What dribbling nincompoop taught you how to fight? Holding back is exactly how you learn from sparring! It boils everything down to speed and technique. And without hurting each other you can spar longer and more often. What’s hitting one another at full force going to do? Get somepony hurt so they can’t give one hundred percent?

Clearly you need a refresher. Training is how you start. Muscle building, muscle memory, reflex memory, learning what you can do and what your opponent can do. Then sparring puts theory to practice. It’s where you take your understanding and training and apply it in a safe environment where there’s no risk of harm. It’s where two combatants learn from one another in a friendly series of engagements.

How in Equestria are you suppose to learn anything if you’re both fighting for real? You’re not supposed to learn from a real fight. A real fight is where you take what you’ve practiced and use it defend yourself. If you’re learning something in a real fight, you weren’t prepared for it. That means you’re probably losing.

No wonder Heart Song can’t learn anything from you. You’re a terrible teacher!