I'm new here, but I wanted people's opinions. Sorry for the long post. My boxing history is kind of strange. I started training last year at the ripe age of 23 at a local gym in my city. It was a mess of a gym and the main trainer kept hitting me up for (a lot of) money under the table. I worked with another trainer who was nicer but less experienced. Two and a half months in, the gym staff told me to sign up for an exhibition bout, telling me I was doing great and was totally ready. It went OK I guess until I broke my nose (gushing and everything) in front of a rather stunned audience. I was really humiliated and almost abandoned the sport right then and there, but decided to give it another shot and started training at a better and very well-known gym. I like my new trainer(s) well enough but there is some in-fighting and disagreement among them and I question their competency at times as well. I've been there about 6 months, and while my style, power, and form are dramatically better than before--on the floor--I only barely feel more competent when I'm actually in the ring. I feel as if over half of the guys I spar (often, younger) are well above my competency level, even if they've trained for about the same amount of time... despite guys and trainers on the floor telling me that I "did great." Sure I can get some good shots off but I often feel slow to react and heavy-footed (too tense?). Not only that but my nose hasn't seemed to heal right and gets sore and "crackly" after sparring, and I'm somewhat paranoid about breaking it again. The thing is I love the sport, the guys I train with are great, and I enjoy training for it (in great shape), but I feel as if I've hit a wall and am just not going to get anywhere in the amateur world. And if I'm not going to get anywhere, what's the point of investing all the time and money in it? Or maybe it's just a plateau I need to work through... What sucks is that I've wanted to box since I was a kid and had high really hopes going into it (wanted to have a decent amateur career), yet such a mixed/negative experience thus far. I'm concerned that abandoning it would be mistake (live to regret it), but not sure what the value of continuing it is anymore (maybe I just don't "got it"). Just wondering if anyone else has faced a similar dilemna, and if they had any thoughts or advice. My membership's up in a few weeks... Thanks all! :bbb
Dont quit. Youve gotta work with your trainer not against Consider everything he says as he probably has had many years in boxing experience. Plus you love the sport. You gott take chances. Although i just started i love the sport and hope to go to the olympics one day (yes amy thats still my aim) Dont let a broken nose make you quit
Everyone hits plateaus in boxing. It's like a big curve, you learn the basics and shoot up real fast, then level off for a while then with more experience something new starts to click and you make another leap of progress. We all go through this. It helps me to really focus on one aspect I want to improve at a time and really giving that one thing extra attention until I have it down. Sparring with people who are better than you can only help. When I spar with newbies or guys who don't know what I'm doing, I take big steps backwards. I hate it. I'd rather be schooled for 5 rounds than land a lot on a guy who runs away or stands there and flails. It does nothing. Keep at it and just remember that we all go through this. As for the infighting in the gym, it would be best to stay out of it and not take sides. It will only distract you from your training.
keep at it m8 you'll develop johnny nelson won 3 of 16 amateur fights and lost his first three pro then became champ 4 7 years because it stuck at it through the lows and stayed to see the highs i felt like quittin at 1 stage after getting robbed twive on the run and knocked down in sparring i took a week out and all of a sudden i needed boxing again
A memorable quote for me when things get tough: "To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it--who can say this is not greatness?" -William Makepeace Thackeray. Chin up mate, train as hard as you can and spar as much as you can, it's your choice wether you want to be 'battle wearied' or 'battle hardened'. :good
