Oct 04 2007
Boxing Sparring 101: Don’t Be That Guy
Sparring is for learning, for working on things. It’s for getting ready for a fight, but it’s not a fight. Don’t try and knock out your sparring partners.
You can still spar hard and not try to KO people. If you actually do KO one of your partners, you’re probably going to really hurt his chin (chin means one’s ability to take a punch without getting wobbled). And since your partner likely isn’t trying to KO you, don’t you think it’s kind of lame to ambush him during practice?
At every gym I’ve ever trained at, there is always that one guy that’s trying to hurt his sparring partners. If you happen to be that guy, you should know, people talk. And in your case they probably have nothing nice to say.
I guess controlling the intensity of sparring is something that people find to be a problem at times. While I never intend to knockout sparring partners (and never have), it can be difficult sometimes to maintain a kind of equilibrium, if you like.
A while ago, I did get a little mad when I got hooked hard to the temple twice..admittedly my fault not being able to dodge/coverup but I felt it was far harder than any of my punches landed on him. I was a bit stunned after the first and not quite ready for the second one.
I ended up having my little retaliation. I am not proud but it had to be done, so as to wake my sparring partner up.
I did learn a lesson from this…that I should concentrate more on the defence techniques and connecting cleanly, not being that guy who wants to throw big bombs. It ceases to be sparring…and turns into a slugfest.
I’m not really talking about that. I mean there is a time for hard sparring and sometimes shit escalates.
I’m more talking about the guy that’s always going for the KO, especially against people he’s over matched with.
Ok, I get what you mean.[1]
Thanks for putting me onto the right track.
Guys like that don’t last as they will find it harder and harder to get some ring time with sparring partners.
Not only did we look down on these guys for bad sportsmanship, but also declined to work with them.
I guess that is the reason why I never saw regulars behaving like that… only the occasional newbies.
[1] Please feel free to remove my earlier comment. It probably does not add value to your original entry.