Sparring vs. Drills

In both Tai Chi and Karate there are types of full contact continuous fighting that draw skepticism from people who don't practice the art. "American Kickboxing" or "Full Contact Karate," (not to be confused with "Knock Down Karate") which I myself practiced when I was in Jr. High and High School:

Most critics objections to this? No kicks to the legs... if we are going to kick, why skip the most likely kicks be thrown in a real street fight? Likewise, Tai Chi has a form of wrestling called "moving step push hands" where no grabbing of the legs is allowed, which I myself have had some training in as an adult:

I think it is very helpful for self defense purposes to practice putting the your opponent on the ground while you remain standing as with the Tai Chi above. I strongly doubt the usefulness of fighting in a throwing high kicks (which can easily be caught) while in a long stance as with the Karate above (less effective for grappling, fighting with both hands and evasive footwork.) HOWEVER, the above Karate guys ARE fighting continuously, if they were sparring like that continuously (instead of competing in it,) it would be extremely legit sparring, just like the above Tai Chi. Because they are both continuous and have contact, they can really pull off the moves they are practicing in a fight.

But there are closely related to drills, which though often competed in and can thus sort of be called "fighting," can't be called "sparring" at all if practiced outside of competition. Starting with Tai Chi "stationary push hands" here:

That is not sparring. I myself have competed in this, and I can tell you that though it is a great drill for developing balance on your feet when someone is trying to push you, it doesn't cover any techniques you would actually use in a fight - and it is constantly stopping and starting over. Sparring, by definition, is a continuous form of practice where you do not have a ref judging you, pulling you apart, or making you restart. Sparring also always includes techniques you might actually defend yourself with some day.

The above drill is with 100% resistance, but it is nothing close to sparring. It may or may not be helpful for some martial artists, but it is no replacement for sparring. Same goes for this incredibly popular practice related to the karate "kick boxing" above:

As you can plainly see, these fighters don't spend most of their time practicing against each other, they spend most of their time stopping and starting over whenever the ref or judge tells them to, they are not getting the same kind of continuous practice in the first karate "kick boxing" video above. Also, the techniques used in this karate "Kumite Point Fighting" drill are less realistic for fighting than in the first karate "kick boxing" video above. I have competed in this as well. It is an interesting drill for using reach, timing, and finding openings on your target, but it is no substitute for actual sparring.

Before you attempt to say this is not a fair comparison because Karate "kick boxing" has been successful in MMA but Tai Chi has not, please keep in mind that numerous Tai Chi practitioners are involved in combat sports, and you have probably already seen Tai Chi in combat sports without realizing it. The best example is probably Nick Osipczak of the UFC:

So yes, it is a fair comparison, in fact I believe it is a direct parallel. I am livid that in the 2020 Olympics Karate has been reduced to Kata and Drills without any real continuous fighting technique of any kind, which Tai Chi and Karate are both capable of. In fact, this is what people who understand martial arts wish was in the Olympics instead of Karate drills:

But as you see above, there is a big difference between drills and sparring. Drills can involve a lot of instructional oversight, stopping and starting over, and may use obscure techniques not often actually used while fighting, in the interest of building certain characteristics in the martial artist. Sparring on the other hand is continuous and ongoing, and focuses on techniques that are actually going to be used. Karate "kick boxing" and Tai Chi "moving step push hands" are examples of sparring, but Karate "kumite point fighting" and Tai Chi "stationary push hands" are example of drills that are not sparring.