What did you think when you started sparring

Theron · 10-18-2012, 05:49 AM

When you started sparring for the first few times were you nervous, scared, confident ?what were your feelings going into sparring the first few times and how did they change overtime?

andy mack · 10-18-2012, 08:13 AM

I've only just started sparring properly and it is pretty nerve racking. The guys I've been sparring against are pretty seasoned so go reasonably easy on me but I've seen new people get into wars (usually other newbies) in their first round of sparring and never go back to the gym.

I think the first time you get hit hard is when you decide if this is for you or not

godlikerich · 10-18-2012, 08:44 AM

Always nervous. That goes when you're into it though.

Smudger · 10-18-2012, 09:17 AM

Some things I thought: I'm shit at this. That hurts. Maybe this will work... Nope. I'm tired. Please don't hit me with another bodyshot. Surely the minute is up now?...

Speechless · 10-18-2012, 12:24 PM

Firstly, I don't think you're much different from most people who are new to sparring.
Many won't admit it, but it does happen pretty frequently.

Personally, I woudln't say I was ever nervous. But starting off, I knew I was gonna suck, and knew I was gonna get gassed, and probably beat up by much better guys. So I felt a slight amt of anxiety, and would need to work up to it mentally.

A few weeks or months into it, you learn to step into the ring and start sparring without even giving it any thought.

Then you begin to notice the nervous look on newbies who are about to spar with you.

It's kind of a confidence builder - the nervousness or anxious feeling should eventiually fade.

One thing I can say is that the nervous energy is usually not a bad thing - unless you fight scared and go too hard and try to take off your sparring partner's head. Then they say fuck it, i'm not going easy with this guy and you end up getting tagged. Lol. It happens.

KillSomething · 10-18-2012, 01:09 PM

I was anxious to get in there but worried I would suck. What I remember jumping out at me the first few times sparring was "Goddamn it's SO HARD TO LAND PUNCHES."

Slacker · 10-18-2012, 04:08 PM

First time I sparred I was in with a smaller, faster guy who was more experienced than me. It looked like JMM vs. Butterbean, I'm sure. I gassed and he took it mostly easy on me. I was lucky to land a couple shots because he underestimated me.

Second time I was in with guys I also thought was newbie (he lied to me, he had several years in White Collar) and I wasn't quite as nervous. We were both tentative to do more than jab until he caught me with a straight right counter and I countered back with an overhand that spun his headgear and wobbled him into the ropes. After that they stopped us for a min and I apologized for blasting him. It was supposed to be practice, not a fight, and it was just a reflex.

Still, I'm nervous when I spar because its so infrequent. Also, its harder for a big guy like me when everyone else is so much faster. Feels like slow motion.

AliShuffle · 10-18-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godlikerich

Always nervous. That goes when you're into it though.

This.

Nervous as fuck right up until the first punch.

StillWill · 10-18-2012, 05:17 PM

the more you spar it goes away

though i still get a little bit if im sparring someone new and hes a good fighter but by the time u get in there its all gone

pecho26 · 10-18-2012, 08:04 PM

I thought...ah shit,im gonna get layed out

But i was always a little nervous when i start the sparring,it goes away at the 1 punch.

shrek · 10-20-2012, 04:56 PM

I've started sparring reguarly and thought i was doing ok until i came up against a very experienced club boxer and another muay thai one after the other, got a few sore shots but its made me determined to improve, both spars i cant remember landing a decent punch lol .. Must try harder

det · 10-20-2012, 07:15 PM

Sparred a guy who had the same experience and did ok, then sparred with his dad straight after for a minute. Big 17 stone guy, he hit me with a few decent ones,dint go mad on me tho. Good lad get a few pointers off him now. Loved it though, the adrenalins nothing else.

RJJFan · 10-20-2012, 09:25 PM

I was cocky as shit when I got into the ring the first time.

After the 4th guy, I was bereft of my cockiness and consciousness.

Dark Sider · 10-20-2012, 11:49 PM

Was MAD because a few things gave me problems and I wasn't in control.

Went out and worked on them by myself, came back, and gave everyone else problems.

Bazzel · 10-21-2012, 07:10 AM

Why cant I land a 3 combo? Id throw 1-2s 123s and hit thin air. Aftrer a while the coach said -a jab is as good as a combo- Ithen found range and timing for a jab. Everything else came later, after alot of practice

10-18-2012, 05:49 AM	#1
Theron Steele the Tacoma Assasin ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 3,460 vCash: 773	What did you think when you started sparring When you started sparring for the first few times were you nervous, scared, confident ?what were your feelings going into sparring the first few times and how did they change overtime?
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10-18-2012, 08:13 AM	#2
andy mack Journeyman Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 71 vCash: 1000	Re: What did you think when you started sparring I've only just started sparring properly and it is pretty nerve racking. The guys I've been sparring against are pretty seasoned so go reasonably easy on me but I've seen new people get into wars (usually other newbies) in their first round of sparring and never go back to the gym. I think the first time you get hit hard is when you decide if this is for you or not
Top

10-18-2012, 08:44 AM	#3
godlikerich Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Accrington, UK, in the Gym Posts: 607 vCash: 500	Re: What did you think when you started sparring Always nervous. That goes when you're into it though.
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10-18-2012, 09:17 AM	#4
Smudger Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: kent Posts: 3,989 vCash: 1323	Re: What did you think when you started sparring Some things I thought: I'm shit at this. That hurts. Maybe this will work... Nope. I'm tired. Please don't hit me with another bodyshot. Surely the minute is up now?...
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10-18-2012, 12:24 PM	#5
Speechless Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 550 vCash: 500	Re: What did you think when you started sparring Firstly, I don't think you're much different from most people who are new to sparring. Many won't admit it, but it does happen pretty frequently. Personally, I woudln't say I was ever nervous. But starting off, I knew I was gonna suck, and knew I was gonna get gassed, and probably beat up by much better guys. So I felt a slight amt of anxiety, and would need to work up to it mentally. A few weeks or months into it, you learn to step into the ring and start sparring without even giving it any thought. Then you begin to notice the nervous look on newbies who are about to spar with you. It's kind of a confidence builder - the nervousness or anxious feeling should eventiually fade. One thing I can say is that the nervous energy is usually not a bad thing - unless you fight scared and go too hard and try to take off your sparring partner's head. Then they say fuck it, i'm not going easy with this guy and you end up getting tagged. Lol. It happens.
Top

10-18-2012, 01:09 PM	#6
KillSomething Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3,557 vCash: 157	Re: What did you think when you started sparring I was anxious to get in there but worried I would suck. What I remember jumping out at me the first few times sparring was "Goddamn it's SO HARD TO LAND PUNCHES."
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10-18-2012, 04:08 PM	#7
Slacker Big & Slow ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 3,526 vCash: 75	Re: What did you think when you started sparring First time I sparred I was in with a smaller, faster guy who was more experienced than me. It looked like JMM vs. Butterbean, I'm sure. I gassed and he took it mostly easy on me. I was lucky to land a couple shots because he underestimated me. Second time I was in with guys I also thought was newbie (he lied to me, he had several years in White Collar) and I wasn't quite as nervous. We were both tentative to do more than jab until he caught me with a straight right counter and I countered back with an overhand that spun his headgear and wobbled him into the ropes. After that they stopped us for a min and I apologized for blasting him. It was supposed to be practice, not a fight, and it was just a reflex. Still, I'm nervous when I spar because its so infrequent. Also, its harder for a big guy like me when everyone else is so much faster. Feels like slow motion.
Top

10-18-2012, 05:17 PM	#9
StillWill Dr. Eisenfaust ESB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oakland, California Posts: 1,903 vCash: 174	Re: What did you think when you started sparring the more you spar it goes away though i still get a little bit if im sparring someone new and hes a good fighter but by the time u get in there its all gone
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10-18-2012, 08:04 PM	#10
pecho26 Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Croatia Posts: 611 vCash: 500	Re: What did you think when you started sparring I thought...ah shit,im gonna get layed out But i was always a little nervous when i start the sparring,it goes away at the 1 punch.
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10-20-2012, 04:56 PM	#11
shrek newbie Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 21 vCash: 500	Re: What did you think when you started sparring I've started sparring reguarly and thought i was doing ok until i came up against a very experienced club boxer and another muay thai one after the other, got a few sore shots but its made me determined to improve, both spars i cant remember landing a decent punch lol .. Must try harder
Top

10-20-2012, 07:15 PM	#12
det Journeyman ESB Jr Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 235 vCash: 1000	Re: What did you think when you started sparring Sparred a guy who had the same experience and did ok, then sparred with his dad straight after for a minute. Big 17 stone guy, he hit me with a few decent ones,dint go mad on me tho. Good lad get a few pointers off him now. Loved it though, the adrenalins nothing else.
Top

10-20-2012, 09:25 PM	#13
RJJFan Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 8,882 vCash: 328	Re: What did you think when you started sparring I was cocky as shit when I got into the ring the first time. After the 4th guy, I was bereft of my cockiness and consciousness.
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10-20-2012, 11:49 PM	#14
Dark Sider Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 978 vCash: 598	Re: What did you think when you started sparring Was MAD because a few things gave me problems and I wasn't in control. Went out and worked on them by myself, came back, and gave everyone else problems.
Top

10-21-2012, 07:10 AM	#15
Bazzel jabbin an grabbin ESB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 623 vCash: 500	Re: What did you think when you started sparring Why cant I land a 3 combo? Id throw 1-2s 123s and hit thin air. Aftrer a while the coach said -a jab is as good as a combo- Ithen found range and timing for a jab. Everything else came later, after alot of practice
Top