Boxing - the right attitude while you're losing

[mozilla2004]

I started boxing a few months ago but only started sparring one month ago. The coach makes us spar with "limited weapons". For example, sometimes we're only allowed to jab. Other times we're only allowed body shots. When I spar against people more experienced than me, I rarely penetrate their defense and many of my shots miss. When this goes on long enough, I get frustrated and start thinking things like,

"Man, what should I be doing to get to this guy?"
"Why isn't this guy falling for my traps?"
"I wish I had more than just jabs."
"This is getting pointless. Should I get angry or should I just give up? Because keeping up my current pace definitely isn't getting me anywhere. "

Has anyone else felt this way and how do you deal with it? How should I be reacting to these situations?

Sometimes I feel like going all out and try to knock my partner's skull off. But I know that's stupid because 1) it's sparring and i should be working on technique and 2) if I lose my cool, i'll probably play into my partner's hand and eventually get knocked out.

What attitude should i have when losing a sparring match?

[Youngblood]

Remember that sparring is learning. You know this. But it is also best measured in look back moments, over time.

At some point in the future you will be sparring and realize those that were dominating you, you now are their equal, or are now on top, while others once far behind you are pulling in closer. It is quite gratifying to see the progress in these 'aha' moments.

One of my best look back moments was with a regular sparring partner I had. We started sparring when I was 13, him 22 or so. Him the best boxer in our city, one of the better in our country. He used to kill me obv. But yet we sparred 3 times a week without fail. Losing, losing, losing, but learning. Several years, many lumps, bruises, and often humiliating spars later, the gap had all but closed. Little by little. Then the 'aha' moment, when I realized I was now if not even, but maybe a bit ahead. It made it all worth while. Not that I could compete or beat him now, but that I realized how much I progressed. We are good friends, btw, not some rivals or enemies. And I owe a lot to him for where he has helped me get to.

In turn, I see others doing that through me. Progressing, learning. Closing the gap.

So I guess the point is, patience. It will be frustrating, but also, there will be pay offs. Those look back moments. You'll know it when it happens. And it'll be worth it.

[WayneFlint]

think of it like this who cares if you have a bad sparr with someone aslong as youve been trying new movements and techniques and perfecting old ones then you are progressing, too many fighters just settle in their ways and leave it at that rather than risking bruising their ego taking a few more punches trying to figure something new out, just keep working at it and sooner or later itll feel like everything is just starting to click and then youll enjoy a lot more what your doing and that is the state of mind you should be in, enjoy boxing dont worry about getting hit everyone gets hit, if your getting hit in sparring then your learning a valuable lesson that could have been learned at full power in a real bout instead of in the much safer and controlled gym sparring sessions. now which one do you think is the better way to learn?

[El Kabong]

I totally agree with Wayneflint, and actually I think it's pretty cool your trainer makes you spar with limited weapons because he's trying to prepare you for reality. The guys I sparred with, I've usually had the ability to take out, but that doesn't help anyone. Sparing = practice and you practice to get better at things you're not good at. When you're given free reign to do what you feel like doing you tend to repeat the same tired old crap over and over again (at least I do) and sparring is the area to try and fix that, mix it up a bit try something new, and maybe you get lucky and it works.

[Andre]

Mentally? I think smile inside, you can still grip the mouth guard with a slight smile there, when you do it, your eyes smile too, your brain frees up slightly, it effects you in reverse but the same neuron path seems to fire up even though you dont actually have something to be smiling about just thinking smiling frees you slightly internally from the frustration.

Not the shaking of the head and laughing aloud trick to say Im not hurt,you are having no effect on me; thats a crock and you should be still moving on and wacking someone while they are doing that.

[Andre]

think of it like this who cares if you have a bad sparr with someone aslong as youve been trying new movements and techniques and perfecting old ones then you are progressing, too many fighters just settle in their ways and leave it at that rather than risking bruising their ego taking a few more punches trying to figure something new out, just keep working at it and sooner or later itll feel like everything is just starting to click and then youll enjoy a lot more what your doing and that is the state of mind you should be in, enjoy boxing dont worry about getting hit everyone gets hit, if your getting hit in sparring then your learning a valuable lesson that could have been learned at full power in a real bout instead of in the much safer and controlled gym sparring sessions. now which one do you think is the better way to learn?

Like Wayne and Lyle have said: If you care about it, you are actually reacting and allowing a mental block to occur between your mind and your reactions, its that reason why your trainer is doing this for you.

[El Kabong]

As one of my favorite people said "Perception is reality" and that goes not only for the judges but for you as well. If you perceive losing rounds as more of a challenge for you to do better instead of someone just flat out whuppin your ass you see there is a bit of hope with viewing it as a challenge and the other way you start looking for a way out.