Would this idea even work?

oh...my mistake.
Not sure how you would organize a non-forum member Art Arena... call each dojo in your area and ask them if they want to throwdown? lol you'd get: 'not interested, thanks. {click}'.

many places never dare to spar outside their circle.

There's a group who do this in UK. I think it is mainly Rapid Arnis and Black Eagle society, but they also invite other stylists. They have what Geoff Thompson calls 'animal days'.

I understand they meet and go for it, stopping when it is obvious who's won.

I think the idea is sound.

The problem is going to be the execution.

To spar you must have rules---and getting a wide range of folks from multiple arts to agree on "fair" set of rules for sparring is going to be tough.

As would be acceptible levels of contact---I know a semi-pro boxer that is VERY picky about with whom he spars--he simply can't run the risk of him getting hurt by some dude that does not know any better.

(it happened to him once and he missed a schdl, advertised fight because of it)

You might also have problems with where you have the meet---insurance polices for MA schools are often pretty specifc about what they will cover and NOT cover, so that may make a real difference in all kinds of things.

You might have better luck "test driving" idea with individual people/students rather than trying to go thu instructers.

If I were teaching, I would not mind the idea--but it would irk me if it was interfering with things I am trying to teach.
And if I were teaching I esp would not want the "newbies" doing it--hard enough to teach the new folks as it is without them trying it out before they were ready.

(and NO student ever thinks that are not--they are pretty much all convienced that they are Bruce Lee at some point )

Anyway, good idea.

Cxt's post was pretty much right on. At the Throwdowns, rules and contact levels were handled on a individual basis, so everybody was comfortable with what was going on.

Enlighten me...

So ANY one could sign-up to fight any one else; level of contact & rules (prohibited vs legal techniques) to be determined by the combatants.

How do you keep the azzholes from "playing"?
How would you prevent a "sore loser" from enacting revenge later?
How would you prevent a group from attacking another group?
How would you screen for weapons?

Maybe I'm too cautious or too familiar w/ the criminal element or too much of a girlie-man but I would think such a plan is a recipe for disaster UNLESS it's started by close, committed, like-minded people w/ the right attitude.

Hmmmm.....all very interesting posts. I really wanted to hear some different opinions from people who have been in MA longer than I have, so this is great.

I had thought about the rules for sparring, and that was something I was (or, still am, actually) having trouble getting around. There's no doubt that different styles have different ways of fighting; on the other hand, of course, I wasn't planning on allowing (for example) a strict Tae Kwon Doist (who might just throw kicks and the occaisonal punch) to spar with a judo or BJJ guy. If all you do is groundfighting, or if all you do is stand-up sparring, then obviously you'll have to find someone of like style to fight. But y'all are right, because even in "similar" styles where you fight standing (or even on the ground) the way to fight is different. Something to think about......thanks .

Also, I think someone said something about newbs fighting? Hadn't thought of that one. I think I would have to have a rule about that. Something like you can only spar with us if you've had at least two years of experience sparring, or something like that. Don't know. More to think about .

hedkikr, in answer to your questions-

*Yes. The fighters would have about (let's say for example purposes) a minute before getting started to lay down some rules about what is allowed and what isn't. Of course, there would be some rules that were applicable to everybody and couldn't be ignored (can't beat anyone senseless, can't kick/punch etc. to the groin, and so forth), but yes, within reason, the fighters could lay down some of their own rules.

*Your other questions are great. How would I do all that? If I simply allow anyone and everyone to come and spar, it's possible that some of those types of people or situations might arise. I can't know each and every person individually before I let them come, so how would I know? Again, not much of an answer for you, but just thanks for bringing it up.

Great insights so far! If anyone else has any more, post!