Boxing Sparring

Sparring Gets You to Fighting
Photo by familymwr

Well, congratulations, you've managed to learn some boxing skills and now you're thinking about taking that next step and actually pitting your skills against an opponent. So, now that you are capable of sparring, go get a coach.

No joke, sparring should not be undertaken without qualified supervision. It is combat, tempers flare, and things can get out of hand pretty quickly even among friends. That said, I'll give you the do's and don'ts of sparring anyways.

Types of Sparring

There are basically three types of sparring:

1. Technical Sparring - A type of situational sparring, technical sparring is sparring with the intent to perfect a specific drill or movement. It's not done to recreate a combat situation, but is done with learning in mind. The sparring focus is perfect execution of drills.
2. Conditional Sparring - A more common type of situational sparring where limits will be placed on what can and cannot be done before the sparring sessions begins. Both fighters will agree on what is going to happen (or it will be directed by their trainer). For instance, if the intent of the session is to perfect slipping a jab, the fighters may agree to only throw at half speed, that only one of them will throw the jab while the other slips, that they alternate throws, and so on. The conditions or rules placed on the sparring session are what make this conditional. This is the type of sparring that should be used most often to actually learn and perfect movements.
3. All Out Sparring - Honestly, there isn't a whole lot of reason to do this very often. This basically recreates an actual boxing match. The boxers are essentially doing what they would do in the ring. It is effective for giving the boxers a sense of what will happen in their fights, give them a chance to control their bodies and reactions in combat (see effects of combat stress), and potentially familiarize them with how a fight feels giving them some confidence and experience. It is not effective for learning new skills or trying out new things. They will instinctively fall back on whatever has been drilled into them to this point. Plus, the risk of injury is magnified substantially - use it sparingly.

Sparring Tips

As mentioned, technical and conditional sparring are types of situational sparring and is used to familiarize the boxer with the various styles of boxing and teach new skills. From the training plan, remember working the various drills and combinations on the heavy bag, now it is time to put them to use.

• Like all drills, start slowly and build up speed gradually. Start with offense vs defense and then work in inside fighting and outside fighting. Spending time in each situation will help you develop your own unique style. Do not stick to one style. The more weapons you have in your arsenal, the better your army. Besides, there is bound to be a boxer out there who is better than you in one style and if that one style is the only one you know, you will probably be kissing the mat by the end of the fight.
• Biggest thing to remember is to relax. Relax between bursts of energy in order to conserve energy for the bursts of energy. Hope that made sense. Again, stick to 3 minute rounds, 1 minute rest. Start out at 1/4 speed, then 1/2, 3/4 and full and mix it up, style vs style. Do not keep things the same all the time or you will hinder your development.
• All out sparring is fighting. It is hard and fast. With situational sparring, there has been an element of control in what was going to happen. Now your education as a boxer goes into hyperdrive. Now you have another intelligent human being to deal with. If you're not ready for this, don't do it, wait until you are.
• Make sure you wear all the protective gear I describe in the boxing gear guide on this site.
• You should have a coach by now and he will try and keep things under control, but remember you are there to learn still, so don't go in swinging wildly and forgetting everything you've spent months training on. Keep your composure.
• You will get hit - learn to deal with getting hit. Instead of turning into a raging lunatic, remain calm and calculative. Use what you've learned to strike back, do not spar out of anger.
• Last, have fun and relax. You're finally getting to use what you've been working so hard to perfect over the last few months. If you get the chance, videotape yourself and go over it with your coach to see where you can improve.

Your development from here on in will be a function of your desire to perfect what you've already learned. Any chance you get, review sparring sessions and see where you are making mistakes, then work like hell to correct the bad habits. This is where a good coach comes in. Any coach worth the good money you pay them will polish you off and get you ready for your first big bout. Good luck, and feel free to share your successes and failures with us - just leave a comment.