By Sandra E. Hoodgin
The Good. The Bad. And the Ugly.
It is desirable, and necessary, to have a few regular Muay Thai training partners. People who know you well, and are willing to put up with your flaws. Maybe you are a heavy hitter, and need someone who is able and willing to go hard. Perhaps speed is your strength, and you want to know that your pad holder will reliably be there to catch every kick. Whatever it is, there is comfort in knowing that you know your partner, they know you, and you can safely and consistently train together.
While regular partners are an important aspect of Muay Thai training, it is critical that you not overlook the importance of training with a wide variety of people. We all have our strengths and weaknesses; if your training is limited to a handful of partners who know you well, you will miss out on important growth opportunities.
“When the Rubber meets the Road”
The effectiveness of any Muay Thai technique can vary greatly depending upon the situation:
You may have an unbelievably powerful uppercut which you frequently utilize with great success, but which could be entirely useless when facing an opponent who is nearly a foot taller than you.
Perhaps you have a habit of shifting weight to your lead leg while throwing punches. You could go through a dozen people who do not realize your flaw until you come across the one individual who recognizes it, and then capitalizes upon it, kicking your lead leg at every available opportunity.
It is quite possible to train in Muay Thai for years, only to one day find yourself facing an opponent with longer reach, who relentlessly puts their jab in your face with seemingly little effort.
In order to up your Muay Thai game, you need to train with people who can challenge you.
Muay Thai Kids MMA
People with whom your favored techniques do not work, and people who can recognize your weaknesses and use them against you.
T.A.G. Muay Thai has a variety of students who can provide the necessary challenges to facilitate growth. To ensure that you reach your personal best, never underestimate the importance to training with males, females, Southpaws, heavy hitters, technical fighters, the young and fast, or the old and experienced.
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