I think there are a couple of things to keep in mind for a situation like this.  First is to keep an open mind.  There are more than one way to skin a cat.  One way isn't necessarily better than another.  Often times, especially when you find something that tends to be in direct contrast to what you are familiar with, what you've found is a second option.

This has happened to me a few times.  At first with Ajarn/Professor Leonard Trigg who's teachings have had the most influence on my Boxing Style, and the teachings of Coach Marvin Cook.  It took me three years of just keeping an open mind and learning Coach Cook's method which seemed completely opposite of what I learn from Ajarn Trigg, before I found a way to consolidate the two.  I still use the Trigg method as my starting point and the backbone of what I do.  But once in a while I run into someone who uses the Trigg method well enough that it neutralizes my game.  That's when the Cook method kicks in and gives me that second option.

The same type of thing happened when I first encountered Catch Wrestling.  It seemed to fly in the face of what I learned in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.  But over time, learning both and giving both their due respect, I found a way where when one method dead ends, the other takes over and gives me more options.

The key though is that all my instructors have been able to explain exactly why they were telling me to do, what they were telling me to do.  Everything I was being taught made pefect sense once it was explained by the instructors.  Even when what they were teaching was completely opposite of what my other instructor taught.  I have coaches that tell me never to use a head outside single leg takedown, they explain why and it makes perfect sense.  I have coaches that tell me never to use a head inside single leg takedown and why, and it makes perfect sense.  In the end I am left to decide which way best fits my physical build, limitations, tendancies, personality, etc.  But I make an informed decision.

If an instructor can't explain why they're telling you to do something in a particular way, in a manner that makes sense to you, I'd be leary of spending much more time under them.  Always be respectful, but you don't have to spend your time training under an instructor that can't make sense of the techniques he or she is teaching you.  That's my .02

At the same time Michael, just because someone has some fights doesn't mean they understand what they are teaching.  Use good judgement.  But be courteous and respectful in what you decide to do and how you decide to do it.  You never want to burn a bridge when you can help it.

Then again, you might understand more about the striking game than he does.  There a lot of guys out there that think that if you go an hammer away on a heavy bag then get a couple of fights under them, they've pretty much figured out the striking game.  And nothing could be further from the truth.  Bawh!  I hope I haven't muddied the waters too much here.

Not to sound like Kenny Rodgers but sometimes you've got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run.

Those bangers are tough to deal with.  It's always a judgement call.  Sometimes the best thing to do is exactly what you're doing.  If you're significantly smaller than those guys (which I usually am), I usually play it safe, work defense and pot shot.  But if I'm the same size, sometimes the best thing to do is lay two or three of them out cold.  I've seen this happen a number of times with Jake Paul. 

I'll work with a fellow and he'll go balls out on me and they're usually 20 to 30 lbs heavier.  Then Jake will walk up, they'll start to bang around and then Jake starts trying to knock them into next week.  It's not an emotional pissed off sort of thing, it's just like, hey, alright, let's both turn it up all the way.  Then the bangers usually start mellowing out pretty good for Jake.

You know, another thing you might want to check out is the elbow to fist destruction video.  I love breaking hands on guys who like to try and kill me.  Usually after a few, they start to chill a bit.

But then, there's always politics.  One time a guy named Harold was trying to knock me out during training.  I didn't let him touch me, but I was hammering him with continual straight rights. I had him stunned a few times and right when I was about to go in for the finish, I thought "Man, Khru likes this guy, and I don't know if he'd be mad if I laid Harold out."  So I didn't.  Later Harold pissed off Khru and ended up getting kicked out of the school.  At any rate, with those politics, it can make things difficult sometimes though.

naturalbornfighter1 said:

The fist destructions were awesome! The one with about a minute to go was done so beautifully, the way Dr.Sick parries the hand and brings the elbow round to catch the next was so slick!

 

I've caught someone's elbow with one of my punches and it was excruciating. I'm going to start practicing my timing and distance for that one.

 

Reminds me of Ken Norton Jr's cross arm defence. I'm such a student of the game, this fight happened four years before I was born haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mmlh9erxFM

I absolutely love hearing Angelo Dundee commentate.  I would really love to train under him and pick his brain a bit.