I've posted before that I have huge issues with free sparring. Well, last night at training, for the first time ever, I actually felt somewhat hopeful that I might eventually get semi-competent at it. I still suck, but I wasn't terrified, didn't freeze up, and even remembered to counter most of the time. Huge step forward for me!

EXCELLENT, WELL DONE!!!

That's the experience you needed. It will become easier and easier each time you spar.

OSU

That's good to hear! Some things are tougher to pick up than others, and we all learn differently, and have different comfort levels. Kudos to you for sticking with it, and making progress!

God i wish we free sparred at my Dojo...

Good job, man. Now just doing more of what was successful for you. The more you spar the better you'll get. Keep up the good work.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I do indeed hope it will continue to get easier with time and experience!

Practice makes perfect! Don't forget that

stick it out.... with time, your skills will improve. remember to move and practice tai sabaki as most beginners including myself at some time have had the " deer in the headlights" look where the body is not used to moving and this makes sparring challenging. like everyone else has said practice and perseverance will get you through. After a year of training, I remember the first time I felt a glimmer of hope was when my sparring partner did a chudan mae giri and I parried it by moving to the side and countered using one of the pre arranged (yakusoku kumite) techniques. That was the only successful technique that I could perform in the sparring and was outclassed royally. However, like you I remember thinking if I can do this for one technique, then with practice, I can hopefully be better.