Beginner sparring, asking for advice.

OP I think you should maybe ask the guys you're sparring with after about how hard they are expecting you to hit them. I bit of humility early on will open up your knowledge at a quicker rate than second guessing .

 

I have seen loads of people have their first spars and many are different. Some look great, average, tentative or damn right terrible. It doesn't really matter, what matters is they keep coming back and learning and improving. Little improvements all the time.

 

It’s normal don’t worry.

 

This. Work on the psychological warfare aspect of your game. Hit up your opponent with an Ali shuffle before dipping down into the splits. Hands down at all times and switch up between orthodox and southpaw - a confused opponent is the aim of the game.

 

Are you popular in the gym? If not, leave the sport immediately.

'Boxing is 1% ability and 99% popularity.'

- Tony Hayers

 

I’d try not to think about it too much right now, 2 spars is nothing. You’ll know when someone is going full on and that’s a learning experience in itself. Also judging the distance and trying to land is probably the hardest part to get right, it will come but overtime.

The first time I sparred they put me in with a guy similar build and it was his first time as well. There was a lot of nervous energy and I guess we were both going for it as we wanted to impress the trainer plus we had a few hot girls in the gym too. Anyway he landed a really big shot on me that I never saw coming, I instantly felt my lips bleeding so I went red Ross on him, we were both swinging and loading up but missing loads and then out of nowhere one of mine landed and knocked him flying! Legs buckled and everything. It felt great at the time but there a part in the back of my head that was telling me ‘you haven’t got a clue how you did that and you still have no idea about timing and judging the distance’ that then bothered me for my next 6 spars and I was constantly over thinking things. Just try and go with the flow, if you do get someone going in hard just learn from it, it won’t be as bad as you think.

I got put in with a heavyweight this was when I was pretty comfortable with sparring, kept landing loads of annoying quick in and out jabs which pissed him off, he caught me with a hard right hook and it felt like my brain rolled around inside my head. One I won’t forget.

This weird church group came down to spar our lot, I don’t think there trainer knew about our gym as most of the fighters were entering the aba’s so pretty good! The church boys all went home with bloody noses but they looked like they’d enjoyed it and learnt so much from that experience sometimes I think it’s good to just try and get stuck in

Good luck!

 

that's the exact circumstance that would make me back you if I was there, proper proper **** take, had it myself

 

A very rational concern that you raise RE the other guy unleashing on you. If you're in a sensible gym with people that box properly, then that isn't something to worry about so long as you don't try to KO them. You're in with them because they can handle you and you're there to help each other; you're brushing up on your game and they're trying new things out.
Your coach is right to suggest the jab being more authoritative. It won't hurt the other guy and when you feel that landing properly you'll naturally be inclined to open up a little more.
Ultimately though, it is sparring. You are going to get hit a bit and you are going to get hurt a bit. Once you have done a few times and realised you're not entirely made of paper, you'll feel more confident.

If you find things in sparring that you feel you aren't doing well, then great. That gives you something to work on on the bag or just when shadow boxing.

 

I boxed amateur at HW (91kg), i always noticed that novices focus mainly on punching and very little on defense / footwork, if i was you i would place a lot of focus on your footwork as good footwork can get you out of a lot of trouble, especially when you are against the ropes or in a corner, once you have an idea of moving and avoiding taking too much punishment then you can focus on your offensive and put the two together

 

Mate your not at a disadvantage being left handed but boxing orthodox I’m left handed and box southpaw but I have boxed before in orthodox stance I just stick to southpaw more because my head movement stance and that is more polished as a southpaw but I actually box more aggressively and pop at the jab with more authority orthodox so don’t worry so much about it.

I’ve been in similar situations as you when I’ve sparred much more experienced boxers than me and have taken it easy on me but don’t be afraid to put some sauce on your punches one of first things my trainer said to me was the best thing To learn is not to go stupidly aggressive if your hit hard and the lads your in with will have been told the same thing so if you land with a bit of venom they won’t automatically go ok I’m going to batter this guy yeah ok they might put bit more pressure on you at some point because of it (witch again has happened to me) but just ride it out and it more make your defence improve.

Stick with it mate and with few more spar’s a lot will click you think more in a good way and facing the pressure and fear of getting hurt is natural but you just get hardened to getting punched and pressured and your mind will stay clearer.

 

"red ross" love it mate had me laughing there !!

 

One of the other things I noticed when I first started sparring was how tiring it can be! I remember by the 3rd round I was done! Could barely hold my arms up. If you want to get an edge over the others then my advice would be get fit! Once the opponent is knackered it becomes very easy.

Last time I sparred I ended up dropping some kid, turned out his older brother boxed and had shown him a few things so he walked in giving it the big’un. Anyway I was taking it easy while he was throwing these right hooks to my body full pelt! I gave him my boney elbow to land on instead which he didn’t like, anyway I was like what is this kids problem?! So I gave him a taste of his own medicine, I put a Classic combination together and timed him to perfection! Left jab straight right to bring his hands up and then stuck the left hook to the body in, down he goes! And i didn’t even go full on.

He came up to me after and was complaining, I told him he was being a dick throwing all those hooks like a madman and was asking for it.

I got home and the next morning my wife hit the roof!!! I was bruised and purple all down one side from all those hooks he’d thrown.

I remember sparring some bloke from the army, I’d not been sparring much myself at this stage but he caught me with a right hook to the body and it sounded like a gun went off, I took it fine but was shocked at the sound. For the next two weeks though I could barely get out of bed, very painful

 

If youve got a decent coach they will step in if the more experienced lads start going too hard on you and give them a bollocking for it. Its about learning and getting your technique up to scratch not knocking bells out of each other to prove whos a hard man