The Boxer...and Fear

I fought for about a year and a half, but only got into 2 amateur fights. I won one, and lost the other. There is not that much "fear" in getting into a fight as there is anxiety. Once your in the ring, you no longer have "fear". Its fight or flight and believe me your body kicks into fight. Whether you win or get your ass kicked is another matter. But really its just anxiousness.

 

Also once your in it, at least as a novice your body isn't no where near that of a real conditioned athlete. As in shape as you could ever be, running 5+ miles a day. Its just no where near what these pro guys can handle. Its so much more intense than anything I've done. I played some football when I was younger. Was also a runner that pushed for distance but boxing is in a league all on its own. Your heart feels like its beating in your neck and not in your chest. You feel every superficial pulse as if they want to rip out of your flesh. Its intense ****. I stopped boxing due to responsibilities but it was a great experience for me. It was great to feel that level of intensity. Knowing that technically, your life was on the line for that small moment in time. Theres nothing like that anywhere else.

 

I just felt numb, well amateur fights, like I didn't feel **** I didn't get why people were so scared because its me up there and I control what is going on cause I was a boxer puncher who hated getting hit and was very good at defense, but I never really felt fear, people that were training with me would ask me if I was scared of facing another gyms top dog to test him out for our top dog and I would always says, I'm not scared at all. They would be like I'm scared for u then lol
the only time I felt a bit weird was when they had me spar a very tall guy with a huge size advantage over me cause he wanted to join our gym and our coach wanted to see his style.

that and the first time I ever sparred I was to focused onbnot getting hit we would hardly throw Anything cause I was sparring a guy who was hist first time sparring too.

 

I was never scared of getting hit, just afraid of being embarrassed/humiliated in front of people ugh when i'm worrying about what people think i'm getting punched in the face. My attitude now is fight your heart out, bring warrior spirit and try your best. You have nothing to be ashamed of if you try your best and lose. There is an old tyson documentary of him as an amateur at the junior olympics with teddy atlas and while he's waiting for the fight he whimpers and put his head on teddy's shoulder....and then he went in the ring and knocked the kid the **** out in 8 seconds. I saw that only recently, and said to myself omg that's ****ing Mike Tyson shaken up/scared before a fight. If he gets scared like that anybody can. Fear is normal, everyone feels it you should be concerned if you dont feel it. Its like what Cus/Mike say "Fear is like fire, if you can control it you can use it to keep you warm and cook your meals. If you let it get out of control it'll burn down your house." something to that effect

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r62TkYgkTo

46:00

 

I was usually very nervous before a fight, a feeling of dread would fill me from the time I woke up all the way up until when I was standing in the ring. Once everyone cleared the ring and it was just me, my oponent, and the ref waiting for the bell, I became very anxious for it to ring. Waiting for that first bell is the worst possible feeling and I just wanted it over with.

Once the bell was sounded, the feeling of dread went away and the rush feeling that occurs when you're in a fight replaced it. A feeling of brief relief, no matter how the round was going for me would sweep over me at the bell to end the round. Then once again I'd be met with the same anxious feeling when waiting for the bell to start the next round.

I also get very nervous before sparring, however I learned to control it and to relax much more with the more experience that I got.

One thing that really helped me calm down was just thinking about the next day, or thinking how brief the encounter really is. I'd think "all of this would occur before an episode of family guy is even over" or think about reflecting back on the fight in the future.

 

Oddly enough, I think I had a very unique experience, in that my first fight (which is usually the most nerve wracking one) was the one where I had not an ounce of fear or anxiety. I was so confident and calm, I just knew I was going to win.
And if there was any reason to be nervous, it would have been that fight, cuz this kid literally tried to murder my ass in the first 30 seconds. But I remained calm, used my defence (very sloppy at the time, but effective) then picked him apart in rds 2 and 3.

It wasn't until my second and subsequent fights that I began to feel nervous. Luckily, I think i'm only half as nervous as most people. I think i have a decent handle on my nerves and emotions.

 

I had the runs before my first fight, was nervous but after the first one its easier.

 

Never had a fight but i remember my first time sparring, i had no warning beforehand but about 2 month in after doing some warm ups and doing the pads he tells me i'm sparring. I didnt have enough time to get worried, i sparred a 135 and i was 118 at the time i was a bit excited once i got in there i was getting tagged the whole time i think i got like 1 or 2 punches in (that i traded for nasty upper cut that knocked my head gear right up, it flew right up in the air and i caught it! I loved the feeling afterward, never being ina fight it felt good to be able to scrap with someone all in sport.

 

I'm pretty sure everyone here on ESB have boxed before

 

Never boxed in an amateur fight before, but I sparred at my coworker's gym for the first time and I was sh*****g bricks. (I can only imagine how stressful an actual boxing match is) I didn't think I would get my ass kicked the guy I was sparring was stocky but considerably shorter than I was, and he didn't look to fast. I was more afraid of getting embarrassed/overwhelmed in front of everyone, because he's experienced and looked so confident as if he were getting ready to spar a toddler. I went in there and tried to stink the ring up, use my legs and my long jab. To my surprise it worked for awhile! I kept him at bay and landed a few shots on him. Then he kicked it up a notch as he bobbed his head Mike Tyson style and forced me to the corner and was going to town on me. It was scary, but also exhilarating! I escaped from the corner by tying up his shorter arms and skipping out of the way. When it was over I clearly lost, but earned the respect of my opponent, the coach, and the people watching. Loved when they asked me if it was really my first time. I've played basketball my whole life, Track and Field in high school and college, and I can say the adrenaline in those sports PALE in comparison to the rush you get boxing. I couldn't believe how nervous I got over a simple sparring session, but the happiness and that feeling of a huge weight off my back when it was over was amazing. I hope to do it again soon.

 

That makes no sense, anxiety is fear.

 

Why would you be running long distances for an amateur fight? You're meant to try to match the intensity of a fight, you'll never get that running 5+ miles a day. That's why it felt so intense, you weren't prepared properly for it.

 

It's like everything that gives you anxiety, when you're inexperienced you're afraid of what could happen. As you get more experienced you know what to expect and you know how to deal with it, you also have a better idea of how to stay in the moment/get in the zone. Everyone barring psychopaths are going to feel some anxiety/excitement before an important fight. Successful athletes view that energy as positive and it manifests as excitement, less successful athletes view that energy as negative and they experience anxiety. I don't think boxing is any different than any other sport.