Sparring advice?

[Jovanny]

Hey folks.

So, our coach thinks I'm ready for serious sparring and he got the idea I should spar with one of the more experienced guys in the gym. I mean, he's not super experienced but he's definitely way above my current level. The thing is the guy is a short and stocky type and he wants to spar with someone taller. And I'm perhaps the only tall guy there who's only a couple of kilos heavier than him so that also might be a reason for the two of us sparring.

I'm naturally really nervous because it would be my 2nd sparring in general and the 1st serious one. I'm nervous because I feel like I'm useless but then again, at my current level, I feel that actually sparring is the only way to move forward.

But I was thinking if there's any advice you folks could give me. Here's what I know:

-- He's more experienced than myself, if only by a couple of months.
-- He's got better stamina as he hits the gym 5 times a week (I'm there 3 times at best)
-- He's got a record of 4 fights. However, he lost all of them by TKO or KO.
-- As I already wrote, he's much shorter and a little bit lighter than me.
-- He's very aggressive and quite fast but doesn't have a good defense or sophisticated technique. I can hardly tell anything about my style given my lack of experience but what I can tell is that I like technical boxing and feints.

I'm thankful for any ideas.

[Richard P]

aggressive no defense and 0-4 all by KO. sounds like he goes steaming in and gets caught
Jab, jab and move, jab, double jab, move, jab some more - see where im going with this

Stick to range stay long, jab cross, if you engage it sounds like you will brawl and inevitably you will take some shots, this will knock your confidence

Jab, Jab, Jab

[Redd Foxx]

You seem like you're overly concerned about your sparring partner's experience/ability. Forget about all that. Sparring is to help you learn. Sometimes you'll be greatly out-classed and that will be your best chance to learn. Some day, you'll find yourself using the techniques you saw him use on you. Go in there with the mindset that you're going to find your faults. Forget about how good you're going to do. That's not the point. Save that for actual fights.

[Akan]

stay mobile, use the jab, make sure you mix up your angles and rotate between going to the body and head. It's not about winning its about developing your style and getting used to being in the ring.

[AlexKid]

Hey folks.

So, our coach thinks I'm ready for serious sparring and he got the idea I should spar with one of the more experienced guys in the gym. I mean, he's not super experienced but he's definitely way above my current level. The thing is the guy is a short and stocky type and he wants to spar with someone taller. And I'm perhaps the only tall guy there who's only a couple of kilos heavier than him so that also might be a reason for the two of us sparring.

I'm naturally really nervous because it would be my 2nd sparring in general and the 1st serious one. I'm nervous because I feel like I'm useless but then again, at my current level, I feel that actually sparring is the only way to move forward.

But I was thinking if there's any advice you folks could give me. Here's what I know:

-- He's more experienced than myself, if only by a couple of months.
-- He's got better stamina as he hits the gym 5 times a week (I'm there 3 times at best)
-- He's got a record of 4 fights. However, he lost all of them by TKO or KO.
-- As I already wrote, he's much shorter and a little bit lighter than me.
-- He's very aggressive and quite fast but doesn't have a good defense or sophisticated technique. I can hardly tell anything about my style given my lack of experience but what I can tell is that I like technical boxing and feints.

I'm thankful for any ideas.

Dont fcking spar until you have your hips down fluently and have good defence drilled in, otherwise youll look like an ugly ****** that cant talk


Until you have your hips down you are a big pile of crap, a woman with her hips down will beat up a man without them down in boxing if they are about the same weight, hips are so potent its like lambs to the slaughter if you dont have them down

A man vs another man one has hips the other doesn't, and the one that doesnt CANT WIN he literally cannot win only get KOed, thats how much of an advantage they are

Its liek one man being armed with a lead pipe/bar the other with a pipe/bar made of wood, the man with the lead pipe will walk through the guy with the wooden bar

[Jovanny]

You seem like you're overly concerned about your sparring partner's experience/ability. Forget about all that. Sparring is to help you learn. Sometimes you'll be greatly out-classed and that will be your best chance to learn. Some day, you'll find yourself using the techniques you saw him use on you. Go in there with the mindset that you're going to find your faults. Forget about how good you're going to do. That's not the point. Save that for actual fights.

Yeah, great point! But still, I think that even for him, it will be better if I can present a challenge for him in one way or another. One of the reasons he wants to spar me after all is that he wants to get prepared for fighting taller opponents in the ring... I don't want him to get a feeling he's wasting time sparring with me if you know what I mean.

[therealpugilist]

Hey folks.

So, our coach thinks I'm ready for serious sparring and he got the idea I should spar with one of the more experienced guys in the gym. I mean, he's not super experienced but he's definitely way above my current level. The thing is the guy is a short and stocky type and he wants to spar with someone taller. And I'm perhaps the only tall guy there who's only a couple of kilos heavier than him so that also might be a reason for the two of us sparring.

I'm naturally really nervous because it would be my 2nd sparring in general and the 1st serious one. I'm nervous because I feel like I'm useless but then again, at my current level, I feel that actually sparring is the only way to move forward.

But I was thinking if there's any advice you folks could give me. Here's what I know:

-- He's more experienced than myself, if only by a couple of months.
-- He's got better stamina as he hits the gym 5 times a week (I'm there 3 times at best)
-- He's got a record of 4 fights. However, he lost all of them by TKO or KO.
-- As I already wrote, he's much shorter and a little bit lighter than me.
-- He's very aggressive and quite fast but doesn't have a good defense or sophisticated technique. I can hardly tell anything about my style given my lack of experience but what I can tell is that I like technical boxing and feints.

I'm thankful for any ideas.

he should be in there giving you work and allowing you to learn while keeping you honest

coaches put green guys in with experience because they SHOULD have more control

anyway....use your jab and feints....when he is in a position to use your right hand letting go...if he gets too close to inside slide in a right uppercut, left hook combo and get back outside

control the range and tempo bro

he is gonna try and weave and bob inside....feints and jab, the rest will come with time

[Redd Foxx]

Yeah, great point! But still, I think that even for him, it will be better if I can present a challenge for him in one way or another. One of the reasons he wants to spar me after all is that he wants to get prepared for fighting taller opponents in the ring... I don't want him to get a feeling he's wasting time sparring with me if you know what I mean.

Then, show him the jab a lot, while looking for opportunities for the right. You mentioned stamina. That can be a real issue. Sparring gets ugly when one guy fades. Stamina is sparring often relates to nerves. Just take it easy and don't be tense because you're anticipating punches. Another is reaching or pushing punches because your range is off. Be mindful of your footwork and breathing and you should be just fine.

[DinoCop]

I tell myself that "If I'm going to get my ass beaten for sure, panicking will just make it worse, stay calm and at least look cool."
It helps.
Just use your jab, ppl will think you are just trying to perfect your jab. and it will be less complicated.

[Richard P]

Their is no winner or loser in sparring. It's like saying theirs a winner loser when one of your on the mitts.

You spar to learn, that is all, not to take a beating, not to give a beating. You can go on the pads for years and years, doesn't mean you will transition well to sparring. You can have great technique and power, but shocking reflexes and poor ring craft

Vice versa you can be crap at punching with no power, but have great movement and ring craft (these people actually spar better than you think)

Spar the guy, make sure the coach or another member is in your corner taking notes, giving you feedback or at very least film it, then you can watch it back, look at your mistakes, learn from them, spar again but better