close friend as a sparring partner

[RightHooker]

Nothing wrong with it. Infact I'd rather spar with friends that I can trust and that trust me that we're just in there to help each other get better, than some random person that thinks sparring is a fight and goes in to make himself look good.

[setza]

I do it and theres no problem

[Landon S]

No problem as long as the other guy isnt an idiot /thread

[CMaines]

Something else to think of that I didn't see mentioned is switching it up. Sparring with a friend on a regular basis can be good to work on form, defence, movement and other basics. But it's probably a good idea to get in there with other people too because after time you'll get use to your friends style, so when it comes time to go agains others you may have a harder time. We always switch up partners at my gym so we get different looks and styles.

[CMaines]

Nothing wrong with it. Infact I'd rather spar with friends that I can trust and that trust me that we're just in there to help each other get better, than some random person that thinks sparring is a fight and goes in to make himself look good.

TRUST is a big thing. "Friends" or not you have to trust that the guy you're sparring with keeps it at the same level as you. I always ask after the first few blows if they like the pace and I don't have a problem telling someone to take it down a bit. I know getting hit comes with the sport and throwing love taps in the ring isn't sparring to me. I like getting hit hard enough to remind me that I'm getting hit, you know. I like pushing myself but if I'm in there and some guy is trying to take my head off, then I'm not going to get back in the ring with him. I'm there to learn and if I'm more concerned about my well being then I am with learning then it defeats the purpose IMO. If I decided to box armature and actually get on a card, then bombs away, but for the sake of sparring, I like to keep it controlled.

[j]

thanks for the replies.

I am looking to keep down at middleweight where as he is light heavyweight-super middleweight.

i am around 73-4kg where as he his like 76-7kg. will that make much of a difference?

i have boxed a guy who is literally twice my weight - i weight around 165-170. so he was about 170 or so. and i didnt lose.

and actually most people i spar are over 40 pounds heavier than me.

but, my advice is, dont get hit! and have them take it a bit easier on u if u are fighting a big guy who has good mechanics and skills.


and, as one person mentioned, switch up the type of sparring u do. i do much competitive, but with fellow MAists we work on certain types of movements or forces sometimes. it is good training

[Spacey1991]

is it a good idea?
we are both at the same level. same weight more or less and he is 6'2 and i am 6'0 but i don't think the height difference should be too much of an impact.

or will we start hating each other haha

There is no problem with it, just tell each other that it is a sport and it ends there... the whole concept is to kinda hit each other so its okay as long as you show no hard feelings.

At the end of the day sparring is supposed to be for brushing up on your techniques and putting them into practice, seeing what you can do in certain positions and learn from your mistakes, building on your strengths and weaknesses... it isn't used to prove a point in any way whatsoever so I can't see any problem with it, just show good sportsmanship to each other and you'll be fine!