Why are the Dutch so obsessed with hard sparring?

Despite how dangerous it is? I'll be the first to admit that the Netherlands has and always will be the GOAT when it comes to producing high level strikers, but at what cost?

check out this video at Mike's Gym

it's because of their colonial past bro

Damn, hard sparring. Is it different from boxing though?

Culture, bro. No other explanation

That's how it used to be at every gym I went to,  Then Joe Rogan said "Brain Trauma"  and everyone quit.

Dutch don't care about no brain trauma.

why only dutch? chute box was known for their hard sparring in their prime.

greentrousers - why only dutch? chute box was known for their hard sparring in their prime.

That's one gym. OP's talking a whole country, a culture 

greentrousers - why only dutch? chute box was known for their hard sparring in their prime.

Don't compare the level of striking ability and instruction of Chuteboxe to Mike's gym. There's no comparison. It's ridiculous to even do so.

ufc98newb - Culture, bro. No other explanation

Yeah but you don't find it strange that they still haven't adapted to the reality that hard sparring = long term CTE? 

I mean Dutch fighters are some of the most talented on earth, but sparring like this only results in shortened careers and serious brain damage. Sad to see really.

Ghost of Retard -

That's how it used to be at every gym I went to,  Then Joe Rogan said "Brain Trauma"  and everyone quit.

Dutch don't care about no brain trauma.

It's not just Rogan dude. 

Look at the career trajectory of many top fighters who hail from the Netherlands, and how many knockouts they've suffered as a collective. It's scary really. 

mkou - Damn, hard sparring. Is it different from boxing though?

Don't know, I'm a boxing fan although I've never boxed. Just Muay Thai and kickboxing. 

Anyone know how some of the older dutch guys are doing? Punch drunk? Bas obviously seems fine. Do they seem healthy?

wiggum - Anyone know how some of the older dutch guys are doing? Punch drunk? Bas obviously seems fine. Do they seem healthy?

Bas wasn't a Kickboxer. 

Peter Aerts isn't doing the greatest from what I understand. 

Uhtred Ragnarson -
ufc98newb - Culture, bro. No other explanation

Yeah but you don't find it strange that they still haven't adapted to the reality that hard sparring = long term CTE? 

I mean Dutch fighters are some of the most talented on earth, but sparring like this only results in shortened careers and serious brain damage. Sad to see really.

I agree, but deeply embedded cultures with years of history are difficult to change. Maybe they don't follow the same news cycle as us either.

Who was the big guy getting lit up halfway through the video?

C’mon guys, I’m guessing that head trauma was known about long before this whole CTE study that’s got everyone talking about long term damage. I mean, just listen to some of the retired boxers talk from 80’s & 90’s. They clearly are “punch drunk”. It’s just been renamed CTE basically. If they knew a lot blows to the head were cumulatively dangerous then, what makes you think they’d change the way they spar now? It’s not like Dutch kickboxing is a new sport.

Hell, ask any of the football players now that absolutely know they can get brain damage from the sport if they’re going to quit and try another career! I bet not many of them will quit. It’s all they know, the money’s good and everyone thinks “I know it’s dangerous, but it won’t happen to me...” 

Uhtred Ragnarson -
wiggum - Anyone know how some of the older dutch guys are doing? Punch drunk? Bas obviously seems fine. Do they seem healthy?

Bas wasn't a Kickboxer. 

Peter Aerts isn't doing the greatest from what I understand. 

Yes, Bas is a kickboxer.

They, Mike’s in particular is notorious for brutal sparring. Notice how they don’t care about pairing based on weight class? You walk in there and spar with a 6’5 240lb monster and your fucking life will change. Ridiculous!

Forget the Dutch yeah its bad but wait until the stats come out on the brazilians…

Those mofos banged 3 or more times a week for a long time sometimes with small gloves.

like football you’ll see almost everybody has CTE.

Dallasitzer - They, Mike's in particular is notorious for brutal sparring. Notice how they don't care about pairing based on weight class? You walk in there and spar with a 6'5 240lb monster and your fucking life will change. Ridiculous!

Are there any gyms who are trying to break the mold and do things differently?

From what I understand Thai gyms are heavy on the pads, light in sparring which allows guys to live normal lives outside of fighting. Comment?