Hi guys, I've always been a boxing fan but never had the chance to practice. So yesterday I had my first boxing class. Was everything great but at the end we had some really light sparring, well I wasn't even a sparring was more like shadow boxing with another person making really light contact, without headgear. I was doing with a older guy, almost 40 I think, and I don't know for how long he is boxing. I thought this kind of training was just for practice the combinations, distance and stuff. That is what the others were doing... I was a lot taller than the guy and I think he started to became frustrated and he started to throw some power shots... I said: all right, let me do the same... then the things got worse. The guy was definitively trying to do some damage on me, aiming for my chin, making noises when trowing punches and in some of those he he got me... At the end of the class he came at me and said "Good one for a first day, next time try to cover yourself better and do not close your eyes" Latter I found out that a bit of my front tooth was cracked (I was without mouth piece). What he was trying to prove that he is better than a first timer? Well but I kind like this situation, make me realize how much important defense really is. I know that is obvious for you guys with experience in the sport. Well I'm a long time follower of this forum and I just wanted to share this experience. Cheers (sorry about the mistakes, I'm not a native English speaker.)
Welcome to ESB mate! Yea you'll always find dicks like this around in the clubs.. just keep your mind to yourself and don't think about hurting anyone unless they try to do so, if so then KO the living christ out of them.
Welcome to the forum mate, Your english is perfect :good Very surprising they let you do any sort of sparring no matter how light without a gumshield but yeah you're always gonna get idiots like him. Chances are he's not very good or he wouldn't be trying to prove something by picking on a beginner, You won't impress anyone doing that except other beginners. If you go back and spar again just make sure to wear your gumshield if you spar and try to avoid that **** if you can
Yeah, good advice. Most guys at a boxing gym are great human beings, you unfortunately met that one. Don't give up on it.
I'd also say don't be afraid to say no if you dont feel comfortable sparring even if it is light. It makes perfect sense if you'd rather just hit the bag or pads and work on your technique. Too many guys let there ego get in the way of training. :good
Sparring on first day? Why would they do that? Seriously, anyone know what goes through trainers' heads when they do that?
It's one thing to allow light sparring on the first day. But for the trainers to allow contact between inexperienced guys without safety gear on is just plain stupid. If you haven't signed a waiver yet, I'd sue that place to cover your medical fees. That **** is just negligence in my book.
Thanks everyone for the advices and the welcome. But like I told before, it wasn't suppose to be a sparring session, it wasn't even at the ring. All the other guys were just touching each other with the gloves. The trainer was away on the moment he was close to the ring with the more experienced boxers who were doing real sparing. It was my first class but I was going to this gym just to lift weights on the previously weeks. And I have to say that I didn't see anyone doing mitts. All the classes has been doing circuits, heavy bags, double end bags, weights, push ups etc... And the only thing that I was taught in the first class was how to trow a jab, a straight and a hook, and off course the stance. But the trainer didn't spent more than 3 min at max with me. I tough it was kind of a superficial explanation. The class had about 10 other guys. The thing is I'm living in Spain, and here boxing is not sooo popular like in the US, UK etc... So I don't have to many options of other boxing gyms close to my house. I will give a chance to this gym and continue to go there and then, post all the training details here in the forum to compare with other gyms. With its really not that good I will try to go find another one. Because I really want to learn the proper technique, that's why I never tried to practice at home for don't get bad habits. And by the way the tooth thing was superficial no nerve damage and stuff, not even need to fix.
Gumshield is vital buddy, if you're using Boxing for fun and or fitness then one of your main aims should be to leave the gym in the same over all shape you entered, (All your teeth, no broken bones, etc) Welcome to ESB
