Training off anger?

[Douglas]

Does anyone ever train off of pure anger or hatred when they work out? Like when they're punching the bag, they pretend it's someone that's pissed them off or someone they've hated for a long time?

[Youngblood]

Anger may get you to boxing, but it won't keep you there.

If I am pissed off I can't train properly.

[Scrap]

Anger doesnt give you a clear head. It gives the opposite.

[Douglas]

Anger doesnt give you a clear head. It gives the opposite.

I've found that adrenaline rush is bad. I get sloppy and out of breath MUCH quicker. I guess training like Clubber Lang from Rocky III doesn't work...

[Trainer Monkey]

I guess Im more rock solid,I do everything by instinct now,when Im seriously PO'ed,I go work the bag for a bit. It vents my anger in a societally acceptable manner

[donnydarkoIRL]

When I started boxing I wanted to be a tough guy and often I tried to use anger and physicality to box.

However, that didn't work, I found using anger just made me expend every bit of energy I had and get picked off.

[ICB]

Does anyone ever train off of pure anger or hatred when they work out? Like when they're punching the bag, they pretend it's someone that's pissed them off or someone they've hated for a long time?

Well when i am really frustrated i sometimes hit the heavybag a few times to let some steam off, but when im properly training with the heavybag i've never used anger.

[Von Milash]

imo, it depends on your general disposition. I am not an aggressive person by nature, which translates bad into contact sports. ie, I never really hit anyone in hockey, and would often look timid just because it wasn't in my nature to try to hurt anyone. This is true of me in boxing as well. Often I'll spar and take the worst of it because the other guy is trying to hit me more than I'm trying to hit him. then a bell rings in my head. I've gotta fight back. So I get a little mad, and that's when I can land shots.

So I think for SOME people, a bit of anger is sometimes the ONLY way for them to succeed in a sport like boxing. you can't let it consume you though. you have to "get mean" while balancing anger. A fine line between...

[Douglas]

imo, it depends on your general disposition. I am not an aggressive person by nature, which translates bad into contact sports. ie, I never really hit anyone in hockey, and would often look timid just because it wasn't in my nature to try to hurt anyone. This is true of me in boxing as well. Often I'll spar and take the worst of it because the other guy is trying to hit me more than I'm trying to hit him. then a bell rings in my head. I've gotta fight back. So I get a little mad, and that's when I can land shots.

So I think for SOME people, a bit of anger is sometimes the ONLY way for them to succeed in a sport like boxing. you can't let it consume you though. you have to "get mean" while balancing anger. A fine line between...

That's always been my problem too. I'm a pushover til' I get mad, but then my anger burns up all at once.

[southpawed]

anger leads to the darkside. or so yoda told me.

imo, it depends on your general disposition. I am not an aggressive person by nature, which translates bad into contact sports. ie, I never really hit anyone in hockey, and would often look timid just because it wasn't in my nature to try to hurt anyone. This is true of me in boxing as well. Often I'll spar and take the worst of it because the other guy is trying to hit me more than I'm trying to hit him. then a bell rings in my head. I've gotta fight back. So I get a little mad, and that's when I can land shots.

So I think for SOME people, a bit of anger is sometimes the ONLY way for them to succeed in a sport like boxing. you can't let it consume you though. you have to "get mean" while balancing anger. A fine line between...

i feel ya Von, im the same way in the ring, in that i think im too passive. I can get cracked and smile back. I just dont like the thought of me snapping and going ape shit. So i keep my cool when it comes down to the other guy trying to take my head off.

But you know what? I think its a plus for you and i, because most people have to learn to condition that angry mentality out of their system. Because really in the end, it works against you. Yknow? When peoples faces turn beet red and they start swinging for fences? Thats when you gas quick and start making rash decisions and leaving yourself open to counters. On the other hand, if you can take a boppin and not lose your head over it, thats one very vital thing in boxing, and thats staying relaxed and calm under pressure, so that you can operate and retaliate with efficiency and speed. Anger makes you tense, tension makes you lose speed, and without speed you lose power. So on and so forth. So yeah i think we're pretty lucky in that sense.

But yeah, it does work against me sometimes, in that ima slow starter, and wont really kick into high gear until i take a couple of hits to kickstart me. haha

[sourpuss]

I can't think straight when I'm pissed.

[Lefty08]

If you can control the anger and focus it, channel it then it could help you. That's what I do sometimes, when I'm having an off day I just throw a couple haymakers on the punching bag as hard as I can just to let out the anger, then I'm calm and focused.

I agree with Scrap, Youngblood, and southpawed, you can't box entirely off of anger because it'll just cloud your head and you won't fight smart if you're too busy trying to knock the other guys head off.

[Von Milash]

that's true, you can't. But again, you need to find away to be aggressive, and have somewhat of a killer instinct.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I would say that 90% of succesful boxers, as gentlemanly as they may be, have a mean streak.