The Illusion Of Sparring

Does being good in the gym mean that you are a badass? No. Just because you fight competitively in the gym environment is that it's not the real thing. Good sparring is useful but it's not the same as a real match. The adrenaline, the intent, the intensity, etc. are all different. Winning in the gym is not real. In the gym you have on more safety gear (i.e. headgear, bigger gloves) than you wear in competition. The desire to win increases. In sports, you have the guys who can make the shot or catch the ball in practice, but they drop the ball in the game. Understand that sparring is a training tool, just like bag and pad work. Know that you have to compete to improve your true fighting ability.