Relaxing in the ring

[Chris Nagel]

I was just thinking about what Thomas was saying before:

fear is a natural thing. when you first start to box you're full of it; you're not sure what you're really even doing, the guy keeps tagging you on the beak and just how the hell are you supposed to stop that seems to be completely out of your reach. each round passes by like a whirlwind of confusion where you cant tell up from down. anyway the main point here is that all of your fear and anxiety comes directly from your confusion which ultimately comes from your inexperience. hopefully after some time in boxing you will have learned that you are the one who is in total control over what happens to you in the ring -- not your opponent. that is, you only ever get hit when you made a mistake. understanding things in this manner, you box with the idea in mind to never make mistakes which removes the element of being in a street brawl for your life and replaces it with a mind set that all the greats utilize, that of putting together a puzzle. whens the last time you ever got scared putting together a puzzle?

i also think its important to dehumanize (that even a word?) boxing. how else can you get over the harsh reality inside the ring? when i fight, i fight as if i am fighting not an opponent, but boxing itself. as if i were trying to beat my best score. not making mistakes, setting up your shots, it isnt about getting the best over someone to prove how tough you are, playing the game is an end in itself.

I think that it's important for a boxer to develop a real sense of control. Even riding a bicycle, or learning to swim for the first time can be a scary experience, much more so with fists flying.