[phillsav]

“There's an entire universe of difference between someone who takes martial arts classes a few times a week, and an actual trained fighter”

To echo this, I have professional competitive experience in Muay Thai (and also in some other combat disciplines). My training schedule during this time was 2 x daily, 6 days a week with a 4km run before each session.

With this consistent routine training alongside other young, hungry and often gifted high level fighters, it takes something special for a hobbyist to join in a Pro session and not look ‘out of place’.

If you are training right, every angle, strike, and position is carefully mapped into muscle memory even for when there is nothing left in the tank.

Non competitive Martial arts are superb for confidence, but be very sure, there is (like you said) a universe of difference between an active professionally training fighter and a talented hobbyist.

Edit: Grammar