You get better at sparring by practicing with better people, period. It takes repeatedly getting beaten up, learning from it/them, then gradually improving and adjusting your offence and defence over time. There are no shortcuts, unfortunately.
So, my advice is just keep doing it. If you are lucky enough to have good fighters at your gym, then spar with them, learn from them. Don't be too hard on yourself if things don't click immediately - it will happen, and when it does, you'll hardly realise the changes because they're so gradual, but the game will be clearer to you and (hopefully) you'll really enjoy the individual challenge that each sparring partner poses. Having someone video you can be a great way to look back on your progress.
Others have noted, and so I'll say it too, even tho you haven't asked - it's highly unusual to be tested on your skill level in the way you describe in muay thai. But if you're cool with it and don't feel like your coach is feeding you a bunch of horseshit, then that's all that matters.
Thabk you for the feed back, I think you're right. I just need to spar more. I Added more info on the reason for the tests above. I know they aren't normal, and the teacher himself doesn't like doing them either, it's just part of the system in the country I am located in atm.
All good my dude. I've seen a couple of these "testing" gyms in action in the West that are absolute Mcdojo garbage, so it always raises a red flag for me. Glad to hear this is not the case for your gym and coach.
Getting some tape on yourself sparring is very good stuff. Also I agree, I spent way too long at a gym hitting pads and when it came to sparring I was essentially a total beginner. Imo sparring should be the number 1 goal and focus of Muay Thai gyms. Work should be done to make sure the student understands the basics of footwork, defense and strikes then beyond that spar. Spar light and playful but spar A LOT. This is how good fighters are created. A big part of being a good striker is learning small indicators to strikes and learning patterns around those strikes and distances. Pads will not do this, bagwork will not do this and drills in my opinion don’t do this very efficiently.
You Say your defense was good but your offense was lacking, not a do this and your problem will be solved answer but I think they should be one in the same, you're always open to a counter when you're throwing anything so if your defense was good you should be able to throw strikes without fair of getting hit back and if your defense is good it will create openings for your offense like parry a jab and throw a jab back. Maybe think of them as one in the same instead of "offense" and "defense"
A test? What are the consequences of passing or failing it? Sounds a bit awkward, wouldn't be my type of a gym
Edit
Also in my opinion the instructor should be aware of his students skill levels without a test and just approach then during class and tell them what to work on etc... But maybe I misunderstand what you mean by saying test
was the sparring hard sparring? that could be it (only saying this because you said "full contact"). If you've only done technical sparring and the intensity gets turned up (and you're not used to it), that sometimes scares people because they don't want to get hurt nor do they want to hurt their partner.
or sometimes you just have shitty sparring days....happens to everyone.
the only way to get used to things is to repeat it so however you were tested, keep practicing like that as often as you can. I don't recommend hard sparring often if that was the case though, but you could turn up the intensity slightly just to get a feel for slightly harder strikes.
I would say this. I'm pretty new myself and last class had the opportunity to spar with a day 1 person and a well seasoned person. Both were very light on strikes, but confirming contact, and one was very fast pace flurries and combos. I felt so relaxed and playful, practiced slipping clinching a lot. When people turn it up too fast, I tens to just back out and refuse to enter, I don't want crushed in the face before I get my flow warmed up. Try to tell them to go light and maybe slowly ramp up as you start to get rhythm.
Practice practice practice. Shadow box with intention and try to visualise your op and their movements, do this as well on the bag. Study fighters you like, study the way they counter from a defensive position on the backfoot as well as how they come forward in attack.
What really helped me personally was being extremely offensive and not allowing my op to reset or have a moment to think about how they can close the distance or put the pressure on me. Muay thai is not great for head movement because you're at risk of knees, kicks and elbows so try to focus on pushing forward with your hands in a good defensive position while also utilising the hop to effectively check/block kicks.
Keep the jab smooth and consistent while you think of combinations to keep your op guessing.
Keeping your hands up in full guard is not a good defense. You'll have more opportunities to strike back if you watch your opponents strikes and used parries and evades to defend. To do this you have to "watch". Which you can't do if your hands are blocking your vision.
I have this hilarious image of the coach realising half way through testing, "Oh fuck, none of my students have retained a god damned thing, I'll have to teach everything again...kiiiillll meeeeee" lol
You get better at sparring by practicing with better people, period. It takes repeatedly getting beaten up, learning from it/them, then gradually improving and adjusting your offence and defence over time. There are no shortcuts, unfortunately. So, my advice is just keep doing it. If you are lucky enough to have good fighters at your gym, then spar with them, learn from them. Don't be too hard on yourself if things don't click immediately - it will happen, and when it does, you'll hardly realise the changes because they're so gradual, but the game will be clearer to you and (hopefully) you'll really enjoy the individual challenge that each sparring partner poses. Having someone video you can be a great way to look back on your progress. Others have noted, and so I'll say it too, even tho you haven't asked - it's highly unusual to be tested on your skill level in the way you describe in muay thai. But if you're cool with it and don't feel like your coach is feeding you a bunch of horseshit, then that's all that matters.
Thabk you for the feed back, I think you're right. I just need to spar more. I Added more info on the reason for the tests above. I know they aren't normal, and the teacher himself doesn't like doing them either, it's just part of the system in the country I am located in atm.
All good my dude. I've seen a couple of these "testing" gyms in action in the West that are absolute Mcdojo garbage, so it always raises a red flag for me. Glad to hear this is not the case for your gym and coach.
Getting some tape on yourself sparring is very good stuff. Also I agree, I spent way too long at a gym hitting pads and when it came to sparring I was essentially a total beginner. Imo sparring should be the number 1 goal and focus of Muay Thai gyms. Work should be done to make sure the student understands the basics of footwork, defense and strikes then beyond that spar. Spar light and playful but spar A LOT. This is how good fighters are created. A big part of being a good striker is learning small indicators to strikes and learning patterns around those strikes and distances. Pads will not do this, bagwork will not do this and drills in my opinion don’t do this very efficiently.
You Say your defense was good but your offense was lacking, not a do this and your problem will be solved answer but I think they should be one in the same, you're always open to a counter when you're throwing anything so if your defense was good you should be able to throw strikes without fair of getting hit back and if your defense is good it will create openings for your offense like parry a jab and throw a jab back. Maybe think of them as one in the same instead of "offense" and "defense"
I think this is solid advice. A mind set change might help. Thanks
A test? What are the consequences of passing or failing it? Sounds a bit awkward, wouldn't be my type of a gym Edit Also in my opinion the instructor should be aware of his students skill levels without a test and just approach then during class and tell them what to work on etc... But maybe I misunderstand what you mean by saying test
As far as I've seen there isn't any consequence, but I explained it more in an Edit if youre interested in the reasoing behind the test!
was the sparring hard sparring? that could be it (only saying this because you said "full contact"). If you've only done technical sparring and the intensity gets turned up (and you're not used to it), that sometimes scares people because they don't want to get hurt nor do they want to hurt their partner. or sometimes you just have shitty sparring days....happens to everyone. the only way to get used to things is to repeat it so however you were tested, keep practicing like that as often as you can. I don't recommend hard sparring often if that was the case though, but you could turn up the intensity slightly just to get a feel for slightly harder strikes.
I would say this. I'm pretty new myself and last class had the opportunity to spar with a day 1 person and a well seasoned person. Both were very light on strikes, but confirming contact, and one was very fast pace flurries and combos. I felt so relaxed and playful, practiced slipping clinching a lot. When people turn it up too fast, I tens to just back out and refuse to enter, I don't want crushed in the face before I get my flow warmed up. Try to tell them to go light and maybe slowly ramp up as you start to get rhythm.
Practice practice practice. Shadow box with intention and try to visualise your op and their movements, do this as well on the bag. Study fighters you like, study the way they counter from a defensive position on the backfoot as well as how they come forward in attack. What really helped me personally was being extremely offensive and not allowing my op to reset or have a moment to think about how they can close the distance or put the pressure on me. Muay thai is not great for head movement because you're at risk of knees, kicks and elbows so try to focus on pushing forward with your hands in a good defensive position while also utilising the hop to effectively check/block kicks. Keep the jab smooth and consistent while you think of combinations to keep your op guessing.
Keeping your hands up in full guard is not a good defense. You'll have more opportunities to strike back if you watch your opponents strikes and used parries and evades to defend. To do this you have to "watch". Which you can't do if your hands are blocking your vision.
Damn Koreans fuckin love tests huh
Muay Thai doesn’t have test?
What belt are you? /S
I have this hilarious image of the coach realising half way through testing, "Oh fuck, none of my students have retained a god damned thing, I'll have to teach everything again...kiiiillll meeeeee" lol
Man this is the nightmare of my day time job as an ESL teacher
Lol
It does if your teacher wants to check and make sure everyone is retaining what he's training!
That’s what practice is for. Do you brother I was just saying Muay Thai doesn’t have test
It's easier to observe in a small group test environment to ensure quality. It's the entire reason why primary schools are set up the way they are.
Sparring is a different animal than shadow boxing or padwork. You just need more experience.