Hey,
This was definitely my biggest fear when I was picking gyms to stay at last year (them being fitness centered).
Our training usually looked liked this:
- running / warm-up / shadow-boxing + stretch
- partner drills 3-5 rounds
- pads 3 rounds
- Heavy bag 3-5 rounds
- clinch / Sparring
We would do the fitness exercises in between rounds or as part of warm-up or in the end. So it was definitely always part of it.
In my opinion pad work is the most important part. You have the attention of your trainer, he can correct you, see how you move and have you work on certain aspects - for me that's where I always got the most pointers for my technique and learned a lot.
Sparring is then "just" testing all the things out.
If you have the opportunity to talk to your coach before or after class about what you want to achieve, I am sure they will help you. Same with clinching, tell them you would love to learn how to clinch.
Working hard, being interested and willing to learn is usually met well when approaching the coaches respectfully (at least in my experience).
So don't get discouraged! And good luck with your training.
