the correct way to train a new boxer

[camaro1185]

Little back story before my question:



I have just started boxing at LA boxing, and for probably the first 2 months, I did the whole cardio boxing thing to get my stamina up and learn how to throw correct punches. They started a "sparring class" at the gym, so I joined it. I have been doing sparring for 2 weeks now, and I have sparred about 3 total times. The first time I was told I did well for a beginner but that I needed use my jab more, then the second fight I got a wicked brutal beating by a trainer (who has been a trainer and boxer for 17 years) who I guess wanted to see what I could take because there was no mercy at all during that fight. I was pissed after that fight that he didn't keep in mind that I was a new boxer; he was hitting me with everything he had. This I think psychologically screwed me up, and I’m not sure now that boxing is for me. Lastly I sparred yesterday and did well until I got busted in the nose and blood started to gush out. At the end of the month I start training one on one with a trainer there, because I want to do a couple amature fights (i don't ever plan on going pro).

My question is, how should boxers get trained before they start sparring. It can’t be that they just jump in the ring with another boxer and go for it. Should I have been trained on the "mits", should I learn defense before doing any real sparring...etc.

Sorry for my rant, I just want to learn how to truly box, and I don’t think the way I was started is the correct way. I hope that when I get trained one on one, he will train me correctly so that when I spar next time I don’t get dominated again.

[Bomp]

All trainers have different opinions. Some gyms throw people in at the deep end and see if they sink or swim. It does sound that this particular gym is quite tough in that regards. Truth is there is no real right or wrong way as gyms with very different philosophies end up having very similar succes.

Personally I'd prefer a gym where they weren't quite as tough. With regards to sparring, most gyms are eager to get you in there sooner rather than later, but usually against a more experienced fighter (so you can learn from him/her) and usually held on a tight leash. You learn more in your first round of sparring than your first month on the mitts, where you really have to start being conscious of distance and start to appreciate how much work really needs to be done to climb in this toughest of sports.

[greynotsoold]

I am of the opinion that it is sadistic as hell to throw somebody into the ring knowing nothing, just to see if they can take it. Boxing should be an enjoyable activity and being in the ring with no skills takes on, instead, the aura of life or death.
Here is how I think it should be done, and is how I try to do it.
A fighter should start out learning the fundamentals of balance, the individual punches, and movement. Somebody should put on the mitts, take some time and move around with him and teach him these things. Then the fighter should beat on the heavy bag for 3 rounds at a time, practicing all the above while building stamina.
When he has a reasonable grasp on these things, the trainer should again take some time and work, maybe 15 minutes a day, on the basic patterns of blocking punches (and I DO NOT mean that earmuffs crap). This should expand as time progresses to include slipping and countering the jab. Then and only then should a guy be allowed to spar. He has a way of attacking and a way of defending. Get in with somebody of similar skill.
They will then be able to go back to the heavy bag and begin to WORK it instead of playing with it. All the time, every day, old skills should be repeated until they become instinct and new skills added. These skills are put to the test in sparring. Which is not a "fight", but another wing of the schoolhouse.

[Trainer Monkey]

Im a middle ground dude.
Youve got to guess what you have walking in the door, and if you guess wrong you screw them up.
Ive hit some fighters in the face their first day, telling them if you cant take that,quit now.
Others I just milk along until their ready to take one.
The psychology of a boxer doesnt have any hard and fast rules.
Some guys need <"Im your daddy,Ill take care of,dont worry about a thing" some need "If I see you do that one more time,Im kicking your ass myself"
Eventually the goal is to reach the same place, but everyone is different.

[Bomp]

I am of the opinion that it is sadistic as hell to throw somebody into the ring knowing nothing, just to see if they can take it. Boxing should be an enjoyable activity and being in the ring with no skills takes on, instead, the aura of life or death.
Here is how I think it should be done, and is how I try to do it.
A fighter should start out learning the fundamentals of balance, the individual punches, and movement. Somebody should put on the mitts, take some time and move around with him and teach him these things. Then the fighter should beat on the heavy bag for 3 rounds at a time, practicing all the above while building stamina.
When he has a reasonable grasp on these things, the trainer should again take some time and work, maybe 15 minutes a day, on the basic patterns of blocking punches (and I DO NOT mean that earmuffs crap). This should expand as time progresses to include slipping and countering the jab. Then and only then should a guy be allowed to spar. He has a way of attacking and a way of defending. Get in with somebody of similar skill.
They will then be able to go back to the heavy bag and begin to WORK it instead of playing with it. All the time, every day, old skills should be repeated until they become instinct and new skills added. These skills are put to the test in sparring. Which is not a "fight", but another wing of the schoolhouse.

I would certainly prefer such an approach 100% compared to the original poster's gym.

[leggy]

Im a middle ground dude.
Youve got to guess what you have walking in the door, and if you guess wrong you screw them up.
Ive hit some fighters in the face their first day, telling them if you cant take that,quit now.
Others I just milk along until their ready to take one.
The psychology of a boxer doesnt have any hard and fast rules.
Some guys need <"Im your daddy,Ill take care of,dont worry about a thing" some need "If I see you do that one more time,Im kicking your ass myself"
Eventually the goal is to reach the same place, but everyone is different.

out of intrest which is your favourite to teach ?

[DickDangleberry]

LOL. If you can find my first post I had very similar experience to your's. The gym ,owner after me asking to learn how to spar, put me up against someone heavier, taller, faster, stronger and experienced. Needless to say I got my butt served. He then proceeded to tell me I wasn't ready for Heavy Sparring (I can't remember asking for heavy sparring?)and then walked away. At the end of the class I asked him if that was it and he did sort me out to train with someone a similar size and go from a really light spar (him not hitting me at all) and got heavier each round. It p****d me off so bad.

My gym sounds similar to yours. Part fitness and part real boxing gym. I haven't sparred since the second guy I went with as I've talked to some of the boxers that do go to the gym and they've all had one on ones with the gym owner. I'm going to organise a couple of one on ones (finance dictates when) and then will hopefully get into sparring again. Just keep at it dude. Keep turning up, train hard, show your dedication and keep getting back up. It does get noticed.

[leggy]

maybe you 2 just need new gyms ?

[Trainer Monkey]

Im a middle ground dude.
Youve got to guess what you have walking in the door, and if you guess wrong you screw them up.
Ive hit some fighters in the face their first day, telling them if you cant take that,quit now.
Others I just milk along until their ready to take one.
The psychology of a boxer doesnt have any hard and fast rules.
Some guys need <"Im your daddy,Ill take care of,dont worry about a thing" some need "If I see you do that one more time,Im kicking your ass myself"
Eventually the goal is to reach the same place, but everyone is different.

out of intrest which is your favourite to teach ?

Kind of hard to say.
The hard as nails one take less supervision so their easier, but by the time youve babied the need coaxing type to getting ready they sort of become like your kid.

[leggy]

so your sort of a 50 50 man?

[iceman]

i was born into fire, a mouth piece some gloves and that was it...i got hit hard it hurt it pissed me off i hit back. i learned very little, except that i am blessed with a hard head, a decent chin and much stupidity... you should take time to learn balance, move the feet (this needs to be first imho) and then how to hit, don't worry about how cool it looks to hold your hands on your waist and slip punches, keep a good conventional guard. also spend 5 min a day slipping left and right and bobing and weaving,add that altogeher and then add someone throwing at you to give you a more alive feel. practice all your skills in an ALIVE manner as you will not be doing them statically in the ring, but also work into sparring. it is to learn not just get beat on or beat on someone.work your skills in a progressively harder traing environment, do wall drills, hit the trainer while he only defends, work only your defense, spar ligthly and in the manner of Bruce Lee's brother..SLOW LEE... yes slow work timing then get fast or faster... and always work fundamentals of hitting, balance and movement.

[Trainer Monkey]

so your sort of a 50 50 man?

More or less, the hard as nails ones are great, because you can almost slum as a trainer,just point them in the right direction and fire them.
The ones you baby, you develop an emotional connection with, so when they do well its like watching your kid taking their first steps.
For sanitys sake you really want both,one you can just point and say, "Go" without checking more then over your shoulder, so you can take care of the other one. I mean you still have to monitor the hard as nails types so they dont develop bad technique, but you dont have to worry so much about their psychie, just bark quick and theyll do it

[mrodub]

Its no harm getting guys in to spar early on as long as you make sure they are not gonna get hurt, you have to feel new guys out so many think it will be easy so its best to get them to realise its not and if they continue generally they end up as decent fighters.
Its also good for confidence in the early stages as long as you make sure they are safe and dont get battered they feel good when they leave the ring and gradually step up the competion as they improve
The more a fighter is in the ring the more comforatable he will be when he is competing
I dont agree with the method used by your trainer it makes younger or inexpierenced fighters afraid to throw punches for fear of a beating.
I focus on getting younger guys comfortable in the ring, keeping there hands up, not looking away from the target, full extension on the punches, good footwork and so on once they gain a good shape in the ring grow in confidence then we can get down to hard sparring

[Von Milash]

doesn't really matter WHEN you first spar, as long as the guy in the ring with you is in there to HELP you....which basically means going easy on you so you learn something and enjoy yourself.

With that said, I went in after about 2 months (after getting the basics down via bag and mitts), and every time thereafter I made sure to let the guy I was going in with know what I expected. ie, to work TOGETHER, not against each other.

[mrodub]

doesn't really matter WHEN you first spar, as long as the guy in the ring with you is in there to HELP you....which basically means going easy on you so you learn something and enjoy yourself.

With that said, I went in after about 2 months (after getting the basics down via bag and mitts), and every time thereafter I made sure to let the guy I was going in with know what I expected. ie, to work TOGETHER, not against each other.

Absolutly sparring is about learning it should be competative but no one should be getting hurt in the early stages.Normally in my gym expierenced guys spar the new lads because they can handle them easy without hurting them and can give them advice as they spar i think this is a good way