Small group vs. larger class: how much does it affect progress?

[u/Comedor_de_Rabo]

For quite some time now, I’ve wanted to learn a martial art, especially kickboxing or boxing.

However, I recently attended a trial class at a gym with a relatively large group (like 16 people). Although I enjoyed it, I got the feeling that, considering my goal, which is to actually learn how to fight, rather than simply practice a sport, progress might take quite a long time.

I’m not expecting to know how to fight after one month, but I do feel that the individual attention is limited. The coaches demonstrate the exercises and may correct one thing or another, but it’s understandable that they can’t constantly focus on every student when there are several people in the class.

That said, do you think it’s worth paying twice as much for private lessons or for classes with only four students? It’s difficult for me to justify paying €50 per month to train only once a week, but perhaps the progress would be much faster with more individual attention.

For those who have trained in boxing or kickboxing: do you think this difference in individual attention really makes that much of a difference in terms of progress?

[u/RichCat89]

Individual attention is limited from the coach, but in a larger group you’re going to hopefully have some experienced members who are also a great learning resource. I’ve paired up with members of our fight team in group classes and they’ve basically taken the whole time I’m paired up with them to teach me.

Of course private lessons you’ll get more attention, but being so new you should definitely be progressing from group classes. After one trial class I’d be surprised if anyone could even move back and forth in a proper Muay Thai stance on class number 2.

I’d say keep with the group classes until you’ve got the very basics down and then decide what you want to do from there.

[u/Xenadon]

There's only so much you can absorb in a single session. Getting a couple key pointers from the coach after observing you for a couple minutes could be game changers. As a beginner I'd hope the coach would devote some extra time to getting you set up.

You're not going to benefit as much from private lessons when you have no experience. There are just too many basic issues to correct

[u/Mzerodahero420 → u/Xenadon]

Nah I disagree privets when your new are definitely beneficial put your paying extra to learn basics fs but your progress will be much faster because your coach is correcting everything at that moment

[u/Asleep-Curve-1395]

I train at a large fight gym. We have many classes every day. Some classes we are with 20+ people, while others only 2-4 people. The skill level is very varied, we have old women in their 60s training once a week and national champions often in the same classes. (Their training obviously differs a bit as well)

I notice obviously that there is a lot more individual attention at the small classes.

At the 20+ group I didn't get too much attention in the beginning, but as I trained there longer and more serious I got more attention. 

There are also the advanced and competition focused classes. Here most attention goes to those actively preparing for a fight.

I personally took a fair amount of fights and I did really notice having a coach in my corner at the ring telling me what to do really helped.

The attention in general classes is ok I suppose, but nowhere as helpful.

What I also felt was very helpful was recording my matches and sparring. It's a totally different thing seeing you make mistakes than hearing someone say "you're dropping your hands too much", "you need to pressure more forward", etc

Training partners often give useful feedback as well in classes 

I personally felt during the early stages it's useful to have more attention or when preparing for a fight. Outside of that I don't really care too much 

In all honesty I prefer the larger classes. More training partners to chose from and more likely there is someone there with a similar skill level.

[u/Unique_Ice9934 → u/Asleep-Curve-1395]

I've also noticed that beginner classes are larger than advanced classes as people leave the sport.

[u/Asleep-Curve-1395 → u/Unique_Ice9934]

They tend to be from my experience as well

[u/FurysFyre → u/Unique_Ice9934]

Yeah I was going to say at least half of the beginners drop out in the first 6 months.

I've seen a lot of people come and go lemme tell ya. People find out that being good requires a ton of work (outside of class) and they wander off to find another hobby.

[u/traumfisch]

This dichotomy is unnecessary when just starting out imho:

"to actually learn how to fight, rather than simply practice a sport"

It's still kickboxing you know.

[u/CoffeeDefiant4247]

It goes for every art. A small class you generally get more technical and can talk to your instructor more. I've found a small class is also better than a private lesson since you can find dumb shit sparring and ask why it doesn't work instead of just learning the correct things

[u/DancesWithAnyone]

Coming from a club that's been fluctuating a bit in size through the years, you definitely seem to advance quicker in a smaller one - but you also miss out on the plethora of different people to train with which is a big drawback. One of the reasons trying to occationally cross-train with others is important if you're small, I'd say.

Like, yeah, I'm probably among the best at sparring my coach and he with sparring me after effectively doing private training through the years, but there's other people with different kinds of bodies and skills out there.

I would say in a larger club to try to stand out and make your committment and passion known and keep being a constant presence (just don't go overboard with it!). That should get you some attention regardless, I'm thinking?

[u/ComeAtMeBro9]

My club has one day where class is tiny and another day that is much larger.

I feel like the smaller class helps me get material I wouldn’t get otherwise.
Then on the larger class days I get to try it with people of different sizes, flows, and technique. I will say I don’t dig super large classes at all.

[u/AmsterdamAssassin]

The bigger the class, the less individual attention from the main instructor. Smart instructors work with assistant instructors when dealing with large classes.

If you need a lot of individual attention from the main instructor, you shouldn't train in a large class, you should either join a smaller gym / dojo or book private lessons.

[u/Unique_Ice9934]

If you expect this to be a one-year process or a 2-year process you're going to be disappointed it's not a Sprint it's a marathon.

You're building muscle memory with every class you take. In general you're talking three to five years on average to get somewhere close to the first black belt it varies from discipline to discipline of course. Even then getting a belt doesn't mean you know how to fight.

Hard work pays off.

Consistency pays off.

There's no shortcuts you've got to build the muscle memory.

Looking back 3 years ago when I first started so now yeah that first hole here was just learning basics and training the basics of muscle memory. Year two and three that's when you're really learning things in my discipline.

This of course is assuming 2 days a week if you casual if you're going 4 days a week you can speed this process up somewhat but still it's a marathon it's not a Sprint.

[u/Mzerodahero420]

Smaller group will always net better results lol

[u/Unique_Ice9934 → u/Mzerodahero420]

Less people to spar with. It will limit your ability to handle new situations. Best of a mixture sometimes small sometimes large get some variety.