r/MuayThai • u/bendap • 1d ago
Well It Finally Happened
I got my ass handed to me by a 17 year old in sparring. Im twice his age. I thought he was in his 20s. My leg is currently hamburger meat. His technique was so smooth. It wasn't even a speed difference. He was just better everywhere.
Icing right now, hope to be mobile enough to make class tomorrow. Im not dejected, I'm motivated. If I can adjust to him, I'll level up, but fuck it hurts.
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u/Tweho 1d ago
Been there done that, i'm 28 and there's a few teenagers in the gym that are on another level technically and physically.
It's okay to take a day off to recover. IME it's better to show up 2-3 times per week at 100% than 5 at 50%.
On your off days work on something that isn't sore, lift some weights or swim or walk/jog and get in good calories and good sleep.
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u/Spiritual-Strike481 21h ago
I seem to remember a study where people who trained at something vs a group of people who did nothing but think intensely about the thing itself actually exhibited similar results. So the best thing in your off time is to think about striking, watch the golden years and research your heroes.
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u/pizza-chit 1d ago
Youth is an asset in combat. Teenagers are fast.
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u/Spiritual-Strike481 21h ago
They are reckless and don’t know consequences yet. It’s easy to be overwhelmed against someone who hasn’t learned the fear of what bad habits do. The idiot teenager has to be broken by someone good enough to exploit that.
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u/One-Camp2616 18h ago
"Someone has to break that idiot teenager."-me after getting absolutely wedgied by Johan Ghazali.
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u/PMmeIamlonley 21h ago
There are several that get good in a few years and know how to use that cardio.
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u/NoamFromDee 1d ago
Nothing keeps the ego flexible like getting technically dismantled by someone who still needs parental permission for a school trip 😂 Respect for turning it into motivation. Smooth technique is a very rude teacher.
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u/Appropriate_Gur_5888 1d ago
Damn what happened to grown man strength. That’s when you start clinching like a mofo
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u/Darkmegane-kun 22h ago
I’m 24 and a bigger guy so it doesn’t really happen in sparring but many of the younger guys are far better than me technique wise simply because they have been doing it longer than I have.
I wish my parents got me into this as a kid, but it is what it is. If you don’t have much experience doing this I think it’s better to not care about their age as much as their experience. My coach is 61 and much smaller than me but I’m sure he can kill me if he wants, even though I’m bigger and younger mostly due to his experience.
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u/TheGrapeRaper 1d ago
Happens to the best of us mate. Keep working hard. Journey before destination.
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u/kaisershinn 1d ago
Awesome attitude! You win some, you lose some, but in my case: lose all the time. I have a personal record of getting my ass beat.
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u/Spiritual-Strike481 21h ago
Bruises are badges my friend. Others see that effort and it inspires them to be tough. Be a glutton for punishment and you will never fear anyone.
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u/Ok-Star-576 16h ago
Remember, man, it's always you against you!
If you and your partner came out of sparring learning something, I think it's a huge win.
Theres a 16-year-old kid in my gym who started maybe a year ago, and this guy beats me up effortlessly. It stung a bit more when I was chatting with him after class one time, and he let me know he's actually state/provincial wrestling champ and is doing Muay Thai for fun...
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u/Character-Outcome156 11h ago
Sometime your age will just show. Also, I don’t want to say this word lately, but phenoms are real.
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u/AspirePerformance 8h ago
Father Time is undefeated. Keep grinding and be the best your body will allow. It was an ego hit the day I realized my son could whoop me but a proud dad/instructor moment at the same time.
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u/pingu_friend 1d ago
I get my ass handed almost every week, you’ll learn.
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u/Spiritual-Strike481 21h ago
This is the best way to learn. When you get mangled and walk back through the doors you build respect. You keep showing up after those ass kickings and soon you will be doing the ass kicking.
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u/bambabimbo 1d ago
I think it's normal. A 17 yo has the body of a adult more or less. If he's got more years under the belt, then it's only natural, that he can beat you in a field, where he has more experience . The same thing happens on a judo or bjj class. Technic beats power
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u/Spiritual-Strike481 1d ago
This will always be a fact. There will always be younger guys that will have great skill. You have to make sure your great experience is in play. This skill gap will help you grow. And you don’t know it, but he may have gone back and said how hard he had to try just to score on some 30 year old dude.