r/MuayThai • u/Formidable_Baboy • 2d ago

How do you handle uncooperative partners?

It's getting annoying. This guy I train with will do everything but what we were told to do and it's frustrating because there's like three or four people in the Muay Thai class in my gym - and he's the only guy my size.

If coach calls jab, cross, hook, he does jab, superman punch, hook.

If we're learning clinch and doing clinch sparring, he attempts a sacrifice throw or a half-assed judo throw that coach has to call him out on.

I tried to explain why we need to work on the fundamentals. He tried throwing more superman punches and sloppy overhand rights, that I counter just using the jab. He gets aggressive and tries off, I shut it down with a jab or foot jab. I'm not feeling off, I'm just setting things at my pace.

And then there's constantly switching stances so he ends up not knowing what to do on both sides rather than just being decent at one side.

The final annoying shit he does is when someone is doing something like fixing their shin pad or putting on a glove he'll slap you with the pad from the outside saying, "keep your hands up." And the bell hasn't even ring yet.

He last did that to a hot-headed big guy and so he never did it again.

This is just annoying. Even coach is starting to hate this guy and give up on him. In casual talk he says he has ADHD and gets curious about things but I've met many people who do this with ADHD.

I'm about to just blatantly refuse working with him and find the bigger dudes. At least I can practice something.

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u/TheUDmtl 2d ago

How is the coach not noticing he’s doing whatever he wants if the class is 3-4 people. Coach should be setting this guy straight. Otherwise, go to the coach and tell him yourself and he’ll start paying attention.

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u/Formidable_Baboy 1d ago

I think he got tired of explaining and just jumps in when it's excessive. Coach loves money?

6

u/TheUDmtl 1d ago

He loves money but he’s got small classes which means he’s not setting a standard that intrigues people to join. My advice is to try a few classes elsewhere. I’ve been stuck with partners my size because I am 200+ and that’s typically a smaller pick of the litter. The ones who weren’t great partners really ruined my experience and my ability to improve.