Need speed (punches and kicks)

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 1/16/2009 7:00pm

Originally Posted by KMT1

Ok so the wrist weights are bad.

Can I use the 20 weight vest?

For what? For sparring? Will that help you spar more?

What does your instructor says about it?

**Torakaka** · Posted On: 1/16/2009 9:15pm

Before you can have speed you need relaxation. Before you can relax, you have to feel comfortable using the techniques you've learned. Before you can be comfortable using techniques you have to actually know the technique and have some ability to apply them in sparring.

You need regular, proper coaching to improve your technique and you need coached sparring. Using weights and doing funky speed increasing exercises won't help you with what your real problem is. The problem is that you're a total beginner and when you spar you're going to be flailing helplessly like a fish out of water, just like every other total beginner.

**KMT1** · Posted On: 1/16/2009 10:04pm

Originally Posted by Teh El Macho

For what? For sparring? Will that help you spar more?

What does your instructor says about it?

For sparring.

Cardio wise I'm OK except for not always keeping my hands up.
I guess I could fix that my not keeping my hands up for 1.5 hours (in which we use 16oz gloves) in the other 2 classes I take. Of course I think that would be a bad idea overall cause I'd be conditioning myself the wrong way by not always keeping my hands up.

I have a modified hand stance that I use when I feel that I'm dropping my guard and it is quite effective.

The question I have is it would benefit me speed wise (i.e. improve the speed of my footwork).

I have not asked the instructor.

I know someone that used one in a conditioning class at another place that offers Muay Thai once or twice.

I asked that person and he said that he could not comment on benefits because he felt he did not use it for a long enough amount of sessions.

**KMT1** · Posted On: 1/16/2009 10:05pm

Originally Posted by KidSpatula

Before you can have speed you need relaxation. Before you can relax, you have to feel comfortable using the techniques you've learned. Before you can be comfortable using techniques you have to actually know the technique and have some ability to apply them in sparring.

You need regular, proper coaching to improve your technique and you need coached sparring. Using weights and doing funky speed increasing exercises won't help you with what your real problem is. The problem is that you're a total beginner and when you spar you're going to be flailing helplessly like a fish out of water, just like every other total beginner.

I think you nearly hit it all on the head.

I do have a better than average defense and can block nearly whatever they throw at me.

I wish my offense was more on level with my defense.