I'm currently taking Jun Fan Gung Fu?

If you are learning JFGF are you learning alot of trapping?? Trapping is a big part of Jun fun and that is not something you can do solo. Personally I feel until your skills are there sparring will not do you any good. The reason you do alot of counters and strikes with pads is for muscle memory once you have muscle memory trained you react to strikes that you see almost without thinking.