Basic Muay Thai Sparring Etiquette - important for having a long martial arts career

full sparring session here -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD3dW8UMbNE&t
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Before sparring:
Before sparring, it's always a good idea to have a brief conversation with your partner about the goals, expectations, and limitations of the session. This helps establish a clear understanding and sets the tone for a successful sparring experience.

Respect your training partner and opponent.
When sparring, it's essential to show respect to your training partner and opponent by avoiding any disrespectful comments or actions. Some partners may take this to heart and turn up the intensity on you creating an uncomfortable environment and may even lead to injury.

Wear protective gear and use proper technique.
Wearing appropriate protective gear, such as gloves, shin guards, and a mouthguard, is crucial for avoiding injury during sparring. Additionally, make sure to use proper technique to maximize your training and reduce the risk of injury. You'll see here that while we are making contact with our punches and kicks, we are landing softly to avoid injury so that we may live to spar another day.

Avoid excessive force and dangerous techniques.
Intensity is a part of sparring, but it's crucial to avoid using excessive force or dangerous techniques. This not only puts your opponent at risk but also goes against the spirit of Muay Thai. You can see that we avoid sharp knees and direct contact with elbows because of how damaging those can be, even if they land softly. Rather then a sharp straight knee, we land softly with the side.

Follow the rules and instructions of the trainer.
Be sure to listen to your trainer's instructions and follow any rules they set for sparring. This will help create a safe and controlled training environment. Your trainer typically knows best as they've been through the training and fights and know what's needed to train properly and build highly skilled fighters.

Show good sportsmanship and control your emotions.
Muay Thai requires discipline and self-control, so it's important to show good sportsmanship and keep your emotions in check during sparring. Regardless of the outcome, shake hands with your opponent and show respect. If you sweep your opponent, help them back up and show good sportsmanship. This demonstrates respect and helps create a positive training environment.

Tap out or verbally submit if in pain or discomfort.
If you're in pain or discomfort during sparring, it's important to tap out or verbally submit. Continuing to spar while injured will only make the injury worse and could lead to long-term damage. There are no winners or losers in sparring. The main purpose of sparring is to get used to operating under pressure while practicing techniques. Sometimes you piece the other guy up, sometimes you get pieced up. But what matters is that you practice and focus on working on a specific technique.

Match the intensity of your lower level opponent.
If you are sparring with a lower-level opponent, it's important to match their intensity and not push them beyond their comfort level. This helps create a safe and supportive environment for all participants. You can add a little bit more if you feel like they're ready to take their level up a notch, but don't overwhelm your opponent. This just turns you into a bully. You learn nothing from dominating someone and they don't learn by getting dominated.

After sparring:
After sparring, it's a great idea to review the session with your partner and discuss what went well and what could be improved. This reinforces positive behaviors and enhances your training experience.