new to sparring

kerinsp

Hi Gents,
I have been kickboxing now for about 7 weeks and I am starting to get a go at sparring now. I have only sparred twice so far, its point based and very light contact (well for now it is maybe).
How long does it take to really improve? I was sparring some of the younger dudes last night and they were countering my pathetic attempts with ease. I just feel slow like I am wearing a wet suit topped with chain mail and then covered in treacle. Is my dead-cat like reflexes the normal way of things for beginners?

cade

firstly your putting your body in a weird position swinging your legs all over the place, its used to walking and sitting not this type of movement,... so far.
the more rounds of sparring you do the more your mind will start to pick up on, your mind will adjust to the movements and will start to instantly react to openings, as Bruce Lee said
"when i see an opening i dont punch, it goes all by itself" so just keep at it. practice in front of a mirror or get a willing crash test dummie at home
(brother or sister maybe )

Colm_OReilly

It's an impossible question to answer. Depends on your physical literacy and how quickly you learn, amongst other things.

I know it's a cliche but try not to worry about it. You are just getting used to the rhythm of sparring at the moment and that can take a while to figure out. So just try to enjoy it and you'll improve fast enough. If after 6-12months you feel like you're still way behind you can start looking at specifics in your game, but as a newbie just try to enjoy the process.

Hope this helps,
Colm

kerinsp

Yeah point taken. I'll keep pluggin away with a smile on my face.

PJG

When I started out the hardest thing I found to do is try and relax. Coach would be saying 'relax' your way to tense; I'd be thinking I'm just about to get my head knocked off how the hell can i relax.

It just comes with time, the more rounds you get under your belt the better, the more you learn to relax you will spot the openings easier and you won't be out of breath as easy.

This may sound daft at this stage but you should try and spar the more experienced guys in your club. These guys will have more control and should be able to point out what you’re doing right or wrong (and don't be afraid to ask them if they are not pointing it out). Sometimes when you start sparing other new guys it can be a free for all with haymakers flying all over.

It may be good just to work on 2 – 3 combinations during sparring at first then add a new one when you really comfortable with them. After all you’re sparing sessions take some time out and think about what worked well.

Best of luck and most of all enjoy…..

Cake Fiend

Yep, spar with the big boys as often as you can. If you're going to be beaten anyway, you might as well be beaten by someone who's not going to knock your teeth out by accident. Also, if you want to take things a bit slower and smoother, the more experienced guys will be able to do that - if you try to get two newbies to spar slowly, it'll always gradually escalate into fist-windmilling.

Colm_OReilly

This may sound daft at this stage but you should try and spar the more experienced guys in your club. These guys will have more control and should be able to point out what you’re doing right or wrong (and don't be afraid to ask them if they are not pointing it out). Sometimes when you start sparing other new guys it can be a free for all with haymakers flying all over.

Solid advice there.

dudara

if you try to get two newbies to spar slowly, it'll always gradually escalate into fist-windmilling.

Funny cause it's true.

Sparring takes some getting used to. It's not "natural" fighting, if I could phrase it that way. Points sparring is a sport, and demands alertness. It was hard for me at first, but after a while, you will get it. Just really try to relax, and be prepared to be hit a bit at the start.

There's nothing like getting a few punches in the face to make you learn fast.

Naos

Sico wrote:

if you try to get two newbies to spar slowly, it'll always gradually escalate into fist-windmilling.

That quote made me laugh out loud.

It then resulted in me having to explain the term to Italian housemate