Sparring Practice video, any advice?

[AaronJW]

Hello everyone,
Back around June/July I decided to join a local boxing gym.
Today I had my first sparring practice session, with a guy who is an ex-boxer.
If you don't mind, please check the videos and advise me on my form and technique etc. I'm wearing the white UCLA t-shirt (even though I never went to UCLA haha)

It was 2 rounds of 2 minutes. My opponent had an unorthodox southpaw style, and he was going easy on me because I'm a beginner. My strategy was to try and keep on him, get up close and land the punches then, but of course it's easier said than done.

In the video you can hear one of the trainers telling me to "JAB JAB JAB!! You don't have to hit him!" and also telling me to do some combinations instead of just single punches.
After the session my opponent said two things- I need to relax my shoulders (EVERYBODY tells me this and I find it difficult for some reason), and also that with my right hand, I shouldn't be pulling back and punching because he can see it coming a mile away. I need to be punching from the original starting position.
One of my friends suggested that my stance was too wide.

Anyway, please take a look.
1st round: youtube.com/watch?v=VLgFt61lu9M&feature=********
2nd (final) round: youtube.com/watch?v=wpXdOZGxBYU
I was very tired by the 2nd round.

Thanks

EDIT: sorry about the links but I can't post URLs because I'm new here

[Rockin']

Hello everyone,
Back around June/July I decided to join a local boxing gym.
Today I had my first sparring practice session, with a guy who is an ex-boxer.
If you don't mind, please check the videos and advise me on my form and technique etc. I'm wearing the white UCLA t-shirt (even though I never went to UCLA haha)

It was 2 rounds of 2 minutes. My opponent had an unorthodox southpaw style, and he was going easy on me because I'm a beginner. My strategy was to try and keep on him, get up close and land the punches then, but of course it's easier said than done.

In the video you can hear one of the trainers telling me to "JAB JAB JAB!! You don't have to hit him!" and also telling me to do some combinations instead of just single punches.
After the session my opponent said two things- I need to relax my shoulders (EVERYBODY tells me this and I find it difficult for some reason), and also that with my right hand, I shouldn't be pulling back and punching because he can see it coming a mile away. I need to be punching from the original starting position.
One of my friends suggested that my stance was too wide.

Anyway, please take a look.
1st round: youtube.com/watch?v=VLgFt61lu9M&feature=********
2nd (final) round: youtube.com/watch?v=wpXdOZGxBYU
I was very tired by the 2nd round.

Thanks

EDIT: sorry about the links but I can't post URLs because I'm new here

Before I even watch I must say that your coaches were steering you wrong with the "jab-jab-jab against a south paw. It's lead right hands and hooks all day long.

Now I watch......

Yup, you're a newbie, but your game and that's key. Like I said a jab will rarely do much for you against a south paw. It's lead rights and hooks.

Wanna know the easiest point to score on a lefty? Simply get low and drive those right hands in to his belly, don't just shoot for the cranium bone. Let those right hands go upstairs and down stairs. Just be sure to get low when driving that right hand in to his belly/ribs. Then bring in the hooks behind it. At the end of the round you looked a bit like a fighter, You lead with a right hand, got hold of the canvas and threw the hook after. You missed but it was good.

The problem that you're having with this guy is that you are walking right in to him each time. No guess work about it for him as his range is already tuned in. Ask your coach to show you how to feint and draw your opponent out. Another thing that you can try (it might be too advanced right now for you but practice this. When you want to attack, instead of walking straight in step by step change it up. When you are on the outside and want to get inside try sliding your back foot up and then launch in with your right hands stepping forward with your left foot. The 1/2 step up with your right foot will give you the range needed to touch him, assuming that he doesn't see the right foot moving in to place. You gotta just sneak it up behind you, push off of that right foot with force when it land while letting the right hand go.

You're going to want to take your melon from sitting a top the fence poll too. Translation: tuck that chin man. When your sparring finally gets throwing baxk at you for real you'll want that chin/head held low.

You're brand new, probably even smell brand new. Each day that you train is each day you will grow. Keep the fists flying and keep us posted.............Rockin'

[Redd Foxx]

Watched the first half of the first vid. Your footwork needs to be addressed. Too wide, which robs you of power, speed, mobility, height, etc. It also prevents you from turning quickly enough to keep yourself protected. You need greater efficiency in your footwork, which is a never ending study.

No point in leading with your right unless you can throw it fast (which you aren't). The jab was working and you were nice and aggressive with it. If you would fix your posture (stop leaning) that jab of yours is a great foundation to work off of.

Set that right up with the jab. You'd be shocked how easy it is to land a right to the body when you are persistent with the jab to the head and suddenly follow with a right to the body (without looking down). Then, when he gets wise to it, jab to the body and bring the right upstairs. Simple things like that give you effective variety that doesn't require any great effort or coordination on your part. Keep your repertoire simplewhile you get your footwork and posture issues worked out.

[AaronJW]

Wow, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback Rockin' and Redd Foxx! I'll practise what you said.

[BG_Knocc_Out]

Problem: Every time you throw your right hand, your rear foot is following. It squares you up and throws your balance off if you're going to follow up.

Solution: Normally when this happens it's because folks tend to focus more on what the arm does during the punch as opposed to the rest of the body. The punch will yank the rest of the body forward if your order of operations is incorrect. They will feel the punch starts from the fist, when it starts of course from the feet. Now I know that you already know this, but make sure you use honest use of pivoting that rear foot. That's what's going to activate that kinetic link. When the foot pivots, the hips will follow, in turn the shoulders follow which also activates the bigger back and core muscles, reinforcing the leverage of the punch. Lesson is; don't let your punch influence your body, let your body influence your punches.

Problem: Committing too much on the first punch. When you get guys in there with more experience, hands down, with their head and feet moving... they're looking to counter punch or make movements based off your initial impressions. They're baiting you into throwing the first punch to get you into a position where they can throw their punches shorter.

Solution: Feints and feelers. That's the bread and butter to those situations. Throw a decoy or two, get him to move into the punch you plan on following with. Take note of any patterns they tend to give off. If he prefers to slip your jab instead of parry, line him up for the hook or the right hand. In order to do this though you need to understand that the first, second, or even third punch is not going to land. You're just trying to get him in an off balanced position, whether it be where his feet are placed, where his head moves, or if you can get him to separate his arms. It's a feeling out process.

Problem: Stiff, especially in the upper body. Outside of the obvious easier target, this will also affect your overall movement and the propulsion of your punches. It will also make your head movement feel unnatural, inhibiting your body from moving right into an instinctive slip-pattern.

Solution: Relax your shoulders, allow your body to rotate freely using your legs and core. The more you tense up, the more energy you use. From the look of it, it may have been nerves and focus. You want to be able to rotate those shoulders with ease. One of the best pieces of advice you can receive right now, I think, is to actively be moving two of either your head, hands, or your feet at all times. By moving, I'm speaking more of the figity movements. They aren't tense, they are nice and relaxed, very small movements. You'll see all experienced fighters do this. What you're trying to do is mask your movements, whether you're punching, slipping, pivoting, etc. If you're stiff, the moment you even move, they will be able to react. You don't want to have to go from 0 mph to 60 mph instantly, you want to already have the tires rolling.

Also, keep your hands higher. You do a good job of keeping them where they are already placed, but bring them up higher. It's not uncommon for folks to think their hands are higher than they really are.

Relax your feet as well. Not only can you over-commit with punches, but footwork also. Economy of motion.

[AaronJW]

Thanks a lot BG Knocc Out.

So my points to practise are:

1. Focusing on pivoting off the right foot to direct my body and therefore my right hand.
2. Feinting to get my opponent off balance, and noticing his patterns.
3. Relaxing my upper body, especially the shoulders.
4. Keeping my head, hands or feet moving, and not still all the time.
5. Relaxing my feet.
6. Keeping my hands up higher.
7. Keeping a narrower stance.
8. Not leaning in on the jab.
9. Throwing a faster right.
10. Switching it up between low body shots and the high head shots.
11. Keeping my chin tucked in.
12. Feinting and drawing my opponent out.
13. Half-stepping to get a bit closer and surprise him.

I'm going to the gym now!


Also one of my friends said a good way to practise punching correctly, is to let your arms hang down limp at your sides and practise using your legs and hips to throw them like a punch. What do you think?

[BuakawBanchamek]

Canīt add anything but just wanted to say something:

Damn you are living in winning heaven lol

Anyway whats your story about living in japan, if I may ask?

Cause a white kid boxing in japan is quite rare to see

[jaded]

I watched the 1st half of the 1st video...have you considered golf?

[AaronJW]

Anyway whats your story about living in japan, if I may ask?

Cause a white kid boxing in japan is quite rare to see

Oh, I've been living here for 6 years, I'm teaching English.
There's only one other foreigner at my gym and I think he's Moroccan. Maybe a Korean or two too.

[BuakawBanchamek]

I watched the 1st half of the 1st video...have you considered golf?

Mean of you to discourage beginners!

Everybody stars out small, so did GGG, Tyson or Mayweather.