help me with sparing

[phook]

has anyone experienced when sparing is like a different atmosphere than u do in shadow boxing.. whats with that? i mean my performances is alot better than when im sparing.. i felt like i got short arms (i could not hit my oppenont with my jab) and slow when i spared..

what can i do at home to improve myself the next time i spar? more shadow boxing in front of the mirror.. or practise my stance?

btw im 5'4 57kg.. ive been wanting to ask.. because im short, do i have to jab my way inside and fight in close range?

[phook]

and also sparing is alot harder than it looks.. i always i thought i could do better than my friends in the gym based my shadow boxing but i was dead wrong.. all that shadow boxing don't work while sparing.. im annoyed with the big ass gloves and the head gear..

[GreenTea]

and also sparing is alot harder than it looks.. i always i thought i could do better than my friends in the gym based my shadow boxing but i was dead wrong.. all that shadow boxing don't work while sparing.. im annoyed with the big ass gloves and the head gear..

Explain exactly what do you do when you are shadowboxing ?

[phook]

i punch in mid air, bobing and weaving, some little footwork and yeh

[Inf3rn0]

I feel the same, when i shadow box im ok, but thats because that "nothing" doesnt throw punches back.

And my arms feel short aswell with thise big gkoves on, i fell clostraphobic in the ring wuth the head gear blocking some of my vision to each side.

When you spar its a different feeling cuz, for me, you know that you have a strong possibilty that you will get hit and when ever i throw a jab at my club when i spar they just throw one back, wich is annoying at first because you just think whats the point, if a throw a punch he wull just throw one back at the ssame time and ill get no where.

i dont feel that now however ad you can just block their jab and then throw you own - Counter Punch their jab.

Also with me i tense up in sparring and i get tired very easily,
but then again i dont spar much so that may be why i tense up so much.

Im not sure what you can buy that will make you feel better in the ring, i suppose you can't buy your sparring partner.

but i was thinking, tht if you bought you own gloves and headgear etc then you can shdowbox with that and you may get used to having the Gear on so when you spar you will feel more comfortable in the ring. But thats just a thoery.

[phook]

When you spar its a different feeling cuz, for me, you know that you have a strong possibilty that you will get hit and when ever i throw a jab at my club when i spar they just throw one back

yes thats exactly how i felt

[Inf3rn0]

yes thats exactly how i felt

See i know these things.

[Verstyle]

its because your heart starts to race and u get nervious and also your wearing usually 16oz gloves plus when shodow boxing u dont have ne 1 in front of u thats punching and it seems like your punching alot slower when your sparring to cause of your nervious to get hit and to throw

[GreenTea]

i punch in mid air, bobing and weaving, some little footwork and yeh

Donīt you have an imaginary adversary who is chasing and punching you when you are shadowboxing. If you donīt then you have ignored the mental aspect which is the real important thing in shadowboxing. You have done only unplanned motions without no purpose, thatīs why are you doing the same thing in sparring. I donīt mean that this is the same thing as a real sparring but it prepares you for that and it will be much easier to perform sparring if you have gone thru all that in your mind before youīll actually face it.

You will be better boxer only by training boxing and the only real boxing training is sparring. All the other trainings are just the necessery additions. The more you box or spar the better you will be on it. You can overcome the nervousness only by sparring or fighting a lot. It will be reduced step by step, but you have to earn it. But remember it never disappears. If it does then youīll make the silly mistakes which will get very expensive to you. The healthy nervousness or "butterflies in the stomach" is only the good thing.

Here are my suggestions:
- Shadowbox a lot. Use imaginary adversary.
- Focus on yor guard and that your chin is down.
- Have a mouthpiece always in your mouth when you are training.
- Spar a lot, always when you have a possibility to do that.
- Try to relax when nothing happens when you are sparring. If you tense yourself up all the time you ran out of gas quickly.

If you think that yor adversary has longer reach let him do the first move and try to get inside. There the longer reach is not an advantage.

[chopper77]

Just keep doing it. The more you get in the ring, the better you'll feel. Also your mind down deep is saying "stay far enough away". You have to overcome that. If your opponent can't hit you, chances are you can't hit him either. You have to learn to move in and out, and side to side to deliver, and then get outta dodge so you don't get hit back. Like I said the more you do it the better you'll feel.