Sparring with the pros

Hey, Moss!

Think about the first couple of times you sparred...What was the worst part of it? Why weren't you landing shots? Why were you getting hit so much? Because you were nervous. You stepped in the ring and forgot all of your training. I don't know if this necessarily happened to you, but it happened to me. And it happens to a lot of people when they first set foot in a ring. Once you get comfortable in there, you settle down and start thinking. Just cause you're gonna be sparring pros, doesn't mean it'll be any different than sparring an amateur. Experience and skill is what matters. Be confident in your abilities, treat it like any other sparring session and you'll be fine. Pros spar amateurs in my gym all the time, and more times than not, an outsider watching wouldn't be able to tell who was who. You'll be fine.

Also, keep in mind: Even if you are outclassed, that's the surest way to improve your skills. Boxing, like everything else, the better your opponent, the better you become.

Just stay calm, and you'll probably surprise yourself.

Good luck, dude.

Hi Kami! Im just a starter in boxing. i started boxing about 2 months ago. and our boxing gym joined a boxing tournament this coming Sept. 22 against other boxing gyms. its a kinda friendship game. I'm preparing for the fight sept. 22,I want to do my best in my training and preparation but everytime i spar with other boxer, i feel nervous. and afraid of getting a hard hit. I want to improve and be confident in the ring. and of course i want to win. any advice...

Hey Tondy

It's funny, but I think that when you're nervous there's a better chance of you getting caught. At least for me, when I'm nervous my legs don't move right, and my upper body movement is reduced; thus making me a far more easy to find target.

The way i see it: The number one goal of sparring is to get you to feel comfortable in the ring. Before the bell rings, take long, slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth; bounce a little bit to stay loose; and stretch out the muscles in your neck. Remember that your opponent is wearing 16oz gloves, and that he can't really hurt you. And also, I think a key to becoming comfortable in the ring, is accepting the fact that you are going to get hit. Being afraid of that inevitability will only prevent you from performing to the best of your abilities. Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to you is getting caught with a big punch and realizing that you can take it. Then, what do you have to fear? As a fighter, you need to be very self-aware; know your limitations and your strengths. It might turn out that you have a chin of steel, but you'll never know until you get tested.

So...breathe deep, loosen up, accept that as a boxer you are going to get hit, go in there and do what you've been training to do.

Good luck in your tournament!! I'm sure you'll do great!

~paul

Thank you very much for your advice kami!