Sparring with someone who goes too hard

Discussion in 'Boxing Training' started by Sherdoguy, Mar 25, 2021.



  1. Sherdoguy

    Sherdoguy New Member Full Member

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    Mar 25, 2021
    I've been (kick)boxing on and off for around 2 years. During this time I did 3x hard sparring and numerous times light - medium sparring sessions. Whenever I'm sparring with someone better than me - or during the hard sparrings (these guys where the same level) - I feel a nice mix of being scared and excited. During the sparring itself a similar emotion stays. My emotions definitely have an effect on how I'm fighting, but I can still think basic things, like keep your guard up, don't flinch etc.

    At the gym I'm training there's a new coach who sometimes participates in training as well. He's about 15-20 kg heavier than me and obviously much more skilled. A couple of weeks ago I kickboxed with him. He gave me a lowkick and I could feel it for 3 weeks after.

    During sparring he says he's using open glove but his punches feel like a truck - because of his skill level, they also land flush. Last time we did sparring boxing rules and he was just pressuring me into the ropes. Whenever I try to punch him he counters. Usually with much more skilled opponents they at least give me a chance to come forward and try some stuff, he didn't. This resulted in me being scared, shelling up, and not being able to think straight and just trying to survive. How I experienced this session is that he was just beating me up while I was figuratively on the floor begging for him to stop. During the session I told him 3x to go lighter, he kept telling me he's using open gloves.

    After the session I was just completely demotivated and didn't feel like I learned anything at all... I can take a beating if it teaches me to become a better fighter - I wasn't fighting though, I was just shelling up. Is there any merit to keep sparring with this guy to get rid of my fear or should I avoid him?

    I never disrespected him or went hard on him, so it's not a vengeance thing. I've heard a couple of more guys complaining he goes too hard, some of them are actively avoiding sparring with him.
     
    Somali Sanil and f1ght3rz like this.
  2. captain hook

    captain hook Well-Known Member Full Member

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    That's a bad coach, change gym.. I would personally train specifically just to knock him out, he is an idiot and doesn't deserves to be a coach
     
  3. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The role of a coach is to help you improve, not to impress you with how much better he is.
     
  4. SHADAPBLAD

    SHADAPBLAD Viscous Knockouts Full Member

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    Knock him out and he'll stop
     
  5. mirkofilipovic

    mirkofilipovic ESB Management Full Member

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    Punch him in his sleep.
     
    Soistu and SHADAPBLAD like this.
  6. f1ght3rz

    f1ght3rz Ronaldoooo is crying in his caaaaaar Full Member

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    Four steps.

    1. Look for a different sparring partner. I know sometimes it's hard to avoid guys in sparring (we all know that one guy you don't want to spar...doesn't matter if its MMA, Kickboxing, Boxing or just grappling). It has nothing to with being scared. Training is training. Neither you want to receive a major beatdown each week nor you want to get hurt in training. Especially if you're just a random guy who wants to train a bit to stay healthy and fit.

    2. Try to get in a dialogue with him and explain your thoughts. You're probably paying money to train there and so you have the right to talk to him about his "coaching methods". Be polite and explain your problem with his "style". Maybe he just doesn't notice it by himself. I know a lot of guys who just can't spar "light". And they don't recognize it until you told them. And you have to tell them often. I know one guy who punches like a mule and he's a big guy too, i trained with him for several years and he really has that power that doesn't knock you out but hurts you with every punch he lands, even to the gloves...i trained with him 1 year, 2 years and got hurt bad a couple of times to the head and body. I was younger back then (18-20) and didn't know how to deal with it until i just asked him if he could spar a tat lighter and he did and it worked perfectly fine. We had fun sessions and beat each other up for a couple of years until i changed gyms. It was great! Sometimes a word can change a lot.

    3. If 1./2. doesn't work or he gets nasty or continues i would talk to the gym owner / head coach. Same pattern as before. Explain it in a calm and polite way like you wrote the OP in here. He's responsible for his coaches and there is no way a legit gym owner / head coach allows his coaches to beat up students.

    4. If nothing works for you...change the gym if you can BUT definitely LEAVE your current gym. He's a **** coach and just wants to beat people up who have less skills, experience and whatsoever. And the owner is probably **** too if he allows it and doesn't help u.

    GOOD LUCK.
     
    Soistu, Rafaman and SHADAPBLAD like this.
  7. Somali Sanil

    Somali Sanil Wild Buffalo Man banned Full Member

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    Just change gyms, if the coach is a nob like that you’ll struggle to pick stuff up, you’ll just have that on your mind
     
    robert ungurean likes this.
  8. George forearm

    George forearm The forearm of George Full Member

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    It just sounds like your sparing a typical gym cu'nt. I hate to say it but you might just have to suck it up, fully concentrate and when your sparing the guy and get in what you can. Also from my experience s-it like that happening is a sign of a bad gym all together.
     
  9. Kamikaze

    Kamikaze Bye for now! banned Full Member

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    100%-
     
    George forearm likes this.
  10. ericdprince

    ericdprince New Member Full Member

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    I'm surprised how many people didn't say just chop it up with the dude and let him know whats up. If he disrespects you while expressing your concerns or still goes hard - than he has basically said f*ck you. Now you know where you stand with him - and can go hard back with him or just tell him you don't want to spar with him anymore. Pretty plain and straight forward to me. Now if everyone in the gym has the same behavior then you just need to find another gym frfr bro.