What is your take on sparring?

[leafar]

During the days we do light technical sparring. Saturdays we go all out. Also depends on who your sparring with

[F l i c k e r]

I boxed at a mexican gym. No such thing as light sparring days.

[LoadedWraps]

Me personally, not trying to big myself up, but I can take a shot and have a threshold for absorbing punishment based on my numerous encounters in the ring (including sparring). I'm sure that is most if not all of those who compete and post on this forum. So, I'd like to preserve my head. I prefer tech sparring for the most part except when it is close to the fight. I don't mind a brawl every now and then, but I certainly don't have the leave it all in the ring every time you get in the ring attitude either.

I also think you learn more by doing more tech sparring than brawling. In my opinion at least.

What about you guys?

You really shouldn't have to go 100% in sparring unless you have a fight within 2 weeks imo. Sparring is for learning, and for avoiding ring rust. Generally I am told to work on specific things when I spar, but now and then I just get told to grab head gear and jump in if either someone more experienced needs work, or someone less experienced needs experience. I rarely go all out, but sometimes I am in the ring with a good friend and/or competitor in the gym and we like to push ourselves. Usually when I spar someone much better than me they are told to hold back or jab only, so it's easy for me to open up and try things, work on my speed and combinations I might not be so eager to throw if I know I would catch solid counter shots and retaliation. Then if they break from their instructed limitations, it makes me feel good about myself because I feel I made them retaliate because I got them with a good shot or surpised them. Sparring new guys is the most dangerous for me because unless my trainer is up my ass and standing on the ring watching closely, I tend to showboat on a Mayorga, RJJ, Uzi type level and keep my hands down, and stand in front of him mockingly and use pivots and slips and taunt alot, and if they aren't intimidated they can make me pay dearly. I've been more hurt sparring inexperienced fighters than in actual fights or sparring people who have experience because the inexperienced guy is unpredictable, and makes up for his boxing limitations with crazy aggression and weird punches, wheras experienced fighters are mroe predictible in that they feel you out for a round and usually work their way into combinations with a jab, and give you respect until they feel they can walk through you.

Ultimately sparring is training though, and unless you are just getting into an old fashioned gym war, you want everyone to walk away safely and unhurt when it's all said and done.

[Ray Corso]

Danger is always in a ring, thats why everyone needs a quality trainer who knows when to stop a fighter and evaluate the situation. This isn't a Rocky movie this is real life and if you want a chance at living a good life you need a knowledgeable trainer who cares about the young men he trains. Simple as that.

Ray.

[SalimShady1212]

Just remember, at the end of the day sparring is for learning. There should be a mutual respect between you and your sparring partner and you should not be trying to kill each other. A lot of pro fighters don't go 100% in sparring.