Hey fellas, I need some help..

[Ringo]

Hey guys,
Alright, here's the skinny; I have exactly 24 days until my first fight and I came to a very startling realization this morning. I might have NO spar experience when I go into my first fight. There is a chance my coach wont let me fight, but I doubt it. It should be noted that I have martial arts combat experience, but we all know its totally different. What I need, if you guys would be so kind, are the particular exercises that I should focus on in leiu of a sparring session. My conditioning is good (its getting better, because it can always get better), and my form is developing, but any suggestions are helpful. Fire and flame away. Thanks in advance.

[fraidycat]

Wow. Knowing what I know now, I'd have someone throw things at you and have you dodge them. Things like, I dunno -- wrenches, or beer bottles full of wino piss. Gotta get that adrenaline up and learn to stay cool.

Is there no one you can spar, at your gym? Even light sparring? Even your coach?

[mgkirkpatrick]

i dont know if sparring can be replaced.. i guess a heap of defense orientated shadow boxing..

[Ringo]

If it turns out that my target partner wont come to the gym on days when I do (I can't change my schedule because of MBA classes, weee.) then I'll beg my coach to put me in with other guys. He told me he wouldn't do that because all (and I mean all) the other guys in the gym are vets. Hopefully he'll let me fight and get some rounds under me first, but I'm planning for the worst.

[mgkirkpatrick]

hmm if i was your trainer id be more comfortable putting you into some controlled sparring with a sensible vet than in the ring in a fight situation?

[fraidycat]

I posted this someplace else earlier, today, but I really enjoy sparring with experienced fighters -- particularly when they know that I'm not looking for blood. You need to know how someone moves and reacts, and you've got to learn to stay calm in a hurricane of ****. The only way to learn that is to spar. Even light sparring will help. Medium sparring is better, IMO -- when there's a risk of a bloody nose or split lip, you really pay attention.

[Rockin']

Train your eyes well in that time period. Even with no sparring there are ways to train them, use your imagination. However, I would not recommend a sanctioned bout with no previous boxing experience. In the martial arts it is generaly landed blow and stop. In this its landed blow and game on. I would recommend that you atleast dip your toe into the water before jumping into a pool of sharks.

Rockin'

[Rockin']

I posted this someplace else earlier, today, but I really enjoy sparring with experienced fighters -- particularly when they know that I'm not looking for blood. You need to know how someone moves and reacts, and you've got to learn to stay calm in a hurricane of ****. The only way to learn that is to spar. Even light sparring will help. Medium sparring is better, IMO -- when there's a risk of a bloody nose or split lip, you really pay attention.

FraidyCat, black eyed and all speaks wisely..............Rockin'

[fraidycat]

FraidyCat, black eyed and all speaks wisely..............Rockin'

Experience is a hard teacher. Her tests precede her lessons.

Bro, explain for us not-so-bright types what "train your eyes well" means. I think I understand, but I'm sure we'd all rather hear it from you.

[Zigga]

If u cant do any sparring Ringo, do lots of shadow boxing but imagine certain shots coming ur way and then react to them. I wud also do lots of speed ball work, lots of punching and slipping/blocking the ball. Hope this helps.