Thread: Bad training partners

I pride myself on being a helpful training partner. Apologising if I feel I`ve stepped/knelt on something that doesnt belong to me, generally making sure the other guy is ok and relaxing and letting my partner reherse the technique until they feel like they want to start testing it a bit more.

However, I was working with a guy with true "little man syndrome" the other night. In trying to learn a clinch technique we had only just been shown I had to battle against a guy stiff arming the whole time, meaning I was having to use force rather than technique (and learn the technique). I`m reasonably strong so could do it, but I got very frustrated so stiff armed him back, which he couldnt move at all, and generally pushed and pulled wherever I wanted him for a while, which gave him the idea to relax.

This guy was learning Muay Thai also and was questioning techniques as it means then he could "just do this or that", rather than just concentrating on learning the BJJ technqiues and getting them down solid before looking at follow ons etc etc as being taught by an amazingly talanted BJJ fighter and instructor.

Anyone else come across bad training partners and what did you do about it??

I've come across this before and despise every moment of it. I'm like you in respect that when I train I take care of my partner and usually the feeling is mutual with the other person, we're there to learn but whilst learning you must look after each other, otherwise stuff is going to go wrong and someone will eventually get hurt maybe even seriously.

The most extreme case of this was on a three day training seminar and it came to the point where I could not take anymore of my training partner and refused to train, I explained myself to the instructor and walked off.

But in the most of cases I've just had to keep reminding the person to relax and remember to have fun as that's the best way to learn in my opinion. A human learns best when it thinks the body is at play so more sinks in (so to speak).

I've only just got into mma really, train at next gen and can honestly say everyone there has been boss and helpful. I have been doing goju ryu karate for years and the thai and bjj up to now has been a massive education for me!:thumb

I always feel like I'm doing stuff wrong but everyone there is sound and just help you along.

So many times in thai boxing, but they soon learn or give up, or get weeded out if they ever try their hand at fighting. Even had a dick telling certain instructors that theyre over the hill and its time to move aside for guys like him, needless to say ppl like that gain no support of the other team members and will always suffer.


And experianced it in bjj last month, where a big guy got me in scarf position, and tried eye gouging (whether he really knew what he was doing or not, he still should keep his hands near my eyes), so a gouged right back so space, and scooted out the back door, he held onto a head lock for dear life, trying to squeeze my head, didnt work and i soon slid out. He hasnt been back to my knowledge (been injured for the last few weeks)

At the end of it all, technique will prevail, if not be sneaky lol (and you'll keep a cool head, where as they wont)

Ive only been a few times, but the lad who is the head trainer is a sound bloke. I go wi me mate from work, and we work slowly through what we learn and its really good. I cant wait to start again now on the 4th August.

We were discussing a bad training partner at the place I train just yesterday, a guy whos a bit of a head-the-ball who just seems to want to learn to hurt people and rough houses people all the time rather than applying any technique and when you try to teach him something he just ignores you and reverts to type.

They come in all shapes and sizes unfortunately from the guy who just like inflicting pain, to the guy who doesnt want to listen, to the guy who thinks sparring is about winning and losing, to the guy who likes to bully smaller fighters, to the guy who loses his rag whenever a punch or kick is accidently thrown a little too hard in training and so comes back at you swinging.

Alot of the time in fairness its not always down to bad attitude, sometimes its simply a lack of imagination - ive seen many bigger fighters simply squash down smaller fighters because frankly they couldnt think of anything else to try and the idea of trying a submission or transitioning to another position seems beyond them.