Getting obliterated by your instructor (sparring)

[Red J]

It sounds like a great learning experience to me. The better the person, the more you can learn. Eat it up while you have the opportunity.

[Ironberg]

Exactly!

 

I wish someone would beat me up every once in a while. My instructor has a serious problem with his feet so he can't spar really, but he's trying to improve his situation as best as he can.

[jakmak52]

Hey guys, it's been a long time since I've been here, but I just felt I'd share the experience I had tonight.

 

I had an ordinary class tonight, starting out with some stretching / conditioning. Then we (one other student and I) moved on to one-step sparring. I was able to do pretty much all the one-steps below my belt well, and things went smoothly. Ok, then my instructor, a black belt of course, decided we should spar. Me and him.

 

I'm not the most experienced fighter, but I've been sparring for a good while, and I consider myself pretty formidable (don't we all, ha!). At least, I can certainly hold my own against the other students, even some of the new blackbelts. But this guy, my wednesday instructor...He just totally destroyed me.

 

When the sparring began, I was pretty confident. I wasn't fatigued or anything from the conditioning, which often happens, and I was feeling pretty pumped. This sparring was just technique free sparring, no points or any of that business. I had on some punches and kicks, no rib guard or anything, and a little head protector thingy. Anyway, the "match" begins and I start off by jumping to the side and doing a simple turning kick (just to test the waters). I wasn't expecting a hit, and I certainly didn't get one. Anyway, he retaliates, and it's about this time that I lose all chance of even touching the guy, heh.

 

I was able to block about 80% of what he came at me with, but he was only attacking my head. Didn't even try for my torso. Now I would usually think this is an advantage for me, since the torso is the biggest easiest target, but his kicks (and punches) were just amazing. He got me in the head a few times and even made me a bit dizzy with a nice reverse turning kick. As I said earlier, despite my best efforts, I literally never made a solid hit. He was able to dodge everything (and it's not like I'm slow...I don't think). He's superman!!! I can only hope one day to have that kind of control.

 

My question is, I guess, how normal is it for an instructor to just completely obliterate a student in sparring? Has anyone had a similar experience? I kinda feel crappy after that fight, but I guess I shouldn't have expected anything else. Sorry if this is a little long, or if it's already been brought up...

 

 

I expect there's a lot of "black belt" instructors terrorizing mid rank belts for no other reason than to grandstand or humiliate. The instructors role is to teach and train, simple as that. To deliberately batter an under belt as you say this BB has done, borders on cowardice and lack of physical control without benefit to your training. It's unfortunate, but there out there, but I think they're the exceptions that mistrain aspiring martial art practioners.

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/jakmak521

[SBN Doug]

Well, we're all entitiled to our opinion.

 

It just didn't sound like an attempt to humiliate him, but an attempt to show him where his weaknesses still lie. This, of sourse, would have been a form of instruction if true.

[Eric-TKD]

Hey, I'm back. Since my last post, I have sparred the instructor one more time, last Wednesday night. And amazingly enough, I actually improved. I was able to land a spinning back fist, and it was a nice one if I may say so myself ( ). I don't think he was letting up on me, either, since he looked as surprised as I did when the hit landed. I went into the fight with a lot more caution, and I did I lot of foot movement and stance changing to fake him out. I came out of the fight with a lot more confidence than last time. However, he did in fact still whoop my butt, so to speak. I don't mind.

 

As far as him just being a bully on me, I really don't think that is the case. He did take me by surprise with that first spar, totally destroying me, but I think it did help me a lot in the end. He's a good instructor, but sometimes he is a little unpredictable. Anyway, thanks for all the replies, guys.

[Ironberg]

Good to hear, Eric. Glad to hear of the improvements.

 

You should consider yourself lucky that you have an instructor who isn't afraid to spar his students.