Any of you guys freeze up when sparring?

[Enzo566]

Cause lately it seems like when i get in the ring, i kinda am shy about it. Until i get a feel for it you know.

But it sucks cause ill spend the first round getting my ass beat, until i like loosen up and then im ok for the rest of the time. Which leads me to believe i could never compete if i keep at this.

Any way what im wondering is what do you guys do to like prepare mentally, besides the obvious "Spar more" which i will be doing.

[Tom Yum]

Try to be more loose and relax. If it helps, make a joke about the guy you're sparring with. Not a yo-mama so fat joke, but something to get yourself mentally loose but alert and keep the pressure on the other guy.

Hope that helps.

After a few rounds of full speed sparring, I get into that uphill battle of conditioning and heart. This is where I start to tense up a little. At the moment I cannot add more time to conditioning, so I've hit a plateau.

[Hardball]

You may need more boxing "Theory" and more time on the heavy bag, speed bag and timing ball to build up your confidence.

[HtTKar]

What kind of sparring? If this is a dojo where people are taking turns, I can understand why your not loosened up. Sometimes you need a little stress to make you a better fighter...if your not distressed its hard to start out fully focused. A lot of people need warm-up time. 10-15 minutes of footwork drills and shadowboxing. Get the adrenaline moving a little bit and by the time you step into the ring you're ready to go. But there's a difference between "freezing up" and not being warmed up and focused.

[Enzo566]

well i was warmed up, we did some pad drills before and stuff, and he even commented on me having good form, and power and stuff, but like when i get in the ring i freeze up i forget all my combo's and training and stuff.

[KjeXz]

This sounds like adrenaline to me. Fight or flight reflex causing you to panic and freeze up due to the unusual feeling of a fast adrenaline flow.
Try breathing slowly and deeply through your nose when it happens, and tell yourself that you can handle this adrenaline, and ask for more (as my book on it says, sounds silly but actually helps)
Then just keep busy until it passes. The important part is to accept it instead of trying to fight it.
If it's not fight-or-flight then it might be linked to stress elsewhere in your life, or you might be nervous about the outcome of this or any similar confrontation.

Please tell me if it helps.
My first post btw. Just had to try and help you...

[LatinoHeat]

How to deal with fear

Fear prior a fight or sparring is usually insecurity in your strength & weaknesses.
I agree with Benny Urquidez when he says knowledge is power.
One must practice both striking & grappling as well as condition once body to take impact.
I would study a variety of Martial Arts like the following:
Muay Thai Kickboxing, Grappling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Sambo, Krav Maga, Boxing, Kyokushinkai Karate, Wing Chun, Aikido, & Jeet Kune Do.
One needs to do a lot of: sparring, grappling, throwing, & striking. Mixing the Arts is the key. And so is stamina lots of running bagwork skipping stomach conditioning & Weight Training.
You must train for speed explosiveness stamina & strength.
Also Shin Conditioning & The ability to take impact.
Use your shoulders to take impact learn to move out the way of a kick or punch rapidly & striking back at the same time.
I also think powerlifting can help with building aggression.
And remember the way you train is the way you fight.
Focus skill agression strength & speed the keys to winning a fight.
Phillip.

[KjeXz]

Muay Thai Kickboxing

Why do so many people have this wrong? Muay means boxing, so you don't have to say muay thai boxing or muay thai kickboxing. Thanks.

[LatinoHeat]

Dooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Grow Up
If people want to say muay thai kickboxing then thats fine. There is a difference between Western boxing Muay Thai Kickboxing & Chinese Boxing.

[Oreomeister365]

Generally...I think "thats the adrenaline, it it will help me win" so then I go at it.

[Drache]

I was a bow tie boxkicker before. Then UPS fired me for damaging everyone's packages.

[Timberwolf]

not a bad attitude but misdirected.

Grow Up
If people want to say muay thai kickboxing then thats fine. There is a difference between Western boxing Muay Thai Kickboxing & Chinese Boxing.

I studied Muay Thai for five years and in my studies I have encountered warriors with such respect for the art that to place the word kickboxing with Muay thai would offend them greatly. because The technique may have some kickboxing concept it is in affect not the same. I do agree however that it not any issue that is worth a long argument.

good thinking warrior!