You can't spar if you are not there. You should ask about this before signing up. Most places do not make it mandatory for you to spar. Sparring is not essential to learn/training. it is just one of the tools used in martial arts training. Many places use this tool incorrectly.
Ask your instructor about it.
I've seen a few of those gyms and I'll tell you right now that I'm pretty sure that is a bad gym or even a McDojo. Sparring is essential to muay thai and you can not limit it to one time/week. It has to be a part of almost every class. One time/week is not enough to learn how to fight and to become a competitive fighter.
In any martial art sparing is essential to fully learning the sport. Talk with your sensai or class leader and ask them.
You should be asking your teacher this question.
So I signed up for a muay thai gym and thry told me that sparring is on Saturdays, but I work on Saturdays!!! Is it essential to spar??
