MuayThaiGorilla

If I remember right, at the beginning of the video they also say it was a joke for their new MT coaches correct? Under normal circumstances I completely agree, tromping all over someone like that would show a massive lack of class and respect. If it was just a joke to mess with them then, I see no harm in it.

There's been several times I've gone out of town and/or just tried a new gym and sandbagged just to see what level of training the gym offered. Granted I wouldn't just turn it on and stomp my training partners, but until I see the quality of training a gym offers I'm notorious for playing dumb.

I'm new here as well. Good luck on your journey.

Hi, my name is MuayThaiGorilla, and I have an addiction. I love Nickleback....Oh...wait...wrong forum. I'll give it another shot. Here goes nothing. So I've been in and around the martial arts game almost my whole life(started at 8), and when I was competing/fighting full time I stayed in relatively amazing shape. At my best I weighed in for my fights at 240lbs and 10% bodyfat. Definitely trying to brag...but I was hot. OK, maybe I was a butterface, but that's beside the point. 100lbs later, I'd even lost that. Been out of fighting shape for almost 5 years now, I'm big and stroing, but it's a pudgy big and strong, and that has to go. I train maybe 2 - 3 days a week(martial arts) if I'm lucky, but I do weight train 5 days a week. I consider myself a huge nerd, and came upon this site by means of a simple google search, liked what I saw and here I am. I guess that'll do for now.

The thing is, most people aren't born with a killer instinct. Even most combative sports participants. Usually there's only two ways to develop that instinct as well. 1. There immediately comes a need for it. 2. To train it. The last part you mentioned, about not throwing strikes in school vs grappling, that is a valuable lesson to learn, especially when older. Street fights, bar fights, etc...while we hope our kids will never get involved in one...will keep them out of jail if they wrap up as opposed to strike. The catch is, what happens if you can't wrap the person up? What if they are physically stronger and grappling isn't as easy? Sure BJJ teaches the "simple way", and more often than not leverage wins over power, but there are some situations where it doesn't. An for those, my personal opinion is that the kid needs to learn aspects of both. Striking and grappling. An part of the lessons, even if it's just talking with your son in the car on the way home is when to use which aspect. What situations require what defense, etc... Krav Maga and Systema are GREAT for that. My daughter is 8, and has been taking Krav Maga with me for the last three years. Hopefully she will never have to use it, but she will be prepared in the event that she does.

Best advice I can give...most martial arts schools will allow you a week or two of free classes. Go try out several for several different styles. Find out what you feel the most comfortable in and what would work best for you. A true martial artist knows their body. They are able to take a style and make it their own. They know what their body can and cannot do and they make a style work for them.

I'm a low guard fighter myself. An one of the biggest reasons I use it is simply because it's there for bait. Especially at the amateur level. Many, MANY fighters don't understand that I hold my hand in that position to lure them in...they take the bait more often than not. Which allows you to counter punch them and punish them brutally any time they try and step in. Also gives it a super easy path to the liver once you slip a cross or lean behind a hook.

Before I "retired", I fought in 3 Kyokushin tournaments. An all I can say to the OP, is if you haven't been training full time specifically for this type of tournament...STAY OUT of them. Those are brutal to say the least.

As stated above there is no reason any newbies should spar. You haven't learned the proper way to throw strikes, nor would you have had time to learn how to defend against them. For the people I've taught, I make them wait 3 - 4 months depending on their ability to determine if they are ready for sparring. Now...there are a lot of BAD coaches out there, one aspect of them, is they try and force you into sparring well before you are comfortable to do so. That's one of the easiest ways to evaluate a class. Also, if they focus on putting speed and power behind strikes before learning the proper technique. IF they do that, they pretty much are doing it to compensate for not knowing the technique properly themselves.

A couple of tips. Make sure for one that the instructor has an emphasis on technique first, and then learning to put strength and speed behind the technique. No technique is ever learned properly by instantly throwing speed and strength behind it. In fact, many people make up with a lack in technique by adding in the strength and speed. This happens A LOT in styles like Krav Maga, BJJ, Systema, Muay Thai, etc... I hate to mention this one, but it is a realistic part of martial arts. If they aren't dialing back their moves, don't dial back yours. Sometimes just telling someone that you need to back off doesn't get the point across. A quick strike to inflict a little pain is often what it takes. Again, I hate mentioning that one, but I've trained in several different styles for a LONG time. I've trained with plenty of "meatheads". Sometimes they just need to be put in their place. Quick note, if you take this approach, do NOT brag after or say something like "now you see how it feels...", if they don't dial back after that...hit them with it again.

Vegito nailed it on the head. It's ultimately what you're looking for. I've got about 26 years of martial arts experience total, and almost all offer some sort of training that will assist in winning a fight. One thing to consider though is where do most fights end up? On the ground. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent style to learn if you're wanting to combat that. Which if you fear getting in many street fights I would recommend learning BJJ, Krav Maga, or Russian Systema. As the latter two styles will also encompass some BJJ and ground combat. Aside from that, Muay Thai...while not a true self defense art, is incredibly functional for striking. My biggest peace of advice, and something newer people don't always understand when it comes to martial arts. Find a style YOU feel comfortable with. Then work on making that style your own. Learn your body, what it can and cannot do. Applying that principle to your training will make you a FAR more effective martial artist than just trying to learn 'x' style with 'y' moves. P.S. Take note on applying principles to your martial arts. Do research on some Russian Systema. My instructor told us not long ago at a seminar..."I can come in and teach you 12 punches and you learn...guess what...12 punches. I can come in and teach you one principle and you learn a 1000 different ways to use those 12 punches."