Sparring people that only BACK OFF grrr...

[da_mill]

Ok, trying to get some quick tips please, as you lot are very helpful and very knowledgable! I find I am not that fast, or im v predictable, or I just can't react quickly enough - either way - I take a lot of hits if I'm sparring someone who just doesn't come forward. (at all, grr).

You know, you spar peopel that want to stay outside, but don't move forward AT ALL, they just wait for you to come in and counter you. Perhaps its cos I only come in behind a jab or double jab I am predictable. Faking the jab and then leading with the hook doesn't work as the hook is out of range.

I soemtimes go in with a looping overhand and step in and follow with body hooks, or start with a straight right. But basically I'm just lacking ideas - Anyone got any easy tips to work on? lol. thanks.

[Hardball]

Use Angles, don't go straight in. Also, for that type of fighter (Backward Runner) you need to use a lot of feints. Be patient. Try "Drawing" him in to you by showing a weakness such as a low guard and time your counter.

Good luck

[da_mill]

This must be where I'm going wrong. How do you come in 'at an angle' or have I bad footwork.

Like obviously you can circle while punching, or circle as you move, but if you're out of range, then step in to punch, surely the opp would have 'realigned' himself to be facing you. As in your movement to circle would be very great, but if the opp is just standing facing you, then they only require a little adjustment and they are facing straight onto you aagain.. ?

Thanks for the response

[Hardball]

This is the kickboxing forum. Are you talking about strictly boxing or kickboxing?

[Cannon_6]

Push-kick him into a corner and maul him with knees.

[gregimotis]

Gah! I lost a nice long reply...

[Hardball]

Gah! I lost a nice long reply...

Summarize it and give some key points.

[da_mill]

Gah! I lost a nice long reply...

doh ! I'm as annoyed as you believe.

It's Muay Thai Hardball.

Thanks everyone.

[Hardball]

In that case, it's the same advice as my above post. It's kind of hard to explain angles in writing. You have to work on your footwork. Have you ever heard of triangle steps? Creeping steps? Cutting off the ring? Have you tried blitzing? Drawing him in?

[fire cobra]

High Knee walk to cut the ring off and clinch clinch clinch!.

[-FIGJAM-]

mix it up a bit. Leading with the jab time after time is why they predict it, and probably why you're sparring someone who backs off.

Try some thigh kicks, running knees, something unexpected. Defiantly start to look at your foot work, cutting the ring in half is one of the hardest things to do, but one of the most effective.

Take your time, try and frustrate your partner and entice him to coming into you, throw jabs in front of him, but nothing to really worry him. drop your guard a bit, make him think that he can land some easy shots, might bring him to you.

Thats what i can think of, mix it up, foot work and try baiting.

[da_mill]

Hardball aside from feints and drawing someone in, I honestly haven't really heard of much of what you mentioned. Will try and do some research/practice...

I think a big problem is I don't simply get enough sparring time. For example in my usual class, we spar about 6 or 7 rounds, but only one minute or 1.30 rounds and I think I end up rushing as a result - people back off because I ALWAYS try to push the pace. And adding to that, I get very predictable, I always lead off the jab or inside leg kick.

I will work on basically baiting them in more because I know I can make that work well for me with a bit of patience, and generally try to mix things up. I think it's because i'm just not very good lol- someone was saying after class that when you aren't 100% natural, you're too busy worrying about your own 'conscious' things, like hands up, timing, how you release your punches and what to throw etc, whereas when it's natural you aren't worrying about things liek that and can easily adjust on the fly and mix up your timing.

Anyways. Sorry for the rambling. Thanks for the advice will remember those things for sparring next week.

[Clubber Lang]

At the end of the day, its most likely down to two simple problems:

people back off because I ALWAYS try to push the pace.

There's the answer to the first problem. I spar lots of guys like you, who never take a step backwards and are trying to front me down to a toe to toe. Most smart or experienced fighters won't stand there and toe to toe with someone who wants to bang, they will get on the back foot to stick and move. So if thats the fight you are bringing to the table, then its no surprise that your oppoenents respond accordingly. I would.

I think it's because i'm just not very good

Yes, to be honest that probably is the answer to the second problem. There aren't any magic tricks when it comes to closing the gap and fighting out of your preferred measure or range, like most things in combat it will fundementally come down to a superior level of attributes. If I think of people who have excelled in closing the range - Rickson Gracie, Ricky Hatton, Ramon Decker....they use the same techniques you do - but they are just real good at it.

Maybe give yourself a break, it sounds like you are working hard and giving your training lots of thought and focus. Give it plenty of flight time, you'll start to close down on these guys I'm sure.

[da_mill]

There's the answer to the first problem. I spar lots of guys like you, who never take a step backwards and are trying to front me down to a toe to toe. Most smart or experienced fighters won't stand there and toe to toe with someone who wants to bang, they will get on the back foot to stick and move. So if thats the fight you are bringing to the table, then its no surprise that your oppoenents respond accordingly. I would.

Maybe give yourself a break, it sounds like you are working hard and giving your training lots of thought and focus. Give it plenty of flight time, you'll start to close down on these guys I'm sure.

I see what your saying, but know I dont want to bang at all. In fact I probably go lighter than everyone else in the class, and pull my punches if I connect, to try and get them to open up a bit more lol. It's not liek I just stalk forward and forward and forward throwing all the time - I mean people stay 'just' out of range, so I have to work super hard to get in. It's like we're not even engaged unless I push - well that's how it feels. I agree with your comments though because as you say, if someone wants to push the pace with me, I back off and counter them.... hmmmmmmmm. Never thought of it that way lol.

Anyways, thanks again and to everyone, you're right I do analyse my work all the time, and I'm always asking questions because I want to improve. I will write down some points to work on in sparring and try to drill certain techniques. Perhaps next week I'll wait for them to come to me and draw them, then when they are in range I will circle off the jab and stick in the pocket.

[the tick]

Ok, trying to get some quick tips please, as you lot are very helpful and very knowledgable! I find I am not that fast, or im v predictable, or I just can't react quickly enough - either way - I take a lot of hits if I'm sparring someone who just doesn't come forward. (at all, grr).

You know, you spar peopel that want to stay outside, but don't move forward AT ALL, they just wait for you to come in and counter you. Perhaps its cos I only come in behind a jab or double jab I am predictable. Faking the jab and then leading with the hook doesn't work as the hook is out of range.

I soemtimes go in with a looping overhand and step in and follow with body hooks, or start with a straight right. But basically I'm just lacking ideas - Anyone got any easy tips to work on? lol. thanks.

Use the force Luke. Or just go in with a combination instead of just one punch and finish with a kick.