I started boxing when I was 16, I always wanted to box but my parents wouldn't let me until one day they just couldn't really do anything about it. I used to fight with a lot of rage/fury/anger. Before anyone starts lecturing me about how you're not supposed to fight angry, you leave yourself wide open, fatigue faster blah blah blah I am aware of that. Sure when I first started I thought I could use my anger in boxing but as said before it's an unwelcome guest in the ring. I'd say I used boxing more to channel my rage, fight in the gym using it as an outlet. Bad intentions, Killer Instinct, end it quick and brutal, etc. I did loosen up and started fighting more relaxed to where it was a good balance. I've always fought with bad intentions even in sparring. Recently I just don't have that venom in me anymore, I can fight much more relaxed but I feel like I've lost my edge. I havent competed for a long time so maybe thats it, need to get more fights, in a way its a good thing but I used to use anger as a motivator or a drive to train with. Now I just don't feel like I'm that same animal anymore. I still enjoy and love boxing but the rush/high has decreased has anyone experienced similar feelings or have advice? Thanks
Your romanticising the sport. Its called familiarity. Once you do something enough times it stops triggering the same emotional responses unless your a bit 'special'. Be focussed not angry.
What you angry about for so long? Maybe cos you're not angry anymore you need to learn the controlled aggression.
hmmm thanks good input thanks guys. Its not like i'm a psychopath or anything but I used anger as a motivator and was kind of hooked on the high I got from being in a fight the adrenaline rush. Now I'm much more relaxed but its a different type of feel
Staying hungry really is the hardest thing. Everything else comes from discipline, knowledge and practice (a few natural gifts never hurt). Fatigue settles too quick and takes over when you're not motivated. Bring a new friend with you. Or do your conditioning in a new setting.
It's weird. Just last month and before I was obsessed with boxing, literally thought about it most minutes of the day. Trained most days etc. This month I've completely gone off it, haven't trained, haven't watched any boxing, nothing. I need to get back in to it.
I do enjoy boxing very much, i mean even when I'm out of the gym I still watch fights for entertainment. New setting seems like a good idea, not that I should leave my gym but switch somethings up or do other conditioning stuff outside the gym. Maybe focusing on a specific skill?
I'm the last person to lecture anyone on motivation (been boxing for about 5 years, spent probably less than 2 total actually going to the gym regularly. Currently in one of my many off-periods. That said, you sound a lot like me: Wanted to box as a kid, couldn't. Used to fight with a lot of "anger" too. It was never real anger with me, more like Edwin Valero-type stuff. I wasn't mad, I was just kind of in a homicidal fury when I was in the gym. Kind of just let go of my personality and let the aggression instincts come out and be fulfilled. Always hitting hard, getting hit hard, just grinding it out. Then one day my coach was telling me something technical and I cracked some sort of joke and instead of laughing he just kind of shook his head and was like "Dude...you used to be a fighter." I've thought about that a lot. I still have the qualities and instincts of a fighter. When I get hit, it doesn't effect me the same physically as it does others. If I get hit, I come back hard immediately (kind of what they call a "gamer"), I hit pretty hard and genuinely try to hurt and injure my opponents, not just outbox them. But I don't get a rush out of that any more. It's kind of like a handjob to me. Now I'm a joker in the gym instead of an animal, and when I spar I'm looking to land something new, try some skills I don't really have yet, basically try to work on my craft rather than "get the upper hand" (since we all know sparring isn't about winning, especially to newbies ;P ). Kind of like one-on-one in basketball. There's a stage where you just want to win, and then you get to a point where you're more concerned with trying Dr. J layups, clowning people, etc. I've also opened my mind up some on my own time in various ways and no longer have a general hatred toward myself and the world. I used to think about the outcome ("Gotta do well this time" "I'm breaking this guy's ribs and nose" etc.) whereas now the process is what's important ("I'm going to walk this guy into bodyshots" "I'm going to see if I can make him stop jabbing" "I'm gonna back away and frustrate him to make him **** up, then going straight at him next round" "My hook needs to look less sloppy" "This guy isn't going to even hit me this round" etc.) I'm happy to hurt people and I actually quite enjoy it, but now I'm more about the process than the result. I think it's a symptom of two things, and both are good: 1. You're better than you used to be. As a newb, you compensate for skill with effort, and that involves a sort of sports-rage/focus you see in any sport where people have to work hard. Just human nature. Now, you have a skillset and can actually box by BOXING, not just fighting. 2. Then comes the next development. Obviously your style/outlook on the sport will change. I used to think of it as pushing or challenging myself, breaking down my limitations, going to war, etc. Now I have nothing to prove and look at boxing as more of an art or self-expression/self-actualization thing. Basically, you've gotten better at boxing and it's matured you and made you a better person. This is good stuff. :deal :deal
