Mental breakdown during sparring

[_original_]

Needless to say I got a good thrashing and felt humiliated.


I hadn't sparred since September of last year (due to leaving my former coach's gym) but had kept in good shape and pretty much was training myself. I finally joined a new gym and after going there for a bit I was gonna do some sparring. Honestly, I felt so nervous I almost talked myself out of it and I don't know why but I just didn't feel confident until I said "fuck it, I'll probably get my ass kicked but it will help get the ring rust off." So the coach set me up with this kid who's pretty good and is going pro soon and we agreed to go "light" due to me not having sparred in a while and him weighing about 20 pounds more and having a height and reach advantage.
The first round went decent although not much was thrown until about the closing minute. Then in the second round at some point it turned into a sparring war and I just remember fighting off of instinct and disregarded technique, defense and even my breathing. It felt like chaos and the last thing I remember I was against the ropes taking flush shots while people were telling him to calm down and go easy. I couldn't even finish the round and there was about 15 seconds left and I felt embarrassed. I don't know what went wrong but I couldn't react, couldn't circle out, jab, and couldn't even keep my hands up I just froze. A few of the guys went up to me and told me to keep my head up that it happens and even the sparring opponent went up to me as he clearly felt bad and said he went hard because he could feel my aggression and thought I started hitting him to hard.
Anyhow, today I feel fine, not even a headache or a mark and already did my roadwork and I'm going back to the gym tonight to train and possibly do some sparring again. So it leads me to believe that it was more of a mental collapse then anything physically. I've sparred better opponents and been in worse wars and I've never just frozen up like that. On one hand I felt good as it humbled me and got the rust off and is motivating me to get back in there ASAP. And on the other hand I felt the other guy was a jerk for not holding back against a smaller and rustier opponent and this could have been avoided. Regardless, it really goes to show you just how important the mental component in boxing is. It happens I guess, sorry about the long rant just wondering if this has happened to anybody or if anybody has an idea what could have went wrong.


tl:dr version:

I hadn't sparred in a long time. Finally got back in and sparred, got whooped and mentally fell apart. Anybody experience this?

[DetroitFast]

Needless to say I got a good thrashing and felt humiliated.


I hadn't sparred since September of last year (due to leaving my former coach's gym) but had kept in good shape and pretty much was training myself. I finally joined a new gym and after going there for a bit I was gonna do some sparring. Honestly, I felt so nervous I almost talked myself out of it and I don't know why but I just didn't feel confident until I said "fuck it, I'll probably get my ass kicked but it will help get the ring rust off." So the coach set me up with this kid who's pretty good and is going pro soon and we agreed to go "light" due to me not having sparred in a while and him weighing about 20 pounds more and having a height and reach advantage.
The first round went decent although not much was thrown until about the closing minute. Then in the second round at some point it turned into a sparring war and I just remember fighting off of instinct and disregarded technique, defense and even my breathing. It felt like chaos and the last thing I remember I was against the ropes taking flush shots while people were telling him to calm down and go easy. I couldn't even finish the round and there was about 15 seconds left and I felt embarrassed. I don't know what went wrong but I couldn't react, couldn't circle out, jab, and couldn't even keep my hands up I just froze. A few of the guys went up to me and told me to keep my head up that it happens and even the sparring opponent went up to me as he clearly felt bad and said he went hard because he could feel my aggression and thought I started hitting him to hard.
Anyhow, today I feel fine, not even a headache or a mark and already did my roadwork and I'm going back to the gym tonight to train and possibly do some sparring again. So it leads me to believe that it was more of a mental collapse then anything physically. I've sparred better opponents and been in worse wars and I've never just frozen up like that. On one hand I felt good as it humbled me and got the rust off and is motivating me to get back in there ASAP. And on the other hand I felt the other guy was a jerk for not holding back against a smaller and rustier opponent and this could have been avoided. Regardless, it really goes to show you just how important the mental component in boxing is. It happens I guess, sorry about the long rant just wondering if this has happened to anybody or if anybody has an idea what could have went wrong.


tl:dr version:

I hadn't sparred in a long time. Finally got back in and sparred, got whooped and mentally fell apart. Anybody experience this?

With that type of attitude dont expect to go far. Even on my first day back in the gym I feel confident because this is what I do.

[_original_]

With that type of attitude dont expect to go far. Even on my first day back in the gym I feel confident because this is what I do.

Fair point. It's honestly not how I feel overall and this sport is my passion, but I just felt very nervous because I felt I needed to prove something and it back fired. I agree, it's definitely not the right approach to have and fortunately I'm in a different mental state now.

[Ray Corso]

Boxing will be humbling even to the best!!!

Go to the gym and try again, stop over thinking everything and listen to the gym trainer ...............and Breath! (correctly of course) good luck, Ray.

[nivek535]

for me, i always think "ill get tagged, its boxing. but it wont hurt as long as im aware of the punches coming" which keeps me calm.. u can try that..? accept that ull be hit and it wont be much..

[way2strong]

eat the humble pie ..you said light keep it light you let your ego take over and paid the price .. it happen's to those who swear up and down there a badazz they meet that one guy who makes them there b1tch

edit: and eat CARBS your body is probably starving

[Fr3$h]

Never happened to me. I've KO'd all of my sparring partners inside of 3 minutes.

[Canelo Phresh]

With that type of attitude dont expect to go far. Even on my first day back in the gym I feel confident because this is what I do.

Hold on, let me consult my answer book, "What Would AN A$$hole Say!"

[DetroitFast]

Hold on, let me consult my answer book, "What Would AN A$$hole Say!"

Whatever...you gotta have confidence in yourself.

[Rockin']

Needless to say I got a good thrashing and felt humiliated.


I hadn't sparred since September of last year (due to leaving my former coach's gym) but had kept in good shape and pretty much was training myself. I finally joined a new gym and after going there for a bit I was gonna do some sparring. Honestly, I felt so nervous I almost talked myself out of it and I don't know why but I just didn't feel confident until I said "fuck it, I'll probably get my ass kicked but it will help get the ring rust off." So the coach set me up with this kid who's pretty good and is going pro soon and we agreed to go "light" due to me not having sparred in a while and him weighing about 20 pounds more and having a height and reach advantage.
The first round went decent although not much was thrown until about the closing minute. Then in the second round at some point it turned into a sparring war and I just remember fighting off of instinct and disregarded technique, defense and even my breathing. It felt like chaos and the last thing I remember I was against the ropes taking flush shots while people were telling him to calm down and go easy. I couldn't even finish the round and there was about 15 seconds left and I felt embarrassed. I don't know what went wrong but I couldn't react, couldn't circle out, jab, and couldn't even keep my hands up I just froze. A few of the guys went up to me and told me to keep my head up that it happens and even the sparring opponent went up to me as he clearly felt bad and said he went hard because he could feel my aggression and thought I started hitting him to hard.
Anyhow, today I feel fine, not even a headache or a mark and already did my roadwork and I'm going back to the gym tonight to train and possibly do some sparring again. So it leads me to believe that it was more of a mental collapse then anything physically. I've sparred better opponents and been in worse wars and I've never just frozen up like that. On one hand I felt good as it humbled me and got the rust off and is motivating me to get back in there ASAP. And on the other hand I felt the other guy was a jerk for not holding back against a smaller and rustier opponent and this could have been avoided. Regardless, it really goes to show you just how important the mental component in boxing is. It happens I guess, sorry about the long rant just wondering if this has happened to anybody or if anybody has an idea what could have went wrong.


tl:dr version:

I hadn't sparred in a long time. Finally got back in and sparred, got whooped and mentally fell apart. Anybody experience this?

Simply put, **** happens. The ones who become fighters are the ones who will show up the next day looking to do it all over again with that same guy. You've gone over the events in the ring, now do something with that experience. There must be 2 or 3 things, atleast, that you know could go differently. See it in your mind a million times over, you doing the right things, and then go execute the visions in the ring. Nobody ever told you that this would be easy, but I can tell you from experience that it is worth it.

Welcome to boxing.......