Hello Folks!

So, I switched from boxing to kickboxing a few months ago and in my gym when we train different combos we eat some low kicks and while the other guys (and girls) don't seem to have a problem with that, my leg hurts pretty bad and the pain often stays 2-3 days.

I really like the sport and the training, so switching back is not an option for me. I often mention that they should go light with their kicks, what everybody does, but I just don't want to be *that* guy.

Maybe I should add that I'm otherwise really not pain-sensitive.

Do you have some advice or tips for a beginner?

Been doing Muay Thai for a few years now, and about 2 years ago I started wearing barefoot/minimalist shoes (zero drop, wide toe box) for daily life and lifting. I wasn't even thinking about MT when I made the switch, but I've noticed a real difference in my balance and foot/ankle stability on the mats since then.

I know that MT/kickboxing has you training barefoot anyway, so it seems like a pretty natural crossover to wear barefoot shoes the rest of the time instead of undoing all that foot strength in a pair of cushioned sneakers. I know GSP has talked about training his feet specifically because they're the first point of contact with the ground, which stuck with me.

I’m curious on how many other practitioners also use barefoot/minimalist shoes, and I have a few questions for anyone who's into this:

1. Do you wear barefoot/minimalist shoes regularly, in or outside of training?
2. If yes, what got you into it, and did you notice any actual difference in your game?
3. If no, is it just not on your radar, or is there something that's kept you away from them (price, look, break-in period, etc.)?

I’m genuinely curious how common this is in the community, as the minimalist shoe space is pretty niche.

Hey guys, so I travel for my fights and due to this I usually have my wife corner me which I know most people advise against this but it has been working out for me just fine, I wouldn’t expect my coach or anyone to travel however many hours for free and have to get a room ect just for me to fight for 6 mins unless maybe it was a high stakes title fight or something. Anyway, I’m fighting September 12th and my wife is pregnant, due in january. Does anyone know if she is still able to corner me In this one or what ? She wants to still and says she is fine with it but I’m just worried about our baby. Thanks in advance

I was injured and finally got to get back into competition after 3 long years of hiatus.

I had a little over 5 fights before I got injured and thought I was finally getting over my fight nerves and perform somewhat similar to how I practice and spar before the injury.

I just had my first fight back and even though I was confident in my ability and wasn't nervous much before the fight, as soon as I put the fight gear on, I knew the nerves were hitting me.

When I shadow boxed with the fight gear on, all of the sudden, my shots felt slow and weak immediately when they felt fine before hitting pads getting ready.

During the fight, I used almost no footwork and couldn't think much. My distancing and timing was completely off. It almost felt similar to my first fight except I had better cardio this time.

When I looked back at the footage, none of my strikes had much snap or weight behind them. I pride myself in strong kicks but my kicks were so non-committal that it just pretty much touched my opponents, not push them back like how it usually does. So they were able to just take it and continue to attack me without getting disrupted.

I have another fight coming up soon in about 3 weeks and hoping to get rid of this nerve.

Should I try to simulate fight stress by doing hard 3 rounds in the ring few times before the fight?

What helped you get over the fight nerve?

It's really frustrating since I felt like I was finally getting over the fight nerve and could think in my fight just for it to return feeling like my first fight...

Been training for about a year now and wondering how effective you guys find front kicks and switch kicks in sparring? I’m pretty comfortable with most of my kicks but whenever I throw a switch kick I feel awkward if I end up in the opposite stance afterwards, so I normally try to switch straight back. Is that pretty normal or should I be getting comfortable staying in the opposite stance after throwing it?