[Don understands. Of his family, the only people he knew, he was by far the most reticent to learn to fight. It took him a long time to make his peace with the necessity of it.]
[As gently as possible:] If you want to learn self-defense, you have to be willing to spar. I don't know any other way.
[Action]
[As gently as possible:] If you want to learn self-defense, you have to be willing to spar. I don't know any other way.