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That's a good question. It's also tough to answer. Not as much because of its nature, but because of the many opinions that surround it. Lots of people have lots of views on this subject. That being said, here's my opinion:

Sparring is a way of testing your skill. It really has little to do with fighting. I mean, in a fight, you are defending or attacking, right? Whether you're defending yourself, a friend, or (in most cases) your ego. Or you're attacking those in someone else.

True sparring is about learning. Although you may attack and defend, you are not trying to hurt the opponent. Now that we're through with that, I'd like to say that it is untrue biggrin , well, to an extent.

In some sparring, you may actually try to hurt your partner (a better name than opponent) in order to really test both of you. Hence the existance of full contact sparring. Why is this different from "fighting"? The only real answer that I can give you is "Intention".

The intent of the practice is to learn/teach. I can fight bare-knuckled with someone and be sparring, or I can do the exact same thing and be fighting. The difference is the intent and purpose of the action.

Some people look down on sparring, calling it savage. The fact of the matter (uh, my fact, not necessarily yours biggrin ) is that martial arts are (and, I hope, always will be) MARTIAL arts. "Martial" pertaining to war or military. No matter how spiritual or enlightened you get, the truth is that these arts were made for combat, and should be treated accordingly. If that is the case (and I feel it is), then would you have an unexperienced soldier go into battle? Would you not try to prepare him for what he must do? If you've never fought (as I have not), you won't be fully prepared no matter what you do, but sparring is the best thing you can do to get yourself ready (or close to).

There's many different kinds of sparring also. Taiji has push hands, Wing Chun has Chi-Sau. Many arts have many drills and sparring techniques. There are many degree's of sparring. It's best to find one that suits you.

I agree completely. Why bother with martial arts? There's a whole world of gardening and golf out there.

The spiritual part of martial arts is based on combat.
Not necessarily physical but at leats mental combat, and the acquiring of peace through and during combat.
Wich is why even in Aikido you have to do improvisation exercises.

If there is no combat, there is no spiritual side, no forging of character, no combat experience.

What is left is a pathetic (wo)man that makes a silly dance.

This is not martial arts. This is dancing and pretending you're something you're not - a martial artist.

These people can moonwalk their way out the dojo for all I care, they can teach me nothing in the end.

well my opinion is from a boxing sparring session percpective so here it is:
i consider boxing sparring and BOXING itself the same exact thing, only with a little less anger because u dont wanna kill your peer twisted . on the other hand, i do believe that sparring and fighting are two different things, because in a real fight there are no rules.

I stick by what I said.
If someone is making a sequence of movements without having the essence of combative spirit, this person can only teach me an empty form.

I'd rather learn to tango, then.

I love both sparring and fighting, but i bring my martial arts into the street for the challenge. I know it may sound crazy, but these are my thoughts when i get in a street fight. You can say i am bringing it to the next level. But lets be real here, martial arts is a fighting style i think back in the days they uesed it in wars and stuff. I think martial arts should be use in a real combat. Sparring is great and all but you don't even come close to a real figth.

TheGurentai: I hope you don't mean that you start those fights. I will assume you meant that when they HAPPEN, that is when you test your martial art. Martial arts are not about protecting or enforcing your ego. Mind, body, and spirit. Those are what you try to cultivate as a martial artist.

Yeah i don't start fights. Usually i just ask for a challenge if the guy thinks he is all that. But there are times people just want to fight me to prove something.