Sorry man, sparring is not on my list. I came in second place in a foot-race once and that was alright with me, but second place in a fist-fight is not my idea of a good time. That dang woman hit me two ways: hard and often!
Well, that's what is good about sparring with someone who is mature. You increase the intensity when both people are ready or keep things the same. It is not fighting, it's trainging together.