I've been boxing for quite a few years (mainly sparring, or my own work), and I've come to realize that I'm not a relaxed person. I'm a very aggressive, unrelaxed person. I am 5'7, and a solid 180 (lifted weights for about 7 years now). So, I personally think being aggressive, getting in on the inside (I can take a great punch), and going to work is right for me. The only thing though is I'm conflicted about being relaxed in certain situations, against certain people, doing certain things.... On the other hand I feel conflicted about being to overly aggressive that I don't see ****, that I'm blinded, etc. SO, my question would be....Do I just stay relaxed (so I can see/ think better), and then when the opportunity comes do I be aggressive? Do I be aggressive if I can easily manhandle somebody? What's the pros, and cons of both, and what would you advise me to do?
You need to be relaxed to be effectively aggressive against a good opponent. Think focused relaxation. If you're always aggressive you'll be very one dimensional and a good fighter will laugh at you and do what they want. You say you only spar and you're trying to manhandle people? Sparring is for relaxing and focusing on learning, can't stand people who see it as a fight.
In my opinion, sparring isn't about who wins or who loses.... and if all you think about is beating your sparring partner to a pulp, then you're a douchebag. (I'm not referring to you lol) Now, if you're training for a upcoming bout..than that would be a different story.
I don't go all out sparring usually, and don't really spar that much anymore anyways. When I hit the bag I'm mainly aggressive (much more like a real fight), when I spar I usually take it easy but since I'm short/ compact it's hard for me to do good in sparring without applying some pressure. People look at me, and do one of two things... 1) They think I'm short, built, and going to hit them hard (even though I woudln't)...SO, they throw legitimate HARD punches at me, and I'm forced to get in the inside, and answer back with hard punches. 2) There afraid, they run around and race me, throwing some jabs, and it's a foot race more than a sparring match, and by the time I catch them I'm agitated Of course buddies I can casually spar with, but again...If I'm much shorter, I HAVE TO APPLY SOME PRESSURE to even do well. I think I have good boxing skill (I'm not much on counter punching though, more of a shell defense), but all the skill in the world it'd still be hard to spar people 6 inches taller than you. Most 180 pounders are 6', and people around my actual height usually around 140-160 tops, and me outweighing them by 20-40 pds...Isn't even that fun.
I agree with this. Focused relaxation is the key. Be aggressive (get in there, take risks, dont be afraid to exchange) but be relaxed (think, don't lose your cool, calculate your moves etc).
I'm mainly a person who weight lifts more than boxes. I was going to fight amatuers before, but think it's to late, and I'm to big honestly (short), and now uninterested in doing it. I LOVE training though, and constantly making myself better. It's good cardio so I don't need to run as much, and you gotta like the build it gives you (more than only bulking on the weights). As for losing weight...I could probably drop down to 170ish, 165 if I'd kill myself. I'd just lose to much strength, and it'd be different if I did actually fight. Think you guys are right though, and I'm amazed at the responses of being relaxed. I could probably stand to relax more in general. Thanks!:good
