What'd U come 2 appreciate first time U sparred?

It's one thing to be a fan or a gym rat, but the first time you spar is an education. What'd you learn?

 

I never actually sparred but I did go to a few Boxing sessions; hitting the bag, doing drills, etc. It hurt my wrists just to hit the bag, and I was exhausted after a few minutes. Some of the guys who had obviously been going for a quite awhile, who were probably average amateurs at best, looked on a completely different planet when they were throwing combination's. The velocity on their punches was quite intimidating.

I dread to think what it would be like to stand in the same gym as a Roberto Duran or a Joe Frazier.

 

To relax..To be unduly tense saps your energy ,very quickly...

 

that getting cracked in the nose stings like hell, so the gaurd is staying up at all times

 

The respect you get and give to the guy you are sparring with. You really don't want to hurt the other guy and vice versa... unless you're an *******!

 

Avoiding punches, getting hit on the nose hurts.

 

This

 

Well, that boxing is insanely difficult. I sparred against one of the trainers. He asked me if I'd boxed anything before and I said "yes" since I had been there once prior and also trained kickboxing for a while many years earlier.

As his jab snapped my head back the instant after we touched gloves I reckoned I'd given the wrong answer. I thought I knew something about boxing, but my feeble atttempts didn't even ruffle his guard while he rang my bell everytime he felt like it.

Specifically, what most surprised me was how very quickly I tired. It became clear to me that relaxation was the key, that the little stamina I had evaporated like morning mist if I stayed tense.

 

Great to hear that your up-close observations gave you a new-found appreciation for fighters 'n the game, A. It will not only make you a life-long fan but give you boxing insight that few others will have.

 

Luckily enough, I have a very small nose. By accident I managed to break a young guy's nose once, though, and I'm just waiting for karma to find the ridge in the middle of my face, small as it may be, and return the favour.

 

Did you wrap your hands or just put a pair of gloves?

 

I learned I could take a punch! Of course it was after only two weeks in the gym with absolutely no previous experience and only being taught how to shadow box. I happened to be the right height and weight to work with a guy who was training for a bout in the upcoming Police Athletic League. I got a shellacking for two rounds! That NEVER happened again.

 

Just put on gloves. I don't think wrapping your hands is customary for a first timer, at least it wasn't at this place.

 

Jabs hurt. From following boxing for a long time I got used to the idea that jabs are an irritance that you just walk through, but in reality a good job on the nose can hurt more than a straight right to the temple or jaw.