บทเรียน
Sparring
You get to try out the moves and techniques that you've been diligently practicing, and work out what works and what doesn't.
When sparring in Muay Chaiya it pays to be more careful than usual, and I don't mean to protect your partner. Quite often if you start throwing punches and kicks with out control, you will be the one getting hurt, not your opponent. It is a great way to learn the effectiveness of the Muay Chaiya elbow and knee based defense however!
Until you gain control, and get to know your partner, play light and slow, slowly picking up the speed. That is unless you enjoy getting hurt!
Key points
- Decide what your goals are. Do you want to do a particular counter attack, strike, kick? Keep it simple, with only two or three goals. If you succeed in your goals then the sparring was a win for you (even if the opponent got the better of you over the whole round).
- Don't spar with some one who has something to prove unless there is some one there to referee, or you feel like you can handle it.
- Agree on the terms of the sparring. Hands only? Hands, knees and feet? Work it out, to avoid nasty surprises.
- If you feel that you're dominating some one, help them out a bit. Throw easier blows, open your defense a little - all to help them improve.