Any boxers in the house? A sparring question

[Emilia]

I box at a very modest level, took a break from sparring about 6 months ago and kept the fitness up but now looking to get back into it again. I've found an amateur club in East London that's almost like a community centre, ie everyone is welcome but they take the sport very seriously.

 

The thing is that I forget a lot of what I know once I get in the ring in terms of technique. As I only have limited time during the week to train and as I'm older, I have to be pretty realistic regarding what I can achieve.

 

First question: is sparring the best way to get better in the ring? Or should I focus on practising combinations until the cows come home and until I can do them in my sleep? It's controlled sparring so it's not so much about getting beaten up but more about confidence. What's the best way to improve?

 

My second question: how do you deal with the fear? It gets really bad at times where it takes all my mental strength to force myself to go through the front door of the boxing club. I love the sport and always enjoy it when I'm training but that initial push can be so hard sometimes. Does the fear get better with practice?

 

Thank you as always.

[tman666]

I personally believe that there is no substitute to sparring when it comes to boxing, BJJ (known as rolling), Judo, or really any other sport martial art.

 

You can practice combinations, footwork, conditioning, strength, etc. until the cows come home, but none of those things hit back.

 

Now a caveat to that: it's good to hear that your sparring sessions are controlled. I think that sparring sessions should really start as very light contact and work up to a point where you're comfortable taking and delivering hits. Throwing people into a full contact sparring session and end up basically turning into a brawl where technique is sloppy, emotions are running high, and people get discouraged and/or hurt.

 

A good martial arts instructor should know how to gradually introduce sparring to the students in such a way that allows them to build confidence, stay safe, and stay motivated to come to sparring class.

 

As far as getting over fear: again, my opinion is that if sparring is introduced the way it should be, fear shouldn't be much of a problem. That said, I've been to boxing "classes" that were essentially a semi-controlled fight club. I think that one should have at least some level of fear going into that type of situation.

[Emilia]

Thanks tman.

 

I suppose the issue is that pretty much everyone is better than me

 

I tried to join at a more basic level but after a few minutes they chucked me in with the more advanced people - but I was the only new kid everyone else has been there for a while. They are by no means fantastic fighters but they have their s**t together in the ring more than I do.

 

Yeah, you are right. I think some of the fear comes from fear of failure to be fair. I have to knuckle down for a couple of months and get on with it. It's not a fight club set-up by any means, I think it's pretty decent.

 

I'm also thinking I'll sign up with a flexible membership (there is no annual contract or committment) and just turn up at different times when I can quietly practise or grab someone who takes pitty on me and practise a bit.

[tman666]

Yeah, I hear you. The people that are better than you should know that, however, and control themselves appropriately. Using a lesser skilled opponent as a punching bag is bad karma.

 

What are your goals with boxing? If your goal is to compete, yeah, you need to spar. If you're just doing it to help with fitness and conditioning levels, I wouldn't be taking any hits for that.

[Emilia]

Yeah, I hear you. The people that are better than you should know that, however, and control the match appropriately. Using a lesser skilled opponent as a punching bag is bad karma.

 

My last spar was pretty bad from this point of view especially as I was sparring with a guy - though it wasn't traumatic or anything. It amazes me how much ego some can bring into it against an opponent who isn't as good. I'm aware that it can always happen.

 

What are your goals with boxing? If your goal is to compete, yeah, you need to spar. If you're just doing it to help with fitness and conditioning levels, I wouldn't be taking any hits for that.

 

I haven't decided fully but I'm thinking I'd like to compete - but only on 'white collar boxing' level. I took it 'down' to fitness only for a few months - partly because I was training for something else - but it's been bugging me. So I'm thinking I want to see within the next 6 months if the old dog can be taught new tricks and whether my skill/technique level grows sufficiently to think seriously about having an actual fight/bout. It is also good motivation for conditioning and strength training.

[Forever Learning]

I don't have any real useful advice for you but I have a few random comments regarding boxing -

 

I used to want to take up boxing in my 20's/ 30's and felt I would have been quite good at it (particularly when Mohammad Ali's daughter got involved in the sport and women in boxing were getting a bit of media exposure) but now at 43 it's entirely out of the question because I've got too much arthritis in my neck and back, and the very last thing I need from here on out would be repeated hits to my head or neck.

 

It will strictly be low impact sports and exercise for me, and that's ok, I don't even feel sad about that, I am at peace with that entirely.

 

In the mornings when I wake up stiff (arthritis seems to run in my family) I know for sure, that I can't be participating in a sport that could cause any further harm to my neck and back. I hope I am not being a downer or bumming you out, just making an observation. I have alot of friends my age who are in the same circumstance in their 40's and the only way they'd allow themself to come to blows would be in a life and death situation where it would be unavoidable. In other words, the bar fighting days of their 20's and 30's are long gone. One begins to treasure days without back and neck pain, once you've had some real joint and spinal pain to contend with. Again, please don't pound me to smithereens for being a Debbie Downer!

 

I did watch UFC fighting again yesterday and that is really interesting to watch, I like my boys to watch it too, to get some exposure to a variety of sports and such. I did try Tae Kwon Do last year with my older son and that wasn't a problem because we weren't sparring (they do sometimes, with padded helmets). My sons could participate in that, but at this point, I don't think I would. Too much at risk for my neck, etc.

 

I do admire your spirit, and totally understand the draw boxing has for people of both genders. Some of us have that piss and vinegar that makes boxing look like great fun, and I still enjoy watching it immensely. Cheers love!

[Crusoe]

Yup, used to box and I must admit, when money was tight, stepped onto the cobbles too.

 

In my opinion sparring and bag time are equally important. You want to be comfortable in the ring and that only comes with ring time, but you're not going to be comfortable without making your moves second nature. You get good when technique and instinct become one.

 

With enough sparring you learn the ring, it's size, where to go, all without having to think or even look, you just sense. You also learn how opponents move, shift, duck, dive, fake and roll. Again, with time you learn to read them so you can react instinctively. Ring savvy is no good if you can't throw the punches, though.

 

The bag gives speed, strength, footwork and you gradually learn how to find effortless power. There's an art to throwing a punch, similar to a golf swing, it all comes from the ground up and you need that to be instinctive and fluid.

 

As for fear, every boxer has fear. The good ones learn how to channel it into something useful. And yes, practise is the key. The bag is your temple, it's where you go to pray, it's where you find inner confidence, self belief and your own internal rhythm.

 

Again, same as golf, the reason you practise so hard is so when you meet those pressure moments you know your body will react properly. Fear effects the small muscles not to the big core muscles, so the better your technique, the less likely fear will effect your performance. The more you know your technique is solid, the less you fear. Eventually, in time, you learn to like fear, you learn to get off on it and then you learn how to transfer it onto your opponent.

Edited November 23, 2012 by Crusoe

[Emilia]

In the mornings when I wake up stiff (arthritis seems to run in my family) I know for sure, that I can't be participating in a sport that could cause any further harm to my neck and back. I hope I am not being a downer or bumming you out, just making an observation. I have alot of friends my age who are in the same circumstance in their 40's and the only way they'd allow themself to come to blows would be in a life and death situation where it would be unavoidable. In other words, the bar fighting days of their 20's and 30's are long gone. One begins to treasure days without back and neck pain, once you've had some real joint and spinal pain to contend with. Again, please don't pound me to smithereens for being a Debbie Downer!

 

No no I won't. I listen to my body and I take stuff gradually, if it gets too much I stop. I stop before I get in the situation where I might get into trouble, seriously. Sure you can never be sure you will avoid impact 100% but there is a long road to get to that level.

 

I do admire your spirit, and totally understand the draw boxing has for people of both genders. Some of us have that piss and vinegar that makes boxing look like great fun, and I still enjoy watching it immensely. Cheers love!

 

Thank you!!!!!

[Emilia]

Yup, used to box and I must admit, when money was tight, stepped onto the cobbles too.

 

In my opinion sparring and bag time are equally important. You want to be comfortable in the ring and that only comes with ring time, but you're not going to be comfortable without making your moves second nature. You get good when technique and instinct become one.

 

With enough sparring you learn the ring, it's size, where to go, all without having to think or even look, you just sense. You also learn how opponents move, shift, duck, dive, fake and roll. Again, with time you learn to read them so you can react instinctively. Ring savvy is no good if you can't throw the punches, though.

 

The bag gives speed, strength, footwork and you gradually learn how to find effortless power. There's an art to throwing a punch, similar to a golf swing, it all comes from the ground up and you need that to be instinctive and fluid.

 

As for fear, every boxer has fear. The good ones learn how to channel it into something useful. And yes, practise is the key. The bag is your temple, it's where you go to pray, it's where you find inner confidence, self belief and your own internal rhythm.

 

Again, same as golf, the reason you practise so hard is so when you meet those pressure moments you know your body will react properly. Fear effects the small muscles not to the big core muscles, so the better your technique, the less likely fear will effect your performance. The more you know your technique is solid, the less you fear. Eventually, in time, you learn to like fear, you learn to get off on it and then you learn how to transfer it onto your opponent.

 

This is what my mind tells me exactly, it all makes sense, thanks Crusoe. I'm going to talk to my 'old' trainer and make a plan

[Emilia]

Resurrecting my zombie thread.

 

Despite set backs and experiencing fear, I have kept up my boxing training and pleased to report I'm much more confident. I started structured classes on 3rd January twice a week and I go to other gyms on top of that when my spare time allows me to.

 

Tman was right, gradual introduction to sparring has helped a great deal and I remember combinations and technique in the ring rather than just focus on 'fight or flight' response.

 

Crusoe was right too about the bag work, there is more emphasis on sparring where I am doing the main training but when I do my extra gym work somewhere else, it's in a place where heavy bags are used a lot and that shows in the power of my punches. It also allows to think punches through, how they work, what is a good combination that's easy to throw, work on individual style, etc.

 

I'm so pleased I found this sport and have kept persevering to get better at it.

[Crusoe]

Resurrecting my zombie thread.

 

Despite set backs and experiencing fear, I have kept up my boxing training and pleased to report I'm much more confident. I started structured classes on 3rd January twice a week and I go to other gyms on top of that when my spare time allows me to.

 

Tman was right, gradual introduction to sparring has helped a great deal and I remember combinations and technique in the ring rather than just focus on 'fight or flight' response.

 

Crusoe was right too about the bag work, there is more emphasis on sparring where I am doing the main training but when I do my extra gym work somewhere else, it's in a place where heavy bags are used a lot and that shows in the power of my punches. It also allows to think punches through, how they work, what is a good combination that's easy to throw, work on individual style, etc.

 

I'm so pleased I found this sport and have kept persevering to get better at it

 

Well done and glad to hear you're enjoying it.

 

A lot of people knock the sport but there's something very pure and honest about it. Strict rules. No elbows, biting or kicking, nothing below the belt, let a man stand up once down. Great discipline required, great respect for your opponent required and great reliance on ones self learnt. Not many places lonelier than the ring.

 

There's a reason the sport was so often used to help troubled young lads in the past.

Edited February 26, 2013 by Crusoe