11 Beginner Sparring Tips – MMA/Boxing/Kickboxing
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Sparring Tips For Beginners
When I was reading one of the many mixed martial arts forums today I came across a question regarding striking sparring. The person asking was completely new to sparring and like many beginners found his first rounds versus a moving, striking opponent extremely challenging.
Off the top of my head I quickly came up with a few things that I thought might help him in his quest to get hit less while doing more hitting himself inside the ring.
I’ll share them, and a few more, to help you make your sparring experience more enjoyable and…less painful. Here we go!:
1. Throw your punches with speed, relaxation and technique, never try for power.
2. You don’t have to always see the opening for a specific punch. Just throw you combo sharply and quick and often the opening comes in the middle of your combo.
3. After your done punching, move away to either side. Your even better to stand your ground than backing straight up.
4. When you think you’re jabbing a lot, jab twice as much.
5. If you get into trouble, place both gloves on your temples, covering your face and jaw with the forearms and move, move, move.
6. When blocking strikes try not to tense your arms. Simply raise your arms up to protect yourself. This is easier said then done.
7. Keep you chin down at all times.
8. Mix up your attacks, try to be as unpredictable as you can with your combinations.
9. Pace yourself. Use your defensive and offensive techniques instead of just attacking the entire time.
10. Focus on keeping yourself in a good balanced stance before attacking, while attacking, and after your attack. This is very important!
11. Never give up. Taking a bit of a beating in the beginning is all part of the learning process. Stick with it and you will slowly become more like a hammer instead of the nail.
Bonus Tip:
Forum poster Zedlepln on mma.tv reminded me of this important one that beginners often forget to do.
Breathe!
Never hold your breath during your sparring round. Some fighters exhale hard with ever punch they throw. Instead I simply breathe regularly –with my mouth closed- making short but not overly strong exhalations through my nose when I throw each punch. The more well conditioned you are, the better you will be able to control your breath.
These should be a good start.
Let me know how it goes…
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Great tips! I’ve only sparred a few times, and last time I took a major beating. Easy to get dejected, but yeah just keep at it and sooner or later (hopefully sooner) I’ll start walking away without a black eye lol! I’ll be sure to apply these next time! Cheers!
Great article. All beginners should read it.
Great tips on sparring that i shall be passing on to our beginner kickboxers
Thanks for your message. Hope the tips help the new guys out. All the best.
Awesome stuff man. Nobody ever told me this before and it will help me so much in sparring now. Thank you and God bless you for helping other fighters get better.
[...] 11 Beginner Sparring Tips [...]
Thanks those sparring tips were great, im doing much better now
no prob. Good luck in your training Brad.
HI JEFF
HAVE YOU ANY TIPS ON THROWWING THE RIGHT CROSS.??
IN SPARRING I AM FINDING IT HARD TO LAND THIS SHOT.
REGARDS
JAMES
To land your right cross, you’ll need to first move in close enough. Fire your jab hard and fast as you step inwards towards your opponent. This could take multiple stepping jab to get close enough. As soon as your jab is able to reach the opponent’s head, immediately throw your cross at it’s target.
Keep the jab,jab,cross combo fast and remember to use as many jabs as it takes to get close enough to reach the opponents face with your punches.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the tips man. one question, whats the best way to prevent getting put into a triangle choke?
Hi Jeff
I joined kick boxing last year,(I’m 30 now)
Anyway,only started sparring now.
I’m getting beat up a lot by higher belts,without me getting a single punch in.
I know these tips are going to help me a hell of a lot!!(With practice)
Thanks for the tips.
Np BJ, good luck with your training!
Jeff,
I’m 25 and am seriously considering kickboxing. Having played football foro 14 years i have hamstrings like steel rods so will have to work on flexibility a hell of a lot! Am a little apprehensive and sparrings a long way off but having surfed the net quite a bit your blog is one of the better ones. Am a big fan by the way!
Many Thanks
Hey Dave. Thanks for the feedback man. Where ya from? I suggest finding a reputable gym with a good vibe and nice people training in it and just jump right in. It’ll be a great workout and a lot of fun. All the best bro and be sure to let me know how it goes!