first day back sparring

**truepwrz** · Posted On: 12/22/2007 8:39pm

hi i just had my match the other day and today is my first day back sparring in a boxing match

i seem like really sloppy at my fight and todays sparring match, what should i do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f36iDkVV5jw

video

thanks

**Emevas** · Posted On: 12/22/2007 8:42pm

Stop being so afraid to get hit. You keep leaning back.

**alex** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 12:44am

that was pretty terrible... dot be so afraid to get hit. dont swing like a moron, dont spar with people who are trying (badly) to take your head off... hell, spar in an actual gym.

**truepwrz** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 10:47am

thanks for the advice i will trying to lean more forward next time =)

**ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 11:06am

Edit: Disclaimer - I suck at striking and if someone says different you should listen to them but anyway...

Don't spar with that level of contact, you're clearly worried about getting hit and that level of contact is doing nothing to help you get over that.

A drill that helped me was to have a friend throw jabs at the top of my head and as each shot came in (Lightly at first) you would deliberately headbutt the glove with your forehead whilst making a conscious effort to keep your eyes open and focused on your opponent.

In addition, your right hand is at shoulder level and giving you no protection when you throw shots, in fact, scratch that, go back over that video and hit the pause button at random and see how well your hands are covering your face.

Stop leaving your hand sout after you throw shots as well, make a conscious effort next tie you spar to keep both hands up and snap them back into place after each shot.

Summary:

1: Do the above drill
2: Spar with MUCH lighter contact
3: Make a conscious effort to think about the position of your hands at all times

Once you've done all that you can maybe start to think about using some footwork which also helps in fights.

**money** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 11:47am

Originally Posted by truepwrz

thanks for the advice i will trying to lean more forward next time =)

I'd suggest not doing that, I've been told you should lead with your hips. And yeah, spar with light contact to work on technique so that you're not always in panic mode trying not to get the **** knocked out of you.

**Emevas** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 11:51am

I usually have the opposite problem of people being too afraid to hit (coming from a point sparring background, or being afraid I'm going to get angry and slug them), but it should work for not being afraid of getting hit as well. Before sparring, just lean forward and let your sparring partner give you a punch. Brace for it, expect it, feel it, then realize it's not so bad and nothing to be afraid of.

It'd work if you work some headgear as well.

**Torakaka** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 1:55pm

Find a gym of some sort, and please take boxing out of your style field until you actually train at a boxing gym. It saddens me that you took a fight with what looks like no training at all.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 3:41pm

You should put that armoir on ebay!

Edit: Why is this in the Kung Fu forum?

**Tonuzaba** · Posted On: 12/23/2007 5:20pm

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius

...Edit: Why is this in the Kung Fu forum?

Because the guys on video suck? ;-)

Seriously, this kind of sparring won't give you nothing but videos you can laugh/cry about later on... Listen to Alex, V.B. and the rest of experienced folks here.

Start training under qualified guidance, bring the sparring up from light level after you learn proper basic techniques and do video much much later. All of these preferrably with somebody who knows what he/she's doing.

Good luck.