What's wrong with me?

[bean]

I have been boxing for about a year now and in that time I have had two fights and won them both. Now though whenever I spar I seem to be scared to take a punch, I don't know why, before I used to go to my opponent but now I just seem to back off.

Does anyone have any ideas on why I have changed? Could it be because I have recently changed my training routine

[Tom Yum]

How long has it been since you sparred?

A long time without sparring screws up your live distancing and timing, so you might 'fumble' more often. Sparring is like excercising, when you get back into it you're gonna be mentally a little contact shy and get contact pain which takes time getting used to.

Also, how's you're conditioning? If you're backing off in an early round because you can't breathe, then you need to start running alot more and lifting less.

Good Luck.

[bean]

Well I did take a break for a bit and since I started again I haven't been the same. You might be right then, when I start sparring regular like I did before I should find my form again. I don't back off because I'm tired I seem to back off because I don't want to take a punch which didn't bother me before

[Tom Yum]

It takes a while to get used to contact both physically and mentally. If you've only boxed for 1 year and won a couple of fights congrats man!!

But even one or two months out of the ring will set you back if you've only been in it a year.

How have you changed your routine?

[bean]

Well I have been doing a lot more weight training, I done some before but not that much. I don't do as much bag work like I used to, I've started to work on improving my fitness and improving my upper body strength.

[Tom Yum]

How long has it been since you've sparred?

What gym do you train at?

[billywest1924]

whats wrong?

lets dissect this.....what was your routine before you changed it? and what is it now?

[Great Sage]

Bean,

I know exactly what you mean... I think it has to do with consistency as Tom and others have noted.

When I boxed in the gym I wasn't afraid to get hit... After leaving boxing for a bit and doing other martial arts, my thinking in terms of avoiding hits and taking hits changed... In other words, I wasn't used to getting punched at anymore. So, naturally, NOW, whenever I box I'm more timid and tend to back off (which can also be a dangerous thing in boxing).

One thing that has helped me is the double-end bag. But the best thing is to have a partner throw jabs at you either with a plain glove or focus pad so that you can throw counter punches in return.

[Tom Yum]

Do more running as you said you've been working on upperbody strength. IMO upper body strength is a good thing to have, but your legs and torso should be twice as powerful because ironically boxing is alot about the lower two thirds of your body.

If you've been out a while, work on sparring drills and spar once a week to get live distancing and timing down. You might seem a little contact shy as you're getting re-adjusted, but keep at it over time and you'll come back.

[sercuerdas]

it's probably mostly a mental intensity thing. in grappling for instince when i'm feeling 100% and ready to go I'll take brake falls all day long, but when my minds not totally there I just don't want to hit the mat. fighting is a tough game and it's o.k. not to always fell gung ho. work technic a while, eventually bang the bag and mitts will make you want to spar more.

[bean]

Originally posted by Tom Yum
How long has it been since you've sparred?

What gym do you train at?

You probably wont know the gym as I am from England. And it had been a good 3 months before I started sparring again

[Tom Yum]

That's a long time to go without sparring. You might want to ask your coach to get you on a program brushing up on your mobility, reflexes and contact conditioning.

What does he have you do?