Can a break from sparring be beneficial? Still training but focusing more on skills and not so much sparring for a period before returning to sparring? Sometimes I feel this has helped me correct mistakes or fine tune my game. At the same time you'll probably get a little ring rust, but once you shake that off will you be an improved fighter? or is it bad to take a break because your not in the ring throwing punches and getting hit back by another person...Thoughts?
I think a break is always necessary. There is nothing wrong with taking a month or so off, working on basic fundamentals, whatever the case. When you first start back into sparring it may feel a little foreign to get hit again, but that will go away I'm sure, at least that has been my experience. The answer is in you saying that it has helped you correct mistakes before, therefore, you have already probably answered your question.
Yeah, I don't think there's a black or white answer. You need to do sparring and non-sparring exercises and find the right balance (amount and frequency) that keeps you sharp. Everyone's different, so you won't find a magic formula or ratio, but I agree - you probably answered your own question already.
there are definitely more options than 'to do' or 'not to do'. you have drilling (the same pattern over and over again), situational/conditional spar (situations or specific conditions to be met ex. jab vs 1-2; cat vs mouse; etc), and open spar. consider what you want to work on, figure drills then practice situations and once in a while try out your new skills in open spar.
Thanks, I think ultimately its a good thing. Right now im having difficulty finding sparring partners that I can go 100% with or that are my size so I thought until I get better sparring I might as well take this time to really focus on the fundamentals and fine tune my game. I seem to come back stronger from rest periods and there are some technical things I definitely need to work on. Thanks for the input!
