Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger?

SILVIO_DANTE · 11-20-2009, 11:18 AM

Coach at my gym mixes it up and sometimes throws people in with people who are much bigger (I'm talking a 5"9 welter vs. a 6"3 heavy). Obviously the bigger guy is told to watch his power. [NB this is normally when there aren't enough people to spar with, and obviously the smaller guy has to be happy to do it]

When I spar these guys I just find it demoralising as there's nothing I can do against them - my shots don't hurt them, and if I try go too hard they'll match my power and destroy me, I get constantly picked off by their jab and can't get in etc.

Makes for a pointless exercise imo.

What do yous think?

achillesthegreat · 11-20-2009, 12:44 PM

i think it is incredibly useful.

RDJ · 11-20-2009, 01:14 PM

It can be useful if the person knows how to restrain his power, otherwise it's completely useless IMO.

thejokerswild · 11-20-2009, 01:52 PM

When I first started I didn't get why my "trainer" constantly put me in the ring with huge blokes and angry cunts off the street who would beat the shit me right in front of him.

Since taking a break from training I realized he was actually watching me handle fear and being in highly stressful situations under his controlled environment.

It's about developing fortitude, character and brain power when the odds are against you.

I think it is very good for building a fighting character, it was counter productive at the time for me because I was only new and thought he didn't like me, so therefore I didn't understand the exercise and therefore why I couldn't handle the big guys or stressful situations well.

9 time out of 10 the heavys are taking it easy on you anyway, its your mind that plays tricks on you when you're scared. Correcting that and working out how to fix the predicament is the whole point of the exercise.

brown bomber · 11-20-2009, 03:22 PM

I sparred with a 12 year old tonight.

eric9t3 · 11-21-2009, 03:02 PM

I Know It Is; If U Can Handle A Bigger Guy U Can handle Almost Any Guy!

RDJ · 11-21-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff thomas

I sparred with a 12 year old tonight.

Did that last week, almost knocked him out by accident. It did nothing for me though.

bobalachko · 11-21-2009, 04:24 PM

I think its useful to certain extent but not if its all one way sparring.

AndrewFFC · 11-21-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff thomas

I sparred with a 12 year old tonight.

'Sparred' you say?

brown bomber · 11-22-2009, 11:00 AM

Ha ha yes... but it got me crouching and moving my head which is tricky and using a tight guard to block punches. He got to throw at 100% against someone who'd give him a tap if he left his hands down.

paloalto00 · 11-22-2009, 11:08 AM

It helps you work on your outside fighting and work speed and angles. If you're always the bigger person in sparring, then you're going to try to bully in your fights, and when you find someone who can bully harder than you... then .... lights out.

Johnboy2007 · 11-22-2009, 12:25 PM

I find it useful for me in both respects. A bigger guy is useful for the above reasons. And sometimes the smaller guys who are a hell of alot faster and more skilled than me are also useful to learn how to deal with their speed. I need more sparring all round as im a raw beginner but iv never sparred yet and found it counterproductive for me its always been productive!

11-20-2009, 11:18 AM	#1
SILVIO_DANTE Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Derry Posts: 690 vCash: 1000	Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? Coach at my gym mixes it up and sometimes throws people in with people who are much bigger (I'm talking a 5"9 welter vs. a 6"3 heavy). Obviously the bigger guy is told to watch his power. [NB this is normally when there aren't enough people to spar with, and obviously the smaller guy has to be happy to do it] When I spar these guys I just find it demoralising as there's nothing I can do against them - my shots don't hurt them, and if I try go too hard they'll match my power and destroy me, I get constantly picked off by their jab and can't get in etc. Makes for a pointless exercise imo. What do yous think?
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11-20-2009, 12:44 PM	#2
achillesthegreat FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,198 vCash: 1000	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? i think it is incredibly useful.
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11-20-2009, 01:14 PM	#3
RDJ Gent And Scholar East Side VIP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: I'm not your buddy, pal. Posts: 32,578 vCash: 202	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? It can be useful if the person knows how to restrain his power, otherwise it's completely useless IMO.
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11-20-2009, 01:52 PM	#4
thejokerswild P4P King East Side VIP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 18,179 vCash: 75	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? When I first started I didn't get why my "trainer" constantly put me in the ring with huge blokes and angry cunts off the street who would beat the shit me right in front of him. Since taking a break from training I realized he was actually watching me handle fear and being in highly stressful situations under his controlled environment. It's about developing fortitude, character and brain power when the odds are against you. I think it is very good for building a fighting character, it was counter productive at the time for me because I was only new and thought he didn't like me, so therefore I didn't understand the exercise and therefore why I couldn't handle the big guys or stressful situations well. 9 time out of 10 the heavys are taking it easy on you anyway, its your mind that plays tricks on you when you're scared. Correcting that and working out how to fix the predicament is the whole point of the exercise.
Top

11-20-2009, 03:22 PM	#5
brown bomber 2010 Poster of the Year East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20,405 vCash: 1000	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? I sparred with a 12 year old tonight.
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11-21-2009, 03:02 PM	#6
eric9t3 The_Guy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Philadelphia PA Posts: 13 vCash: 1000	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? I Know It Is; If U Can Handle A Bigger Guy U Can handle Almost Any Guy!
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11-21-2009, 04:24 PM	#8
bobalachko Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: the peoples republic of cork Posts: 1,714 vCash: 1000	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? I think its useful to certain extent but not if its all one way sparring.
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11-22-2009, 11:00 AM	#10
brown bomber 2010 Poster of the Year East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20,405 vCash: 1000	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? Ha ha yes... but it got me crouching and moving my head which is tricky and using a tight guard to block punches. He got to throw at 100% against someone who'd give him a tap if he left his hands down.
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11-22-2009, 11:08 AM	#11
paloalto00 Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 7,177 vCash: 347	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? It helps you work on your outside fighting and work speed and angles. If you're always the bigger person in sparring, then you're going to try to bully in your fights, and when you find someone who can bully harder than you... then .... lights out.
Top

11-22-2009, 12:25 PM	#12
Johnboy2007 Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,594 vCash: 1075	Re: Do yous think it's counter-productive to spar with people much bigger? I find it useful for me in both respects. A bigger guy is useful for the above reasons. And sometimes the smaller guys who are a hell of alot faster and more skilled than me are also useful to learn how to deal with their speed. I need more sparring all round as im a raw beginner but iv never sparred yet and found it counterproductive for me its always been productive!
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