Question for the Group Re Cross Genger Sparring

**czuckufarley** · Posted On: 9/26/2012 10:41am

Hi All,

I spent most of my teens and twenties boxing and now am training in a great school and focusing on Muay Thai. Today, though, for the first time in my life (I'm 42) I was paired up with a woman as a sparring partner. She didn't have a great deal of experience, was about 125 pounds lighter than me, and reminded my of my granddaughter. I didn't want to tell her to find someone else, but my work out was a complete clusterfrig - I was over thinking everything trying not to throw my combos too hard, kept worrying that I was going to hurt her - it got so bad I was mixing up my left and my right....

Anyway - obviously this is my issue and I am going to have to deal with it. But I wondered if any one had any advice - especially girls out there. I am not a sexist, I have always maintained that woman can fight as well as any man, but I am big (6'4" / 250) and, simply put, I was raised to never hit a girl. How do you break that? Notably, when I was holding pads for her, I had no problem given her direction, moving with her, catching her punches etc. I don't have a problem working with women, just striking them.

Thoughts?

C

**RWaggs** · Posted On: 9/26/2012 10:46am

Treat her exactly as you would if you were sparring a guy who was 125 lbs lighter than you with limited experience.

**thrutch** · Posted On: 9/26/2012 11:01am

Think of it as an opportunity to work on areas that you wouldn't usually focus on - if I've got a guy my size holding the pads I have a tendency to blast away, working up a sweat and trying to build power. When I'm training with a girl, or a much smaller kid, I'll try to concentrate on control, correct technique (foot placement/opening the hips/rotating on the foot etc) and accuracy.

It only makes your training "a complete clusterfrig" if you approach it with the wrong mindset.

**Tom .C** · Posted On: 9/26/2012 11:08am

It would have been a good time to practice your "Falcon Punch"

**DaTedBear** · Posted On: 9/26/2012 11:11am

Totally agree with Rwaggs and Thrutch. Take it as an opportunity to work on your technique and also a chance to help someone. If they are serious about their training, the opportunity to exchange with a larger training partner will help them should they face a large opponent on the street. It also allows you to develop techniques by having to concentrate on it to the point of proper execution rather than blasting away. Should be good for both of you.