If you really want to advance and become good at boxing, you need to know about the best tips for sparring. Learning how to spar is essential if you want to be the best you can be at this sport. It also helps you keep your skills sharp.
However, we understand if you may feel intimidated to spar. We get it, you are there, in front of another boxer who could be more experienced than you and everything you have learned is put to the test. But, fear no more, here are some sparring tips we have gathered to help you overcome any fears and get right into it.
Concentrate on one thing at a time
One of the best tips for sparring that we can give you is to create a game. For instance, only jabs are allowed, or only body boxing where you can only hit from the shoulders down to the waist. By concentrating on only one thing at the time, you can focus better, especially if you are just starting to spar. You can also try to do only slaps instead of punching.
Touch gloves with your sparring partner
Another one of the tips for sparring we have gathered for you is to touch gloves with your partner. This is a sort of etiquette in boxing where you acknowledge that you are ready to spar and also to say thanks at the end of the session. It also reminds everyone that it is a friendly sparring session and you are not there to hurt each other.
Hit as hard as your partner is hitting you
It can be hard to know how hard you are hitting if you are a beginner and you can also get easily carried away. However, take hints from your partner, such as if s/he hits you really hard all of a sudden, you may want to use less power. The idea is for both of you to use similar power in your punches.
Use the opportunity to improve your technique
Sparring is not the opportunity for you to try and take your partner down. Instead, this is the perfect moment for you to check and improve your technique. If you aim for the other person aggressively, your technique will become sloppy and eventually someone better than you will take you down.
Don’t use the same combinations over and over again
Between the nerves and feeling overwhelmed, it is easy to only do the combinations you feel comfortable with. However, if you want to improve, you should try different combinations and new things while sparring.
Use your speed
Instead of focusing on power, why not focus on speed instead? Use the sparring session to work on your speed and your reflexes. Here, you can be sure that you are safe to try this out without getting beat up.
Spar in slow motion
This is great, especially for beginners, since it helps you process the incoming punches and choose what defense technique you want to apply. At first, it can get overwhelming to know what to do and think and react fast. This can help you train calmly and get faster gradually.
Use 16oz gloves, minimum
8 to 10 oz gloves are for fighting, 12 to 14 oz gloves are for training and anything above 16 oz is for sparring. If you do not use sparring gloves you can hurt your partner because there will not be enough padding inside to absorb the impact of the punches.
Check out our list of the best boxing gloves for men 2020 and also this guide where we explain how to take care of your gloves properly.
Keep a tight stance
A great tip for sparring is to keep a tight and proper stance at all times. Your chin should be tucked, your eyes forward, hands up and your elbows and toes pointing towards your partner. However, your muscles should also be relaxed.
No matter what you do, do not drop your hands
Yes, you will feel tired, boxing works you out and sparring, don’t even ask. But, no matter how tired you are, do not drop your hands and let your guard slip while sparring, your partner will take advantage of the situation and hit you. So, even if you are exhausted, keep your guard up.
Keep your eyes on your partner
When sparring, do not look away. It is very easy to lose focus or place your eyes somewhere else rather than on your sparring partner, but the consequences will most likely be a punch on your face. If your coach is yelling instructions at you, listen, but do not look away.
The chest is the best place to focus
Yes, but of course not your chest but your partner’s. Don’t look at their gloves or their eyes, look at their chest. This will help you see all of his/her movements and how the punches develop. By focusing on your sparring partner’s chest, you will be forcing yourself to keep your chin down, fundamental for a solid stance in boxing.
Longer rounds and less rest
A great way to learn how to recover better from feeling tired when fighting is to train longer rounds and adding fewer rest intervals. For instance, you can have two-minute rounds with one-minute intervals. Later, when you face two-minute rounds in a competition, you will feel energetic.
Do not say you’re sorry for punching someone in the face
It’s boxing, you do not need to apologize every time you hit your opponent in the face. Everyone understands that this is a risk (and the idea of boxing is to punch assertively, right?) and you do not need to be polite in the ring.
Sparring tips for beginners
Are you about to have your first experience in sparring? That is great news! But, be prepared, here are some great tips for the first sparring session you need to know about, by Expert Boxing.
Use your jab
According to the aforementioned boxing website, your jab is your longest and fastest weapon. You can reach your opponent from far away and also keep him or her far from you. If you throw a jab at his/her face, they cannot reach you.
If you are doubting what to do, fight!
Instead of taking punches because you do not know what to do next, hit your opponent back. If s/he is getting closer, throw harder punches. Once the sparring partner is farther away, the more measured you can become. “If you’re too scared to trade punches, you’re probably not fighting at your level”, is something Expert Boxing invited you to consider if this is your case.
Defend by leaning away or blocking
If you need to defend, the easiest way to do so is by leaning away or blocking the punches. When you are a beginner, footwork is still something you have not mastered, so just block or lean away. If your partner loses his or her balance, throw a counter punch.
Focus only on one of his hands
If you still do not know how to see both the opponent’s hands at the same time, try watching only one, whether it is the left or the right one. “If you want to watch for his right hand: keep your right glove by your face to block jabs and left hooks while you focus all your attention on his right so you can be ready to evade and counter it,” Expert Boxing suggests. If you want to watch for his left hand, do the opposite.
Circle around the opponent’s power hand
If you are afraid of the opponent’s right hand, circle around to his other side and vice-versa. This helps keep things unpredictable and change directions.
Use unexpected intervals
Change the rhythm of your punches, that is, be as unpredictable as possible. Expert Boxing gives this great example, assuming your right hand is the power hand:
- left-RIGHT-left-RIGHT
- left-left-RIGHT-left-RIGHT
- RIGHT-left-RIGHT
- left-RIGHT-left-left-left-RIGHT
This is an example that illustrates how to confuse your partner to not know when you will throw your power hand at him/her.
Have you included sparring as part of your boxing training or are you still gathering up the courage to do so? Do not be afraid, your boxing coach will let you know when you are ready and, if it’s something you want to try to improve your fighting skills, you will be starting slow and advancing gradually. What has your experience in sparring and generally in boxing been? Tell us in the comments below!
