Is boxing more of an instinctive sport or a thinking sport?

i asked a few gym members how they even pull off some of the things they do and a lot of there answers is, It's just instincts. Now i go into the ring and a lot of the time i think of things i should do, what my next move is and such but never really do things from just instincts. To think that some guys just go in there and let there body do all of the work really makes me wonder how much of the sport is based on just instincts. You can train your body to have all this muscle memory into doing something and train your reflexes to a point where you react to something by doing something a certain way but where does the thinking portion fit in?

this isnt really an advice type of thing i just want some guys opinions. Im more comfortable with doing both in a way but i like to set things up with my mind.

 

you train yourself until things become second nature. in the ring subconsciously you react to opening you see, but you also think about patterns that the opposition has and how to capitalize. when you get to the top level like a PBF all of it becomes second nature

 

True, then equate Stress levels happening, and F==cking it all up. doing something, regarding it at the moment.

 

Both really. Refining the motor patterns so that the technique is instinct (think of when you first started and you had to execute each sequence of a straight right for example, in parts) etc but you also need to be conscious of the gameplan etc.

Depends on the style of the individual too. A fighter like Wlad has the skills and dimensions that allow for more of a 'thinking style'.

 

Gene Tunney said that Jack Dempsey was one of the smartest people that he ever met, outside of the ring, but that, in the ring, he was purely instinctive. Dempsey replied that the problem with smart guys is, they forget that the other guy is thinking too.

 

I find myself thinking a lot during sparring mainly because I'm more comfortable and I have time to do so..
But during my bouts it's totally instinctive!! Obviously I follow my trainers game plan as much as possible but since im a noob my adrenaline usually takes over.

 

Love that Greys .

 

I'd agree with this, it's definitely both.

 

Bit of both.

If things aren't working or you are struggling then you need to be able to think how to adapt. However, when defending or throwing your shots these are instincts backed up by experience and your training (motor reflex) - you don't have time to think.

Thinking is your game plane
Instincts are executing it

 

You want to hone your skills so you don't have to think about how to execute them. You want to make it instinctive.

Then you can have time to think in the ring about feints and strategy.

 

I think its mostly instincts, all the combos you practice on pads and on the bag should translate over to sparring. There are times where you can think about what move to do next but when you are getting hit its hard to think

 

Yeah boxing instincts. And when your in that "zone" you will be thinking as in feinting/countering and trying to outsmart your opponent...hard to explain.

 

Both IMO, you increase your boxing intellect to give yourself an intelligent instinct.

 

True, plus if the Head is not where it Should be, the Body has no clarity of movement or response. As nothing works as it should.

 

You need to be able to do some things instinctively in order to have the time to think about other things.