Well, I went to the class. The instructor didn't let me spar with the regulars, but let me spar a couple guys with the instruction "go light on him." We wore 12oz boxing gloves and shin guards. Nothing eventful came of it.

However, I was watching the regulars fight and they were really going at it. These guys apparently train to fight in MMA and I saw at least 2-3 fight stopping injuries. (Nothing serious, 10 minutes later they were fighting again.)

I'm actually re-thinking about joining this. I was told if I didn't want to go full contact I didn't have to. However, the whole tradition of a formal martial arts system was not present in this class. I was hoping to find something that combined a traditional martial art with realistic stand up fighting. I think I will continue my search, but if I can't find anything, good instruction in stand up fighting is still better than unrealistic hand wavy martial arts.

Thx for the comments all.

If you were not thrown to the wolves, but allowed to start gently, and if you have been told you have an option about the level of contact, then this sounds like a great school

Of course watching experienced guys spar hard looks scary and daunting - it did to them too when they were watching from where you are now

They have built not only their skills, but their pain resistance and confidence, as they increased the intensity of their journey.

That is the kind of training that actually helps you defend yourself in a real situation. You cant say to an attacker 'I am not used to dealing with this sort of thing, can you go a bit easy on me please'. You can in that class, and you can use it to build yourself to where you are not scared of sparring, but others are wary of sparring you.

Punches hurt, kicks hurt. Training or in public. Welcome to the real world, I suggest you jump in

Cord is absolutely right about the "not being thrown to the wolves" part. It sounds to me like they have their s#@t together.

One thing I would add is, you should be able to spar with the more experienced guys at times. They 'should' have their egos in check enough to allow you into the experience without getting clobbered.

Once you're in, you should be progressively challenged. Which judging from what I've read so far, seems to be exactly how they do it. If so, you've found a great place.

well modern Sanda has lost a lot of tradition behind it, but its origin are completely from traditional chinese martial arts.

you said that they also offered kungfu classes, maybe you should attend one and see how it goes. Ask the instructor there about the integration between the "traditional" class and the sanda class.

And as for sparring in kungfu...it exists and is also sometimes referred to as san-da or san-shou! so there is a link between traditional and modern, however finding a school that teaches both is often very hard to find.