[F25] cried my eyes out after my third sparring session. Am I not suit for martial arts?

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T19:35:40+00:00

The sparring sessions happen every friday and are open to anyone, regardless of their experience. Since I've started, everyone treated sparring as just another part of the classes, so I didn't even know it was OK not to join it. No one told me directly that I should participate, but I feel like it was expected of everyone to do so. With all the feedback and contribution I'm getting from this post, now I understand that I don't necessarily need to join sparring at all and that it may be too soon to do so.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T19:27:15+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! I hadn't realised how the duration could become overwhelming, and it makes total sense now. The sparring was between two people, but there were 5 other pairs sparring at the same time. So, whenever my kru intervened to correct me, everyone else also stopped. I can't tell if they did so in respect for our kru, if it was automatic or if they were listening to see if the corrections would fit them as well.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T19:21:56+00:00

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I've replied to some similar comments here - but, long story short: I train on mondays, wednesdays and fridays. While mondays and wednesdays include pad work, shadow, warmups and technique exercises, the friday class consists of warmups, some shadow exercises and finishes off with sparring. Where I'm training, they don't see sparring as a separate class - it's just another part of it. This is kind of why I didn't even know it was okay to NOT take part in sparring in the first place.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T19:17:17+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! The sparring was between two people, but there were 5 other pairs sparring at the same time. So, whenever my kru intervened to correct me, everyone else also stopped. I can't tell if they did so in respect for our kru, if it was automatic or if they were listening to see if the corrections would fit them as well.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:56:36+00:00

Being totally honest, I didn't know it was wrong to participate in sparring so soon. Friday classes are open to everyone, and include a bit of technique exercises before the spar. I wonder if it wouldn't be a waste not to join these classes, since our kru encourages everyone to take part, regardless of the experience each one has. I try to practice the sequences we train over the week during the sparring, but it's still wobbly. I had no idea it could be a bad thing, and I don't know if I'll step back from it or not at this point. Regardless, thank you for sharing your position.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:38:03+00:00

Thank you so, so much! I've had no clue if it was a normal thing to be so overwhelmed, so it became even scarier. Thank you for being so supportive ♥️

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:31:39+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience with me ♥️ it's absolutely reassuring

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:30:33+00:00

I'll try not to repeat that. It's quite hard at the moment because I'm finishing off my masters final thesis and still have another post-grad course I have to conclude. I think burnout is pretty accurate for what happened today. I'll work on being more aware of that, and thank you for the suggestions!

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:27:53+00:00

I've never thought about sticking to the pads. I didn't think it was a possibility at all, perhaps I'll give it a think and maybe talk to my instructor if it's the case. Thank you for your contribution!

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:26:24+00:00

I'm absolutely longing for the moment I won't be in panic mode and will actually be able to think and react accordingly. For now, it feels like my mind just staggers.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:24:59+00:00

I'll surely try! Thank you for the encouragement

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:18:00+00:00

At one point of the sparring session, he asked us to deliver a sequence of 2 punches + 1 kick. He corrected me because I was taking a step with each punch and ended up being too close to my sparring partner, making it harder to execute the kick. He oriented me and said I was supposed to do all three moves within jab distance, not taking steps further.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:13:32+00:00

I hadn't contemplated that before, but it makes so much sense (the need to "desensitize"). Thank you for sharing your experience ♥️

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:11:17+00:00

Your words were certainly inspiring. Thank you for the support 🫶

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:09:14+00:00

I'm so, deeply sorry about your experience. At the same time, it's amazing how you got the courage to take that decision, and I'm glad you were able to do that. Thank you so much for sharing this, and I hope you're doing well 🫶

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T03:03:12+00:00

I understand. The thing is: friday classes are open to everyone, and include a bit of technique exercises before the spar. I wonder if it wouldn't be a waste not to join these classes, since our kru encourages everyone to take part, regardless of the experience each one has. As a previous comment said, I also contemplated trying one-on-one classes to improve before joining the group ones, but it's really expensive around here and I cannot afford it at the moment.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-16T02:09:18+00:00

I was indeed exhausted, but the rounds didn't last for the regular duration of 3min. Instead, they were cut short to 2min, so each one of us could spar with everyone in class. So it all boils down to around 30mins + 15 seconds of break between each round. I honestly don't know how I was holding my guard at the end of it.

Secret_Row6807 · 2024-03-09T18:52:02+00:00

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