So, I’m Not Good At This Sport. I Don’t Want To Quit. Any advice?

I’ve been training for about seven months now. I’m paying for private sessions, running, staying active outside the gym, and I even picked up another membership so I can hit bags and lift on my own time.

But sparring has made one thing crystal clear: I’m not tough. I keep getting dropped or banged up — whether it’s a body kick that folds me, leg kicks that leave me limping, or just eating clean shots when I thought I was doing okay. One of the guys who dropped me even told someone after, “I can take it, but these guys really can’t,” and that he wasn’t even hitting me that hard. That stung, because he wasn’t lying.

I hear people in the gym say I’m getting better, but it feels obvious it’s just pity to keep me motivated. With the amount of money I’m investing in privates and the work I put in, it’s frustrating to still feel like the weak link who just can’t take it.

This isn’t a pity party — I’m not looking for pats on the back. I want genuine advice: am I just missing something? Do I need to change how I’m training, or even change gyms altogether?