Does sparring feel like a big event to you?

I always get a bit nervous before hand, a bit pumped during, then a LOT worn out after...

Big problem I have, though, is I don't want to hit people in sparring. I know it's a matter of going 'half power', but don't seem to have control - it's literally full steam, or tapping their gloves.

Slightly related: I used to do karate as a kid, and would always pull punches in freestyle sparring - even in the little internal tournaments we had - as I 'd got to know all the guys 'n' gals too well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not Bruce Lee, but I never wanted to hurt them accidentally.

Thing is, when I went to a national competition (where I didn't know my opponents), I broke one nose, bloodied another, dropped a kid with a kick straight to his gut, and only got stopped in the finals by a guy from my home dojo. I figure it'd be similar in boxing (no fights yet), but I will admit it's a concern that I'll go out and get smashed due to a lack of any real hitting practice.

 

It depends on who I'm sparring with in the gym.

 

Only done it once and got beaten up. Going for the second time tomorrow and i actually feel more confident.

 

It's not an event but it is fairly challenging and can be stressful. My club are all pros or seasoned amateurs who have sparred pros for years. Add to that they are all welter or under. Me being slightly bigger mean i get a steep learning curve.

Also MMA guys come to our gym to work on their 'stand up' which is basically all haymakers and brawling. All good experience though

 

Everyone gets a little nervous before sparring, its healthy. You want to be sharp you just cant let it hinder your performance. It depends what kind of sparring your doing. Balls to the wall sparring is different than light sparring. Who your sparring with is important too. If you know that person is not going to try to take your head off or tee-off on you you can relax, when your in there with a pro you might get nervous, at another club, in front of the girl you like lol etc

 

No, oddly

If people are watching me on the bag or on the pads I'm conscious, or shadow boxing

Sparring I feel absolutely no anxiety at all, I relish it