There is a difference between sparring and fighting. Fighting destroys you, while sparring improves your skills! Want to get better without being beaten? Learn how to spar properly!
* NOW TOUCH THE GLOVES! *
Training on equipment develops only your technique,
training in the ring develops your fighting skills!
Sparring is probably the most important aspect of training a fighter. Sparring goes further than strikes and defense. This is where you learn to fight. You can see what you do and what not. You will understand exactly what needs to be improved. Unfortunately, for many newbies this is not so — they only understand how cool or not cool they are. After I saw so many boxers were destroyed in sparring, it just dawned on me that most newbies do not know how to spar!
You probably went through this when you first started: You enter the hall, learn basic footwork, basic defense and all the shots. And then the question arises: "When will I fight ?!"
You have been thinking about this for a long time, you cannot wait to hit something that is moving. You don't care about sparring! You do not want to "sparring", you want to fight! You are tired of beating the bag and now you want to drop Mike Tyson on someone!
Or maybe you're a different type of fighter. You tried boxing to master your fears and you fell in love with the intellectual part of this sport. You adore the idea that you need to think quickly and make instant decisions. Boxing for you is not a fight, it's more like a video game in which the player is you.
Regardless of what type of fighter you are, the result is always the same. They put you in the ring and say "just fight" with another opponent. Of course, YOU are told to work easily, but what about the other guy? You worked easy, but this guy hit you so hard ... and you had to answer the same. If you're lucky, you are in the ring with a newcomer who is even harder than you. He can barely protect himself and now you already beat him up, just like you were told.
You will probably feel great when you hit all these blows, but one day you will find yourself in his position. Your trainer will put you with someone who has more skills and who surpasses you in size and who likes to fight. This time everything will be different. This guy doesn't care about you and he won't stop at anything to destroy you. Skipping punches, being an inexperienced boxer is not at all as pleasant as you thought. This is no longer a Rocky movie. The fact that you have courage means nothing. The more you answer him, the more he beats you up. Choosing between losing and beating is a difficult decision. Unfortunately, your opponent has the right to choose, not you.
I really HATE coaches who start training with novice boxers that way. Some coaches really know how to develop a fighter from controlled sparring to full sparring. However, there are so many coaches who prefer the “tony or swim” approach to try out a new fighter and see if there is “what you need” in it to be a fighter. The “tony or swim” method, in my opinion, is really a fucking way to train someone. I blame this practice for the recent fall in boxing popularity. This is NOT a current, how to train someone. Novice skateboarders do not jump from the roof. Beginner gymnasts do not start with backflips to "test their potential." So why are beginner boxers forced to prove high-level skills, without first getting a chance to develop your potential? Some coaches do not want to spend their time on children who do not have natural aggression. I can not help but argue that the temperament that wins the fights in the hall is not the same temperament that wins the championships. Any street thug can win a wheelhouse in the hall, using well-worked tricks in fights in the backyard. Let the same scumbag enter the Golden Gloves tournament with its sweeping swings and self-confident mentality and I promise you, you will see a different result. using well-proven stunts in backyard fights. Let the same scumbag enter the Golden Gloves tournament with its sweeping swings and self-confident mentality and I promise you, you will see a different result. using well-proven stunts in backyard fights. Let the same scumbag enter the Golden Gloves tournament with its sweeping swings and self-confident mentality and I promise you, you will see a different result.
The practice of young fighters destroying each other is stupid. Such coaches do not just destroy fighters, they destroy this sport.
Sparring is NOT a fight.
Sparring it in order to develop skills, and not to determine the winner.
And this is true. Learn to spar properly and you will become the best fighter in much less time. Do not waste time trying to win in all your sparrings. Winning is easy ... just keep doing what you’re already good at against your opponent. However, proper sparring requires little control over yourself and focusing on skills that need more practice. Of course, you can skip this, but this is what controlled sparring is for. Controlled sparring allows you to work on new techniques without being beaten up for making mistakes.
If you lose in sparring :
1 Do not be too proud to admit that you need a slower pace and that strikes are easier. If you are afraid to miss, you need
to slow down. You will not be a weakling for the requirement of more time to get used to everything. You must give
yourself an HONEST opportunity in battle to learn. Being beaten by someone more experienced (or more natural in
battles) than you, proves nothing but being beaten.
2 Tell your sparring partner that he is too fast. Ask his advice what to do ... he is the one who fights with you, he may
know you better than your coach! (It’s never too late to turn sparring into a friendly activity.) Be modest and do not act
as if you are better than others (even if this is true). Show respect and let people know that you value their knowledge.
Beginner boxers do not magically get better in one evening, without even learning anything from more experienced
boxers. Slow down the pace so that your eyes can see EVERY microscopic detail in the performance of your opponent's
strikes, movements and technique. At the same time, you will be more alert and able to focus on your own techniques
and see where they possibly leave you open.
If you win in sparring :
- Don't be a jerk. Give your sparring partner a chance to fight. This will improve YOUR SKILLS in two ways. The first is
that you give him a chance to learn, that is, he will become better ... which in turn makes you better, because now you
are training with the best opponent. The second is you need to spar with a confident opponent. Let him answer and
give him the opportunity to test you. - You need to spar against a more capable opponent, right? Then give him a chance. Do not drown him with your
strength or using unusual movements that scare him to death. Give him the opportunity to fight, and then you will
have a live opponent who strikes you and tests your skills better. There is no need to show off in front of a newcomer
... this will only impress other newcomers.
3 Save your tricks and knockout power for the competition. Opponents at competitions are guys whom you need to
knock out and turn off from a fight. These are the guys that you need to beat and not give them the slightest chance to
want to go to you again. Respect sparring partners in your gym. They will respect you in return and will always be
ready to help you with what they can. They may even give you some useful tips, because they are not afraid that you
use them to beat them.
I am not asking you to tie your hands behind your back and make things unnecessarily complicated for yourself. I just ask you to let your opponent show your strengths.
You always need your rivals to show the best that they can
so that they can get the best of you.
Yes, I understand that sparring should at least imitate a real fight and prepare fighters for real fights, but this high level of sparring should be only for fighters who are GOING to fight. Beginners are very far from their fighting potential and the intensity of their sparring should be controlled as much as possible.
So now you understand: Sparring should be easy and controlled, so that both fighters have the opportunity to learn and become better. Here are some simple sparring programs that are used in the halls to improve the great new boxers! Take your time and enjoy each one. I have been boxing for many years and still enjoy simple sparring on jabs, being creative and grimacing with my sparring partners.
Mastering in the Ring
Striking Against an Experienced Fighter
A great option for a beginner, from which you can start is to put him to strike against an experienced coach or a fighter who does not hit in response. Do not put a beginner against someone who is only slightly better than him. A newcomer can get a good blow that will force the ego of the second fighter to begin to respond. It is best to put a novice against someone who is better, who can take strikes and defend himself without striking back. Correct the beginner in the correctness of the impact of blows, breathing, attack, defense and so on.
Fight the Shadow in the Ring
At first, boxers are not used to face each other. In this exercise, two new players make a shadow fight in the ring opposite each other. You move around the ring like in a real fight, except that the distance between you is 20-30 cm, so that no one hits the punches. This exercise can only be performed in bandages (good for warming up) or in gloves so that you both can get used to the weight of the gloves.
You do not throw random shots whenever you want. You should focus on the person standing in front of you. React to his blows, throwing away his own. You must move when he goes at you, and punch when you see open places. This can be your first exposure to spontaneity in the ring, where you no longer hit whenever you want (as you would on a bag).
Catching Jeb
Here is your first opportunity to practice making contact with each other, but very easily. Move around the ring and take turns catching each other's jabs. Each takes several steps in any direction and then punches a jab, and the other catches. Work calmly and smoothly. Do not worry about getting into. Focus on your balance, stance, and correct execution. Try not to lose balance when you punch a jab or defend against it.
You must not beat each other hard, no "explosive jabs." No fighter should be closer than the length of his arm. The goal is to get used to throwing away and catching blows of each other. The goal is not to hit a jab, so fighters must punch light jabs into each other to make them easier to catch.
Exercise 5 Jeb
It's like an exercise to catch jabs, but now every fighter punches 5 jabs at a time before swapping. This time you need to be a little more inventive in throwing out and protecting from jabs. Do not aim only at the head. Try to aim at the belly, chest, shoulders or elbows. You can punch your 5 jabs as you like. 2 fast jabs and 3 slow ones. Or all 5 at a time. You can punch the jabs as you like, but you must maintain the distance of the arm length when you apply the jabs.
The defender can go away from jabs as he wants. He can block the right glove or hand. He can knock a punch if he wants, it doesn't matter. The defender can also completely leave the strike distance if he wants and just give his opponent a beat on the air. As long as the defender loses his balance, in order to get away from the jab, approach and retreat from the shock distance is an excellent skill to learn.
Another good variation of this exercise is to punch two jabs at a time, instead of 5. Boxers change, double jabs punch each other. The defending boxer must catch the first jab and dodge or move away from the second.
1-3 shock combinations (maximum 3 beats)
Now both boxers can use a forehand, but combinations are limited to only three strokes. Fighters change, punching 1-3 shock combinations, using a direct backhand if they want. No hooks or uppercuts. The defender cannot be countered; he can only block. This prepares both fighters for taking a forehand. Once again, the power must be light !!!
CONTROLLED SPARRING
Sparring on Jebah
Now, boxers are allowed to spar using ONLY their jabs. Once again, no powerful jabs! Now the boxers do not need to change in turn to punch jabs. They can attack and defend at their discretion. Focus on correct execution and balance. Make sure their right hand does not drop when they hit the jab. Use attacking jabs, defensive jabs and counter jabs. Do not aim only at the head, punch some jabs into the body or even to protect the opponent in order to experience his defense.
Sparring on Twins
Very easy sparring using only jabs and crosses. Use only 25% power. But how to determine 25% power? I will explain it clearly: your blows must be so light that the blow doesn’t hurt at all if it falls clearly in the face. At the moment when someone hits hard, that the sound of a hit is heard, there must be a trainer to stop them immediately and slow down again.
The focus should be on the attack, not on the defense. Both fighters must beat more punches than move around and try to stay on strike distance. They can not jump and jump out of shock. Also they can not fade. If you see one fighter closing his eyes, immediately slow down again. At the very beginning, the pace should be hopelessly low. Both fighters may even feel as if they are fighting in slow motion, but this needs to be done. This gives them the opportunity to really see what their rivals are doing. You need fighters to learn to box, using their eyes, rather than using their memory and simply dodging in anticipation of strikes.
Sparring on Threes (1-2-3)
It’s the same as sparring on twos, but now both fighters can use jab, cross and hook. Again, very easy and 25% strength.
Complete Sparring
All blows allowed! Jeb, cross, hooks, uppercuts, everything! Again, 25% strength and a controlled pace. You must not move to use a quick attack or a quick defense. They can not freeze or sharply remove his head from the shock distance. If they have not blocked the blow, let them just take the blow (he should not be sick) and think about the next blow. No locking with fading allowed! They definitely cannot use a faster speed than their opponent. Allowing both fighters to spar with speed will very quickly grow into a game of strength and then very soon into a normal cabin.
Slow work is the right way to work in sparring, and it gives them the opportunity to apply what they have learned, instead of killing each other, like a bunch of wild animals.
How to understand if two fighters work too fast or too hard.
They beat hard.
✽This is pretty obvious. If you hear a loud sound when the blow hits the boxer, stop sparring immediately and make them work easier by simply throwing out the tangential blows. Tell them to think of their bumps as “tagging” each other, and not as charged bumps.
They freeze (or close their eyes).
✽Fading is not a good thing — closing your eyes in a real battle leaves you defenseless to blows that you cannot see. Make sure they are working slowly enough so that they can keep their eyes open and not squint in anticipation of the blows. Continue to slow down the battle, so that everyone has the opportunity to see what is happening in front of him. Another way to prevent fighters from fading is to ban tricky tactics. Everyone should beat only classic boxing combinations. A lot of jabs and a few strokes to the right. No crazy uppercuts and single left hooks from long range!
They make panic movements.
✽This is the same as fading, but instead of closing the eyes, they do it with their body. It can be said that it is a panic movement when you see a boxer jerking his head to the side or quickly trying to fold the glove to the side. Once again, monitor them. Tell them that if they did not see the blow, let them not worry about it. Let the blow fall, and you just focus on the next hits, which are probably more dangerous. Block what you can and do not worry about the rest. DO NOT pursue every blow and do not try to evade or avoid every blow.
They run more than they beat.
✽There is nothing wrong with walking and moving legs. The problem is that the fighters may be working too hard or too fast, that they don’t want to fight. In order to get used to sparring, you need them to be at a distance of their hands and work with each other. Instead of jumping and jumping out of the strike distance and applying only one strike at a time, you need to stay on the strike distance and use combinations. Once again, they must spar so easily that they can take on whole combinations without consequences.
They get tired.
✽If you get tired or get injured, you work too hard! Also you should not be scared! So make sure you have enough courage to slow down, where both fighters can easily enjoy sparring 8-10 rounds. Even in those days when I'm tired, I can still spend 15 rounds of sparring, working on the technique and still have a great time in the ring. I achieved it just by slowing down. Sometimes I have to ask my opponent to slow down the pace and he does it with pleasure, because he also wants to spar on! Remember…
Training on shells and paws develops only the technique.
Training in the ring develops fighting skills.
So if you want to become a good boxer faster, try to spend more time in the ring; but this is only possible if you slow down the pace so as not to get tired too quickly. I think it’s very funny how people train for two hours on a bag and then completely run out of steam in the ring in 3 rounds. This is only 9 minutes of skill development! And they wonder why they work so hard and at the same time make little progress over the months.
Do not spoil a good workout with fatigue!
They do not enjoy sparring.
This is the biggest mistake of wrong boxing sparring, and boxing training in general. If you do not get pleasure from sparring, you do not get pleasure from boxing! Sparring is the closest aspect to boxing, this is the most real expression of this sport. You gotta love sparring! This is deeper than winning and being cool. These are skills, technique and beauty in one. Learn to love sparrings ... not because they are for men, but because you get pleasure even when you are tired or you are declassified or when you have a bad day. This is possible only under the conditions of controlled sparring.
Theory of Controlled Sparring
Controlled sparring is what skillful boxers use to improve their boxing skills. This is the secret. The best halls I have seen are soft sparring. Of course, they may look as if they are passing intensively, but in fact they are not. These are boxers who are comfortable with each other and they trust each other to retreat when exchanges are won and therefore they can work a little faster and a little tougher. However, their increased intensity is CONTINUED. They do not beat each other and do not corner each other and try to knock out. They break through clear combinations and in the process go away from many hits. Their footwork is not panic, it is smooth and relaxed, but fast where it is needed.
Let me give you another reason why you don’t need to spar toughly:
If you spar too hard,
you'll get tired ahead of time and get less sparring practice.
Think about it. You can act unreasonably and burn all your energy in just 3 rounds of sparring at 100% intensity. Or you can slow down so that you can work in the ring in a ring for 10-15 rounds. I am ready to put all my money on the fact that a boxer who sparred 10-15 rounds in one session (tests his skills) will become better faster than the one who sparred only 3 rounds and tests only his endurance. Sparring is when you practice and improve most of your boxing skills. So you need to be able to spar as long as possible. Once you get tired, you will not have the energy to practice your skills. Sparring simply turns into an endurance training that does nothing to help your skills. Anyone can enter the form in just 2 months;
Do not try to win in sparring.
Push yourself physically in sparring, but not to the point where you cannot learn anything. Develop your skills, correct your weaknesses and get used to the "battles". But do not spar with the mindset of trying to "win." When you are a novice with no advanced skills, it’s too tempting to want to use anything but skills to win. You may decide to rely on your best stamina or size or on your hard forehand. If you win this way, you will not learn anything. You won’t get any better after sparring than you were before you spent it.
Also, you should not try to knock out your opponent. If you beat an opponent early, your training will be too easy and you will not be able to work on higher level skills. Beat your opponent too easily and consider you spent training equal to the work on the bag. Give your opponent the opportunity to move with you and you will benefit from an excellent workout! Let the sparring be a dance, where both of you are becoming more and more comfortable working with each other. Using more strokes and using more movements. You need your partner to become better and test you more, so give him the opportunity to beat back.
The worst part in killing a fighter in sparring is that you may have destroyed his spirit forever. It sounds cool in movies, but in life it's terrible. When I was younger, I was a jerk who was trying to destroy everyone. I do not know what the hell with me was wrong, but I made many of the fighters tie and never saw them again in the hall. They may have loved this sport, but they certainly did not enjoy it in the ring. Of course, boxing is not for everyone, but I still feel terrible for having made people leave this wonderful sport forever. Nowadays, I refuse to beat anyone in sparring and I am very proud that I outgrew it. I will NEVER strike more than 75% with power, and the beauty is that I don’t need more. Beating sparring partners using your strength is a funky way of training.
Now, what if you're on the losing end of a sparring? Your rival is a jerk and just wants to knock you out? He is a coward if he does that. Just stand up for yourself and let him or his coach know that he is working too hard. And that he does not give you the opportunity to work. If you feel uncomfortable, get the hell out of the ring. You don't have to kick your ass to prove anything to anyone. This is your health and your experience in sports. If your sparring partner takes away your opportunity to learn and enjoy boxing, you need to take responsibility and leave the ring. A real man respects his limits and takes responsibility for his defense.
Sparring is time for you and your opponent to help develop skills, practicing real boxing movements in a real boxing setting. This is not the time for both fighters to try to beat each other. The fact that your opponent is hiding behind his defense and running away from you will not improve your skills in the ring. Give him the opportunity to work and show the best he can, so that he can push you to show the best you can. Save this "winning" mentality for the competition.