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

 

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

 

Some things I thought: I'm **** 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?...

 

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 **** it, i'm not going easy with this guy and you end up getting tagged. Lol. It happens.

 

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."

 

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.

 

This.

Nervous as **** right up until the first punch.

 

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

 

I thought...ah ****,im gonna get layed out
But i was always a little nervous when i start the sparring,it goes away at the 1 punch.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

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

 

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.

 

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