Just starting sparring....questions

[boke]

Hello all, first post/thread.
I started boxing about 5 months ago, 2 months ago they let me start doing some light sparring. Now it's getting a little tougher, my opponents are hitting harder and being more aggressive. Which is fine as I figure this is best way to learn.I have a couple of questions I was hoping some people could help me with:

1) One of the biggest problems I am having is distance. It seems like I'm throwing and none of my punches are coming close, I'm been trying to use my jab to get an idea of the range but not having much luck. Especially my hooks and uppercuts. Is this a problem that a lot of you had when you first started? Any ideas to help counter this?

2) I've only sparred about 10 times but I'm finding it hard to keep my eyes on my opponent when he throws combos at me. I'm getting better blocking/parrying them but its hard to fight that instinctual reflex to not flinch. Will getting popped in the head enough times help me get used to this?

3) I'm assuming that most of my progress will come through sparring, of courses drills, shadowboxing, ect will all help but everything being equal sparring can help you the most?

[AviatorShades]

I'm convinced shadowboxing makes you ******ed because you aren't aiming at anything and can't measure your power. I always feel like I formed bad habits (just start flurrying at thin air) when I do it too much. I would rather move in and out and circle while hitting the heavy bag to synchronize my footwork and depth perception.

Wanting to blink and look away when your opponent throws punches is 100% normal and eventually goes away once your brain learns that an eyelid isn't very good defense. You can only learn that by being hit. No amount of thinking about it fixes it.

[J.Dempsey]

I'm convinced shadowboxing makes you ******ed because you aren't aiming at anything and can't measure your power. I always feel like I formed bad habits (just start flurrying at thin air) when I do it too much. I would rather move in and out and circle while hitting the heavy bag to synchronize my footwork and depth perception.

Wanting to blink and look away when your opponent throws punches is 100% normal and eventually goes away once your brain learns that an eyelid isn't very good defense. You can only learn that by being hit. No amount of thinking about it fixes it.

Agreed, good advice

I say get in there with some light sparring partners to practice your distance and keeping composure, perhaps you're going into hard sparring too quick? You don't wanna get the habit of being scared of being hit, that normally comes when your chucked in the ring with some nutters who are fighting and not SPARRING
I always say if you're not having fun, it's not sparring

[shermanator]

getting hit is usually the best way to get over any fear of being hit. I suppose it's normal with any boxer..
I think shadow boxing is good for practicing speed , snap and some stamina. But not for sparring. There's tons of things you can do to help you get better at sparring but the best is to keep sparring.
I think it's also common for boxers to have difficulty with keeping their eyes on their opponents at first when they're throwing punches. You might need to lower your gloves a little or adjust your stance..
Also sometimes you can clock the timing of your opponent and know where they are going to hit while delivering a combo instead of you trying to "watch for it" or keep your eyes always their gloves. I notice a lot of fast fighters in the pro's do this.

One time after a long workout and heavy bag work a really skilled fighter asked me if I wanted to spar. He was already fresh but I was so freakin' tired, so it was perfect. I couldn't deliver much of an offensive game because I was so fatigued so I relied lots on my blocking. He'd deliver these heavy body and head shot combo's.. didn't make much contact..I started to clock his jabs and combos and was able to block them without actually "looking" for his gloves but already knowing where they are going to hit.
Some fighters will change their rhythm up which makes it more difficult... becoming a good defensive fighter also makes you a smart fighter.
A good example of this was the recent Gamboa verses Crawford fight

[September 13th]

Keep training. Listen to your trainers. Stay in the gym and be patient.

[-Johannes-]

Many times it has to do with being anxious or nervous, everything you described has to do with it. People fail to find their target when they're not calm about a sparring session.

You're five months in and two months into sparring it seems that you're in a responsible gym since they started you out with light sparring. Some awful gyms will send you in there to trade punches with another dude who's just as afraid as you so neither learn from it. Anyway just keep working, the more you spar the more comfortable you'll feel about your own abilities. I feel the double end bag is a great way to find good range. Try doing explosive 3 or 4 punch combinations on it. Sometimes you'll miss and that's when you know you're not at the correct range.

Try throwing your hooks and specially your uppers from mid to short distance for now, because those are the ones beginners telegraph the most. Establish a good foundation with your jab and 1-2s and you will eventually find the range. You can then incorporate feints that will help you out a lot to land those right hooks

Keep working hard bro you'll see improvements every day.

[BennyST]

It's just an anxiety thing. Initially your mind is preoccupied with worry about getting hit, so you try to stay out of range of their shots, which means you won't ever be in range when you punch. It's completely natural.

This might sound weird, and very obvious, but where you can be hit by your opponent also means you are in range to hit them. If they can't hit you, it means you can't hit them either. This is a general rule (sometimes doesn't stand for people of very different sizes), and while it's obvious in a simple way, you'd be incredibly surprised how little it gets thought about.

Often what happens early is that you'll try to stay out of range, because you're still worried/stressed about getting hit, but this natural reaction also means you won't ever be in range to hit them either. It sounds obvious, because it is, but it happens to nearly everyone that starts sparring. You're worried about being hit, so you try to stay out of their range, and then wonder why you are never in punching range yourself.

Remember also, it feels incredibly close when you actually are in proper punching range. Very close. Too close initially. We tend to think we can stay out of harms way, but still hit them when we want. It's not the case at all unfortunately. You have to be close enough for them to hit you, as for you to hit them. That can feel frighteningly close.

Just remember this: being in range to hit them means they are also close enough to hit you. It's something that's obvious yet overlooked. The more you do it, the more it will come. It'll take time though. Don't worry.

Next time, try this. When you feel close enough to shoot a punch, take another step in and try to halve that distance. You might find yourself in perfect range, but you will also find yourself close enough to grab them as to hit them.

[Wuckoo]

Try and get a sparring partner more experienced who can go light but turn up the pressure when needed. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you OP but I find I close my eyes less against experienced opponents around my own weight. Sounds strange but I guess you have to look out for more. I started flinching less when I sparred an experience counter puncher. He wouldn't try to rock me but I still had to keep and eye on him because he could throw a sneaky snot any time and those can still hurt you a bit. That said the flinch reflex isn't completely gone but I find it gets better the more you spar and provided you are around the same weight as the guy.

[jas]

Use your lead leg to gauge distance too