Oscar23,
Sometimes after my Shito-Ryu class at the Dojo, many of us stopped at Roundtable for a pizza. One day our Sensei joined us. Normally we didn't talk much to him, so we were somewhat shy seeing him outside the Dojo. After a bit of silence, one of my friends asked him "Why do we practice so much kicking and maintaining correct stance?" (During class we would get into a defensive stance, then march back and forth, while Sensei would watch for any heads bobbing up and down. After 30 minutes of this, our legs were jello. Then we did front snap kicks for another 30 minutes, then side thrust kicks). Sensei replied: "So you can run away faster."
Every first move in Shito-Ryu is a defensive one. Our Sensei told us never fight unless there is no other way to escape.
I refused to spar in tournaments, only did Kata. Over the years I witnessed many errant kicks and punches that caused significant physical damage. I would only spar in the Dojo with the Kohai or Sensei who were masters of control.
Once at a tournament, a guy took a half-speed kick to the head, knocked him out. Paramedics took him away. Real life ain't like the movies.