I started boxing about two months ago, and attend classes in PA about three to four times per week. The class I attend opens with drills for about 30-40 minutes, followed by sparring. The instructor offers two kinds of sparring: regular sparring, where two experienced students don head and groin protection, and square-off in a ring; and light-sparring, where the rest of the students pair-up and practice what they've learned during the class. The light sparring is done without pads, save for mouthguards. The students are careful to hit softly during light sparring. Nevertheless, is this approach to light-sparring without head equipment common/normal to boxing training? And is it safe? Thank you. ~Chris
That sounds fine. If you're not using headgear and you are all beginners, you should be going very lightly to practice the techniques and get more comfortable throwing punches at a moving target that hits back and not just a bag. As long as everyone is cool and you don't get people going too rough you will be fine.
I'm in a boxing club at my university that often does light-sparring for legal and to a lesser extent lack of equipment until lately reasons. It's fine, it's good to at least get used to seeing a moving target and something that will disrupt you rhythm and not let you throw at will. Just look out for assholes who go to hard.
Personally, I'd be wearing headgear any time I was sparring. You never know what someone else is going to do. Protect yourself at all times.
Its useful but get into open sparring as soon as you feel comfortable enough to. Relying too much on light sparring can lead to a false sense of security imo
Light sparring is great. When I started boxing I took on alot of heavy sparring, and it's benefitted me, but guys at our club often 'forget their gumshields' or leave early or simply quit with hard sparring. I've got to hold back now in sparring so pretty much all of it is lighter than usual, it gives guys much more room to work on their game.
Light sparring is cool, but you better have a good observer and experienced partners. IME, new students tend to end up thrashing each other in a tuff-man contest because they get mad they get touched. Or they keep getting hit with the SAME shot over, and over, and over... but, since it isn't hurting them, keep walking through it like they are "Boxing" throwing back serious leather because, again, they are miffed they keep getting hit. Light (or limited punch) sparring is great. Especially under the watchful eye of a good coach. But always realize that it is what it is. If your coach lets it get as far as bloody noses, busted lips, and or you have a headache the next day? Get yourself some head gear and say "I am just doing this for the feel of the amateurs." Don't rattle your CPU for some macho BS.
i'm not a big fan of light sparring. the majority of the gyms that over practice this type is very limited when it comes to producing top notch boxers. I think the first couple of times someone gets into the ring there should be some type of light sparring setup to learn blocking and throwing punches. after that, the majority of the sparring sessions should be progressive enough to allow the person to get realistic feel of what its like to be in the ring with someone that wants to hurt you.
i was 'light sparring' for probably 4 months before proper sparring. helps getting used to the idea of not being able to throw at will and being countered, and i found a round of this was still harder than a round on the bags or pads so it gets you fitter
Lightsparring is probably just as important as hard sparring. This is a bit like your drawing board to your plans and strategies. Then hard sparring is where you get to see it all in action
