hey guys iv always been interested in boxing after all my best mate got me into it he has been training for years and years and has had a few amateur fights so he is well above the level i am. over my time training iv watched myself conquer certain obsticals such as when i first started learning to see the punches coming and trust my guard instead of looking away bracing for pain. at the moment my biggest problem is letting my hands go, my sparring partner is standing right infront of me and ill try and jab with him and get the better of him in 1 or 2 punch combinations but if he brings on combinations or starts punching hard with me i immediately fold and go back to my guard im not really afraid of getting hurt because iv been tee'd off on before and it did not really bother me (im more so just aggravated that i gave them the opportunity to do it), just wanted to know how you guys conquered the fear of letting your hands go
that's a tuff one! I still have this issue when sparring people much bigger/stronger than me. depending on the situation, its not necessarily a bad thing (going back to your guard/defensive mode). U want your opponent to know he will pay for opening up, but if its someone that obviously hits harder than you or is bigger than you, you don't want to 'take one to give one'. work in some slips and one / two punch counters is my advice. if your guard is up, they are still hitting something and often stay balanced. some head movement and u will start to see openings. then one punch counter (and two, 3 as you get more comfortable)
and if your lighting him (or her...PC) up with counter shots and they just keep swinging...just pick your spots, coz your facing a poor boxer who's probably just swinging wild. that's not boxing.
I know EXACTLY what you mean, you're not alone on this one. I usually get it when sparring people bigger than me, not to sound like a ***** but I know their shots hurt more so I suppose I'm a bit more hesitant of letting my hands go in case I get hit back. Just confidence really, the more you spar the more natural it will become.
Partner drills. Your partner can have mitts, and have you backed near the rope or in a corner. You start by going into a shell/covering up. Your partner will hit you a few times, then practice on countering and movement. I like to roll and counter then pivot out. He will throw 3-4 punches, I will duck, then roll and right uppercut, left hook or short right, left hook, pivot etc. Do this over and over and it will become natural. I like the duck/roll with a 2 punch counter then step off.
