I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring

boxingwizard · 11-04-2009, 09:52 PM

I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring. It's frustrating me, I've only been boxing 5 weeks, but in sparring I'm so nervous and jittery, and I can't focus or concentrate, and if I see punches coming I close my eyes and I get afraid to throw punches. I've been working hard in training, coming to the gym on a regular basis, and I do well on the heavybag, I have a good jab and right hand and can throw combinations, I'm slipping punches and throwing them on the double end bag, but I just can't read punches coming and I forget everything I learned in sparring.
I don't know what to do about it because I really want my hard work to translate, I took a lot of shots in 4 rounds of sparring tonight but still, I just don't have the nerves for boxing yet, I can't remain calm, and I already know I can take a shot.
I just want to get good at boxing and I work hard for it and it's just not translating over. What do I need to do?
And due to my lack of performing in sparring I don't think I'll be fighting in November 21, which may not be a bad thing.

aj415 · 11-04-2009, 10:43 PM

Your first goal is to get comfortable dude so your muscles are relaxed and your brain clear. And the only way to achieve that is TIME and Effort.

Takes months of repitions before you really start getting it, at least for most guys.

Thats it, don't outhink yourself, these things have to become muscle memory you can't try and conciously do it.

So just understand that feeling uncomfortable and not doing well means your probably progressing just fine.

cm_boxing · 11-05-2009, 03:53 AM

Try shadowboxing with a partner. Pretend that your in a bout and try to aim for their openings but dont make contact. It is just like shadowboxing in the mirror except with another person also throwing punches. It will improve your balance and form and it will get you used to having a live target in front of you. You can also practice your defense with this.

Goose · 11-05-2009, 09:02 AM

when you get in the ring, use tight guard and take a few punches on the guard, you'll see that it doest hurt if you keep hands tight while taking shots....this supposed to give you confidence, so you wont be closing your eyes or turning your head away when punches are thrown at you....its always in the back of my head that I can cover up anytime during the session and fight at my own pace

Jack Johnson · 11-05-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose

when you get in the ring, use tight guard and take a few punches on the guard, you'll see that it doest hurt if you keep hands tight while taking shots....this supposed to give you confidence, so you wont be closing your eyes or turning your head away when punches are thrown at you....its always in the back of my head that I can cover up anytime during the session and fight at my own pace

thats good advice, im new aswell Boxingwizard just try and clear your head be totally focused and work on doing certain things while sparring then critique your performance afterand look at specific things you need to improve on, well thats what i do anyway.

brown bomber · 11-05-2009, 04:09 PM

I've been boxing 16 years and can't hit people like I hit the bag. ...... I think its because they aren't a bag or something.

pugilistspecialist · 11-08-2009, 05:29 PM

Thats cuz bags dont hit back, once you get past the nerves and get more comfortable in the ring it translates. My old trainer Merhav Mohar put me in the ring with this guy my first sparring session who had boxed 3 years already. Man my nerves killed me, I wasnt slipping jabbing or anything the first 2 rounds, plus he busted my nose. After I calmed down and got my second wind I saw punches coming, hooked off my jab and noticed he dropped his left after every jab. I got the best of him the last 3 rounds but the first two he gave me hell. Just calm down and dont think too much thats the main thing, just react and worry about what you should do.

stefanoitch · 11-08-2009, 06:12 PM

when you spar its important not to be afraid to try new things. If you dont try new things you will never get better. Thats why its not necessary to punch so damn hard, your not supposed to get knocked out or hurt in sparring. Of course when your training for a fight you have to go hard so you get used to it.

GNARL · 11-09-2009, 01:30 AM

It's important to learn basic footwork, defense, offense, counterattack skills slowly and correctly as to retain them. Each one takes time to learn and make permanent in your sparring. This is a longer process than just getting in the ring and sparring and hoping for the best but it is a much better one. Make sure you have a good coach that has proper drills for you to teach you intricacies of sparring. Bag work and sparring are very different animals. You have to learn proper drills for skills to translate. No drill=No skill. Poor drill=Poor skill.

turpinr · 11-09-2009, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff thomas

I've been boxing 16 years and can't hit people like I hit the bag. ...... I think its because they aren't a bag or something.

exactly
.i was sugar ray robinson on the heavy bag and randy turpin on the pads.
in sparring and in actual fights i couldn't land my left hook as i would have liked because unlike the bag ,opponents have legs

achillesthegreat · 11-09-2009, 08:16 AM

start slow. stay in good guard and stance. let the guy do what they want or get an experienced fighter to go through the moves slower. start simple i.e. parrying, jabbing then up your game, look for the straight, hook etc

i think jeff also highlight a glaringly obvious issue.

RDJ · 11-09-2009, 04:11 PM

Perfectly normal mate. I've been sparring more than I've been doing bag work for quite a while, and I'm starting to dislike the bag because punching it is nothing like punching an opponent.

scotchpieirnbru · 11-09-2009, 08:22 PM

You have only been boxing 5 weeks mate, just relax, these things take time. I've been boxing/thai boxing for 10 years now and i still cant get my rythm some times. The heavy bag doesn't hit back.
You have to be calm when under attack, and this takes time. Keep working hard and it will all come naturally.

11-04-2009, 09:52 PM	#1
boxingwizard Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,004 vCash: 1000	I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring. It's frustrating me, I've only been boxing 5 weeks, but in sparring I'm so nervous and jittery, and I can't focus or concentrate, and if I see punches coming I close my eyes and I get afraid to throw punches. I've been working hard in training, coming to the gym on a regular basis, and I do well on the heavybag, I have a good jab and right hand and can throw combinations, I'm slipping punches and throwing them on the double end bag, but I just can't read punches coming and I forget everything I learned in sparring. I don't know what to do about it because I really want my hard work to translate, I took a lot of shots in 4 rounds of sparring tonight but still, I just don't have the nerves for boxing yet, I can't remain calm, and I already know I can take a shot. I just want to get good at boxing and I work hard for it and it's just not translating over. What do I need to do? And due to my lack of performing in sparring I don't think I'll be fighting in November 21, which may not be a bad thing.
Top

11-04-2009, 10:43 PM	#2
aj415 Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,302 vCash: 1181	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring Your first goal is to get comfortable dude so your muscles are relaxed and your brain clear. And the only way to achieve that is TIME and Effort. Takes months of repitions before you really start getting it, at least for most guys. Thats it, don't outhink yourself, these things have to become muscle memory you can't try and conciously do it. So just understand that feeling uncomfortable and not doing well means your probably progressing just fine.
Top

11-05-2009, 03:53 AM	#3
cm_boxing Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 321 vCash: 1000	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring Try shadowboxing with a partner. Pretend that your in a bout and try to aim for their openings but dont make contact. It is just like shadowboxing in the mirror except with another person also throwing punches. It will improve your balance and form and it will get you used to having a live target in front of you. You can also practice your defense with this.
Top

11-05-2009, 09:02 AM	#4
Goose Russian oligarch ESB Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and now Posts: 4,601 vCash: 237	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring when you get in the ring, use tight guard and take a few punches on the guard, you'll see that it doest hurt if you keep hands tight while taking shots....this supposed to give you confidence, so you wont be closing your eyes or turning your head away when punches are thrown at you....its always in the back of my head that I can cover up anytime during the session and fight at my own pace
Top

11-05-2009, 04:09 PM	#6
brown bomber 2010 Poster of the Year East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20,402 vCash: 1000	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring I've been boxing 16 years and can't hit people like I hit the bag. ...... I think its because they aren't a bag or something.
Top

11-08-2009, 05:29 PM	#7
pugilistspecialist Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,895 vCash: 1000	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring Thats cuz bags dont hit back, once you get past the nerves and get more comfortable in the ring it translates. My old trainer Merhav Mohar put me in the ring with this guy my first sparring session who had boxed 3 years already. Man my nerves killed me, I wasnt slipping jabbing or anything the first 2 rounds, plus he busted my nose. After I calmed down and got my second wind I saw punches coming, hooked off my jab and noticed he dropped his left after every jab. I got the best of him the last 3 rounds but the first two he gave me hell. Just calm down and dont think too much thats the main thing, just react and worry about what you should do.
Top

11-08-2009, 06:12 PM	#8
stefanoitch Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 940 vCash: 1000	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring when you spar its important not to be afraid to try new things. If you dont try new things you will never get better. Thats why its not necessary to punch so damn hard, your not supposed to get knocked out or hurt in sparring. Of course when your training for a fight you have to go hard so you get used to it.
Top

11-09-2009, 01:30 AM	#9
GNARL Journeyman Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 76 vCash: 1000	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring It's important to learn basic footwork, defense, offense, counterattack skills slowly and correctly as to retain them. Each one takes time to learn and make permanent in your sparring. This is a longer process than just getting in the ring and sparring and hoping for the best but it is a much better one. Make sure you have a good coach that has proper drills for you to teach you intricacies of sparring. Bag work and sparring are very different animals. You have to learn proper drills for skills to translate. No drill=No skill. Poor drill=Poor skill.
Top

11-09-2009, 08:16 AM	#11
achillesthegreat FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,193 vCash: 1000	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring start slow. stay in good guard and stance. let the guy do what they want or get an experienced fighter to go through the moves slower. start simple i.e. parrying, jabbing then up your game, look for the straight, hook etc i think jeff also highlight a glaringly obvious issue.
Top

11-09-2009, 04:11 PM	#12
RDJ Gent And Scholar East Side VIP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: I'm not your buddy, pal. Posts: 32,578 vCash: 202	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring Perfectly normal mate. I've been sparring more than I've been doing bag work for quite a while, and I'm starting to dislike the bag because punching it is nothing like punching an opponent.
Top

11-09-2009, 08:22 PM	#13
scotchpieirnbru Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 427 vCash: 1000	Re: I can't translate my heavybag, mitt, and double end bag work into sparring You have only been boxing 5 weeks mate, just relax, these things take time. I've been boxing/thai boxing for 10 years now and i still cant get my rythm some times. The heavy bag doesn't hit back. You have to be calm when under attack, and this takes time. Keep working hard and it will all come naturally.
Top