Hey! I recently started to spar in Muay Thai and I´m having a pretty hard time since I can't react properly to punches coming at me. I know what I want to do when I see a punch coming towards me but I do not have the reaction time to actually see which kind of punch it is so I end up just moving back and sometimes even getting hit. My question is how do you see which kind of punch will/is coming towards you? I try to look for patterns btw. Also if you think that the next punch will be a jab should you dodge and counterpunch the way that you plan to do even if you are not 100% sure that it will be a jab? I´ve done a bit of searching but can't seem to find anything that really helps. Is there any excercises that I could do that would help me out?
Seeing punches & reacting to them?
- Thread starter MorzMP
- Start date
It's like learning a new language. It takes some time. Right now you're trying to recognize words and what they mean. Except, of course, they're coming at your face.
Be patient and keep your hands up.
Be patient and keep your hands up.
- Thread Starter
- #3
Yeah I´ve heard that you should just keep sparring and you´ll get better at itIt's like learning a new language. It takes some time. Right now you're trying to recognize words and what they mean. Except, of course, they're coming at your face.
Be patient and keep your hands up.
But I only have the opportunity to spar 1 time/week atm so I wanted some excersises to do at home that would help me out
If you've got a buddy that you train with, you could work some drills with each other. One guy throws punches, at a slightly slower pace than fight speed, the other just blocks, slips, ducks, whatever. What's key is the person throwing the punches has to be very careful not to alter the way he punches to suit the drill.
As you both get comfortable, you pick up the pace. The drill can help with recognition, partly because you're not concerned with the other aspects of actual sparring.
As you both get comfortable, you pick up the pace. The drill can help with recognition, partly because you're not concerned with the other aspects of actual sparring.
- Thread Starter
- #5
Other than baiting attacks, don't worry about what is coming. Just make a habit of getting out of there, before he positions himself to punch you. You have mastered stepping back, but you can also hop to the side, one foot, or, step toward your opponent at an oblique angle. Or just cover up and let one land onto your guard.
Headhunter
Senior Master
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Practice practice practice you say you can only do once a week well that's fine since your not in any rush. Just keep sparring
- Thread Starter
- #8
Yeah but Idk which side to jump to. Don't rly want to move into his hook
Idk I've seen so many fighters dodge with their head to one side, like they see the punch half way through.- Thread Starter
- #10
Yeah I really hope that sparring will improve my dodging skills etc
Cover your head, just in case you choose wrong.Yeah but Idk which side to jump to. Don't rly want to move into his hook
As for you, there are three types of striking. While you circle each other, looking for ins, you just strike him, even though he is covered or, slightly, out of range; that is called an appetizer. Then you use his reaction to get in deep, and throw a power shot; that is called your main course. Then you don't want to overstay your welcome; so, you strike him again, on the way out of that position. This is dessert!
Identifying a punch is a matter of pattern recognition. It's a mental process, and has to be developed by repetitions. Buka's recommendation is an excellent one. It gives you a chance to see a lot of punches safely, and program your responses.
drop bear
Sr. Grandmaster
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Yeah but Idk which side to jump to. Don't rly want to move into his hook
There are sone average responses though.
So if i throw a jab. I can slip to the right to avoid a counter jab whether it comes or not. My right hand covers my right side so I am pretty safe from his left hook. So my major worry is his right hand which I can watch for and duck.
One think that helped me, after years struggling against tricky strikers, is never stop at punching distance. So if they need to prepare for a punch (stepping in, out, rotate...) you gain reaction time. And you will have less punches to defend. Over time you discover only a few dangerous things can be done in each situation. So you prepare for these ones.
Don't think to much. One thing at a time. Defence, first. When it becomes brainless, next one thing can be counters.
I always recommend slow sparring as an intermediate step. (Or final for old people not interested in fighting and injuries.) It will give you some thinking time. Once you don't need to think (too much) it is useful going a bit faster.
KangTsai
2nd Black Belt
Triangle guard my mayne. The easiest way to compensate is to take it on the gloves and hit back. My most frequent is to swat the hand inwards and roundhouse kick.
KangTsai
2nd Black Belt
Right now, dont focus on predicting, but focus more on reacting.
JR 137
Grandmaster
There's no substitute for experience. How do you get better at reading your opponents? Practice. And don't forget to duck.
Watch the body not the eyes. Body moves before punch comes.
If you cover your center, even if you guess wrong you should cover.
Work on distancing and body shifting. If they can't hit, no need to block.
Blocks are for when you don't exit, stage left, fast enough.
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