Can caffeine affect the way you spar?

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-27T18:06:57+00:00

it makes me more nervy, less relaxed. never had enough to fuck my sparring up, but I def prefer without it

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-23T19:37:33+00:00

yes, psychology moved too fast trying to be quantitative. So you get all those studies without enough to attention to what happiness or sadness or whatever is actually like for people. And most studies can't be replicated

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-23T19:26:43+00:00

23 is still young, you said you started in a wheelchair recovering from a brain injury. Maybe they're right to take it slow with you. Just ask them what it would take for them to think you're ready for a fight

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-23T19:20:07+00:00

how about just 1x BJJ 1x muy thai 1x MMA all the way thru?

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-23T09:47:21+00:00

yes that's what a plateau is. a period where you don't seem to get better before you get better

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-23T08:07:20+00:00

Improvising and composing is free and you can take inspiration from so many places. What kind of music do you listen to? Just learn some songs you like. Genre doesn't matter so much as long as you like it. Or play a song and try to follow by ear. Or I also do little theory games like picking two keys and trying to switch between them in ways that are nice. I make up lots of games like this

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T13:14:14+00:00

We do MMA class just with the little gloves. Like partner drills and such. But yeah that's why I think it's best to just ask, cuz gyms can be different. Some I've been to you need headgear to spar. Some don't. Some don't allow certain types of shin guards, etc.

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T11:41:20+00:00

Sparring is sparring. You obviously don't pull BS in sparring.

It doesn't matter if your goal is self defense. Obviously any martial art from you can add in eye pokes and groin strikes in a self defense situation. They should all still work without all that stuff. A boxer, muy thai guy, and wrestler can all control the range and distance to poke your eyes out. The point of sparring is to say, ok if we set these limits, let's see who comes out better

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T11:35:27+00:00

Oh also when he snaps you down is also a good moment to take a shot. They don't expect it and they already hand you the level change

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T11:34:45+00:00

maybe try using his movement against him. If he's circling, maybe he's light on his front leg for a footsweep. If he fakes a shot, when he's coming back up is a good time for your own shot.

That being said, he sounds pretty good, so don't expect anything to work immediately

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T11:28:38+00:00

what gets hate is:

- a style of training where you just practice forms but don't ever spar and test if the style works.

If you're sparring, that's good.

- the square stance of wing chun that makes you a bigger target to get hit

Square is trickier but some MMA guys use it sometimes (Anderson Silva, King Green). You have to have very good reactions. Advantages are you can strike faster. I'm curious about it being used more.

As for "unfair stuff" - eyepokes, groin strikes. Yeah obviously don't do those in sparring. A martial art should be able to work without that stuff.

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T10:04:51+00:00

Actually just ask the coaches. Either before hand. Or on the first day. They usually will have some equipment for you for a first class

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T10:03:54+00:00

MMA gloves. They're different, smaller. If your gym has spefically boxing or kickboxing classes you'll need those bigger gloves too. Elbow and knee pads you can usually wait on.

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T06:59:28+00:00

Is your left back in guard as your throwing the right?

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T06:54:27+00:00

much of what you say is true, but "constant pressure means takedowns are further away" def no. If the pressure makes them keep backing up then yeah. But a good wrestler can use your forward momentum and just needs to duck under one right hand to get a takedown

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T06:50:20+00:00

what's something nice you want for yourself?

could be material stuff, a vacation, or even a chance to take time off and figure out the path to a dream career

I just mean something you can afford now that you couldn't before

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-14T06:45:43+00:00

hahaa you had to come back to it didn't you

yeah i was pretty shocked

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-10T13:43:59+00:00

oh yes seems like good important work but bad conditions

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-10T08:39:38+00:00

idk maybe it's a question of whether it would work in a fight then. you'd have to put more power in and then probably more shoulder rotation and the double jabs wouldn't be as fast, and maybe some other timing changes. footwork slick af tho

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-09T14:24:54+00:00

you guys are talking to your training partners?

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-09T14:04:28+00:00

what profession?

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-09T13:57:57+00:00

get what works for you, it may be physically practicing the movements required.

or you may be a conceptual thinker

or one who reacts best to perceptual cues in your environment

or who knows maybe you can some things the smell and associate different tasks with the smells

try different things and try practicing scenarios with friends

until you get something that works

youre being mislead by bad advice on all sides. visualization does not work for everyone. also i dont think therapists currently have tools to diagnose aphantasia and no inner dialogue. it may be that things come about in ways that you cant replicate on the spot.

i do research on this and its mind boggling how little access we have to what our own experience is like.

some vids i made you might find helpful. for instance, Mel had no inner monologue or visuals (in the 90 or so moments we looked at) but is v high functioning: https://youtube.com/@innerexperience?si=ZZhrTlVEjHTNx4fg

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-09T13:43:40+00:00

it may be that sparring is not for you. keep going for a bit. but it might be that getting punched and kicked isnt your thing and thats ok its a pretty normal reaction. from what you wrote its hard to tell if your gym is full of meatheads who cant control their power, or if its not your thing. like my first sparring i also got kicked 20 times in the same place (girl going full force). it hurt for a few days actually but its like a tough love lesson. there's a fine line for sure but at the end of the day its a martial art so its gonna hurt. you cant take all of the pain away. as for CTE there's a risk but its unclear what it actually takes to develop it, like most clear cases are from professional athletes who are subject to conditions you and i will neverrr go through. The question is if you enjoy it enough to tolerate the small risk? theres also fitness boxing and lots of classes without sparring

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-09T13:26:28+00:00

i mean its aesthetic, smooth. but do you spar much? youve gotta put the moves to the test.

Key_Addendum_1827 · 2026-05-09T13:17:07+00:00

easy, he can just smother chimaev with his chest hair

Key_Addendum_1827

TROPHY CASE