I Trained MUAY THAI for 4 Years (Sparring Before and After)

I spent 4 Years training in Muay Thai… how did I improve? Did I improve my roundhouse, sparring, clinch, elbows and knees??

Big shoutout to @yokkaoboxing and @WonderboyMMA for letting me spar the legend!!

Want to learn more from me? Check out my website!

[SenseiSeth]

Did you see my spar with the legend at the end? 🤯

[TheElbowMerchant]

Man, I saw you sparring against Saenchai in Wonderboy's video yesterday and I'll repeat the sentiment here: I would have spent an absolutely irresponsible amount of money to attend that seminar! Saenchai, Wonderboy, Sensei Seth, and Icy Mike all together in one place, teaching and learning extremely high level techniques? Take my life savings!

[Gyufygy]

I've never been to one of his seminars, so I could be completely wrong, but I feel like receiving one of Saenchai's cartwheel kicks in a friendly sparring match is like a badge of honor. Like, you've been clowned on by greatness in the coolest, most awesome way possible.

[PontusHultgren]

I'm 39 and have just been training Muay Thai for 2 months, best decision in my life as I have completely fallen in love with it! Thank you for your inspiring and fun videos!

[giovannipinazza]

Really cool to meet you at this seminar (I was the tang soo do guy). Saenchai really is so smooth…

[jaybanerji]

As someone who has embarked on the same exact journey of a long-term Karateka turned Nak Muay, this is such an invaluable insight into the lessons learned organically through the years of hard work on your part. I see so many components of your list and analytical breakdowns in my own sparring, which until this video I never really put much thought into but simply reacted to 'whatever works'. i.e. still utilising a long karate han zenkutso dachi style stance but a little more upright to deal with the threat of leg kicks by checking off the front leg, and opening up that back leg for the power muay thai roundhouse. I feel like I'm on the cusp of the same point you are - where I'm training to learn to deal with Muay Thai fighters using the tools I already have, rather than getting good at Muay Thai itself. It's been a point of insecurity for me for a while that no matter how hard I trained or tried, in the heat of a sparring session I reverted to my karate instincts and got my butt kicked (or more pointedly, my legs chopped down), no matter how much I trained and drilled a strict Muay Thai form. It's only recently that I've begun to find myself able to deal with things so much better when I stopped worrying about it, and found that naturally I arrived at this hybridized style like you. It's far from perfect, and a good Nak Muay will absolutely be able to pick it apart, but it's as you said a good enough point where I feel like I can begin playing around and having fun rather than worrying too much about the power kicks and head punches.

To sum up, thank you for everything you do with your videos. Other than just putting the rounds in, your videos are probably the best training and educational resources I could hope for. I look forward to keeping on top of your journey!

[bobhydro]

Something about the last clip is so incredibly beautiful. There is almost a childlike innocence to how happy you are sparing a guy like sanchai. The fact you are just having fun with him but at the same time on your toes. There is no ego or competitiveness. Just love for the art. Every time sanchai throws another feint or sets you up differently its like seing new colors you never saw before. This feeling that something is really special. Seing that irradiating smile while he makes banter with you almost as to say "see you get it". Your love for this sport and this journey culminated in that sparring session. Watching it was something special.

[IAmYourDoom]

I think your karate stance would work really well with a Philly shell. You can use a lot of lead leg kicks and head movements, and I think it just works perfectly with karate. Would you do a few videos on working on the phily shell?

[EvolveNowYoga]

Really cool to see you getting more comfortable with the thai style of striking! Just started with Muay Thai a few months ago during my travel in Thailand and fell in love with it🤙🏾

[Oreocycllo]

missed opportunity to title this video " I spared with saenchai" or " I Trained Muay Thai for 4 years to Fight the Final Boss" followed by you v saenchai in the thumbnail.

[casoanaamy]

I am a Karate black belt (Shotokan, 2nd Dan) and started Muay Thai 1 month ago... I feel like a complete and total beginner (😅🤪) but your video encourages me to keep on working on myself. Thanks a lot! 🥋🫶

[OnlyPadsMuayThai]

Yes Seth! This is awesome, I’m so happy it happened. Real bucket-list thing here. Super video, had a big grin on my face the whole way through. 🙏 Oowee

[rjmage]

Man went to to toe with saenchai! Amazing! Just a quick thanks to you Sensei Seth. As a karate practitioner thats also currently doing muay thai and trying to explore other martial arts, its a real inspiration watching you explore different style and meet incredible practitioners from around the world in your video's. Love your work man.

[Dreadpool_K]

Genuinely so happy for you that you got to meet and spar with Saenchai, especially after that recap of your Muay Thai training 🙏🏾 👊🏾

[deaddreamnomad]

omg what a beautiful friendly spar at the end. All smiles everywhere!

[Nizzi]

I really like the style of you reviewing the sparring sessions with the camera behind you and the viewer seeing the video the same way as you do on the screen. Very creative I love it.

[Eri]

What the lady explained about the crowd overreacting is true, atleast i heard that too but the noises saenchai makes are the targets he hits in thai, he will sometimes say leg and kick you in the leg and sometimes say leg again and punch you or sweep you, he uses it as a verbal feint, is like looking at a target really aggresively and hitting something else, yes saenchai is that guy.

[mickaelcousseau]

Great video Seth
Humble and efficient way to progress.
Across the years, I can see more confidence during your sparring and a better energy management
Keep up the good work💪

[Naddoniz]

Great video! Dude that ending with you sparring with Saenchi was just very wholesome. I've seen videos of guys trying to hard spar him with power and a look of disapproval on his face. I can tell you both were having fun here.

[MannyGrey]

The sessions at Upstate Karate and 36 Chambers have really paid off it looks like. Plus, sparring with Jeff Chan and Icy Mike seem to really have made a difference in how you move in and out. Congratz on all your progress man, it really shows here.