuckle sparring/fighting is way diff; the def/counters/attacks you can use are changed drastically, not saying every art doesnt have holes..they do. But the comfort that is provided by gloves has an immense impact on how and what you do, punches u throw u prob won't, covering up or just blocking becomes less eff; an the level of contact, the manner in which ur hit changes. Getting hit w/boxing or mma gloves is much diff than being hit by a bare fist..an in self def or fights u most likely won't be able to get gloves or gear on..so in that instance kyokushin is very realistic