Hi i'm angel im interested in boxing i want to be a boxer i'll be 29 in november 15 Tony Jeffries can you be my boxing coach is it to late to be a boxer🥊at 29 years old
I sparred for the first time 3 weeks ago and I highly recommend it at some point. I have no plans of ever competing (34 year old engineer) and I only box for fitness with running. There are a bunch of guys in the gym who spar with no intentions of competing. It's one thing to hit, slip, and roll the pads, but things don't "click" until you're actually avoiding someone's punches. You realize there's a whole world of other things to learn such as distance management, using feints, etc. It's good to try it once to see if you like it even if your goals are just fitness. Never trying it is like doing basketball drills but never playing a pick up game at the park. 1. Stay fueled and hydrated on the day you spar, you don't realize how tiring sparring is until you do it 2. Go for light sparring. Unless you're going to actually compete, I don't see how hard sparring makes sense if it can negatively impact your professional life. My coach lets people spar hard if they are experienced and want to, but people just go light. 3. Keep your emotions and ego in check. Even if you are light sparring you'll still get hit and you and your training partner can accidentally throw a wild punch. I've gotten rocked a few times and my partner would apologize right there and we'd continue on. Don't let this get the best of you and turn it into a competition, sparring is for learning. 4. Communicate with your sparring partner if you have to. I'm 145 lbs and the people I've sparred with ranged anywhere from 150-190 lbs, even a light jab can feel like a whopper with that weight difference. If they're going too hard, let them know -- and always offer the same in return. My coach lets us rotate sparring partners during the class, so it's been a great way to meet other people in the gym. It's all love at the end of the session and everyone gives feedback on how to improve.
I'm 32 and plan on going pro next year. I know I know I'm too old to go pro. But I'm not aspiring to be world champion, although if the opportunity presents itself, I'm taking it. The main thing is to remain calm which is easier said than done.
Those are great tips! I tell everyone to control your breathing and control your footwork when you're in there. It's okay to reset and establish a pace so you can engage your oponent properly. One thing that a lot of people forget to do is to get used to breathing through your mouthguard and headgear. It can get bloody hot too.
I had a coach like that - a coach that upon my first day in the gym threw me in the ring to spar knowing I had no clue how to box - and the guy with which I was sparring threw bomb after bomb and all I could see after every punch was white… left out of that gym with a concussion and never went back. To this day I loathe that coach.
That sucks bro. When I was a teenager I was hit by a heavyweight (a tall and fat grown man, a cop, who was pissed he could not get the hand on me because he was a beginner and I boxed several years) in the ribs and could not breathe for a long time, my coach saved me by pressing my solar plexus or something like that, I don't know exactly how he de-blocked my breathe). We were not supposed to hit in savate everyday training, just sting without putting power (it is called "assault boxing" in French) and that really took me off guard and I was hesitant to go training as I almost died from that. It's a shame what happened to you was the fault of the coach.
Coach made me spar on my second day against one of the top guys that had been boxing for years. I got beat up so badly, he had to make me a spar a 12-13 year old. I left that gym shortly after. I'm Glad I'm not the only one that feels that way.
I unknowingly sparred a pro mma guy on my first day of sparring class, tried knocking me out, made my nose bleed, and took out my air with a hard kick to stomach all in one go. The pro and manager are denying responsibility and see me as the problem. I'm glad I'm not alone in this case because cases like this need to be exposed so that new kids, teenagers, or YA don't learn the hard way and they're trained correctly until they're ready to compete. P.S. - I sparred 3-4 guys before the pro guy and it was nice and easy, mutual energy, up until I came across the pro. Some guys are just rats in combat sports whether they know it or not.
I've been boxing for about 6 months and I think sparring is an absolute necessity, even if you don't plan on competing. After learning for a while, I thought I had some skill for fighting, but boy was I wrong. Sparring humbled me in an instant because someone, unlike a bag, is hitting back. So sparring introduced me to the vital art of strategy - knowing when to hit, how to set up combos, how to defend, slip, duck, move - all of this a bag or mits cannot teach you. So I spar lightly every training session to learn how to strategize and practice my techniques under stress. I think this would translate to the real world too, so you'll be able to remain calm in a real confrontation, and be more confident in your skills.
Absolutely brother! its the uncertainty and pressure you receive from an opponent that forges ur skills and develops ur ability to Apply them in a real situation...there is no substitute for this....
Best thing I’ve done getting in to boxing training, not to be a fighter at the age of 41 obviously but for fitness and just knowing how to fight properly/smartly.
One of the great things about Tony's videos is it always reinforces what a brilliant coach i have. Now sparred hundreds of rounds, had one white collar fight at 42 and have always been brought along at the right pace, helping me to improve and also stay safe
Great video. I wish I watched it before I started sparring years ago. The gym I was in there was no “technical sparring” it was a full on fight anytime you stepped in there. I was big so I always got put in with smaller guys who were at a way higher level than me. I took a lot of beating early on. Like you said the Coach wants to see if you are tough or not……..not cool I was pretty tough and took the beatings. I hate that mind set I would never do that to someone starting out.
You make it sound like a real fight, honestly it wasnt too big of a deal for me. I didnt expect the other person to beat me up, and luckily they didnt. So bascially chill light sparring
@@animal9470 Soft sparring is a great way to learn to box, but it will give you a false sense of security. You will get a rude shock when you actually fight someone and you haven't sparred hard before.
I thank my coach for teaching us how to breathe correctly. I didn't understand it at 1st why he had to do so until I got in the ring. Man!! Your channel is great to learn from Tony, I am a kickboxer but for my boxing I watch this channel. We watching all the way from South Africa. Peace!
Thank you so much. I HAVE to do sparing because the teaching is only one hour, with some combo and then sparring. It is good motivation to work technics, but it is hard for me without basics. I have today tried to focus on my breath, defense and basics and it was really helpful. Hope you are going to post other vids about beginner sparing !
Most honest tips I’ve ever heard. My first session I held my breath and barely made it through the first round. Thanks for spreading some real hands on knowledge.
I've boxed in the army around 7 years ago, I picked up kickboxing and man.... I feel like a beginner again. Dutch kickboxing sparring goes hard, and i mean really hard. I usually tell the other guy I just got back into it, is 60% ok for you? They usually agree and even start giving tips while sparring. That being said, there's always the guys with something to prove. I've been liver punched, got a black eye 3 weeks ago and last Monday my tooth was temporarily loose... Guess i know to work on my defence now lol.
Im training and working on becoming a professional boxer now 😄. Im 35 but i been in and out of it but i am truly following it andnyoure videos definitely help me a lot. I know how to fight and now learning to box as a fighter. Makes it simpler and learning techniques and relearning and discipline myself. Im definitely taking youre words as Gold 🪙🥇. Thank you so much for youre time and wisdom. God bless you ❤. Much respect on my end
In my club we do group sessions with "light" sparring. Being punched in the face can occur even then although we're supposed to stick to body & shoulders and practice the moves. Boxing is the hardest sport I've ever tried.
Im 33, just turned, in 6-8 months in training/ learning at 3-5 sessions a week, doubles some weeks(2-3 hour long sessions) one day a week... I sparred 2 or three months in with two intentions to learn or objectives. 1. As a man, i think its a good idea to learn to take a hit, an keep on keeping on. 2. I plan on competing in amateur before i get too old.... I am thankful i have good coaches. I started out orthodox, an have just started switching to unorthodox.... I must now learn as well defense. This sport is challenging, for a reason, its peeling my bad layers off( insecurities, strength of mind, willpower,etc.) as well getting instincts clear. The main reason i joined as well, in addition to, was for psychological reasons and benefits. I have nothing to say but positive things on boxing. Thank you Toni, for the advice an tips.
Tony thanks for the videos. I recently got into boxing. Started in January. Got in the ring for the first time about 3 weeks ago. Wasn’t bad. Wasn’t nervous at all. Went against my couch and I guess I knew he would take care of me. But awesome experience. He asked where else I was learning boxing from because he knew I had no experience. I told him Tony Jeffries. Great tips.
@Tony Jeffries Coming from a different art, karate (namely shotokan) we have a slightly different approach: We go gradual. First spar is 10-15% of force and speed. No gloves or anything, let it happen, like a play. After a couple exchanges, coach stops and make correction: "Hey look, he come with a long punch and you tried to "hunt his hand" instead of moving your body away at the same time.
5:54 My first boxing coach (vice Europameister) would often put his finger in the air and say, "The most important is [X]." "X" would change from day to day, sometimes multiple times a day. It didn't take long for me to realize (note at that time I hadn't been punched in the head so often) that there were a LOT of "most important things that ALL needed to be learned and combined to be a good boxer. There is ALWAYS room for improvement.
@@tabo01Yeah, that is a challenge that only comes with experience (= practice, = repetition). Tony mentions this a lot in various videos. The only way to relax is to practice doing everything so often that each individual action it becomes second nature and you don't have to think about them. Then you can concentrate on improving one thing because all the others are OK. This is also a reason to do targeted/partial sparring where you'll (for example) only use your lead hand.
Love to spar , getting to put the training and tips to good use . Go light to maybe 70% .At 40 Most likely won't get to competition but sparring is a lot fun .
I have sparred a handful of times in my amateur boxing. I have received some heavy punches, a bloody nose, and scraped lips. They do not feel good, but none of those hurt to where I fear them. However, I still feel anxious whenever I spar. My coach is amazing, my gym mates are great, and the comradery I have seen so far in the sport is palpable, and I seem to have good body movements, footwork, and stamina, yet it is still hard to shake the nervous feeling. This saps my stamina, makes me rigid, and forget everything but throwing jabs and straights. I think I feel this way whenever I am involved in something competitive. I need to learn to move past this feeling and be able to perform how I know my body is capable of doing. I appreciate the tips and will try to remember them next time I spar. The breathing and defense in particular are what I will keep in mind. I have a lot more sparring ahead in my near future before my first bout soon.
Being tense and nervous usually ends bad, but relaxing and being aware of your environment will lead to optimal results. The only caveat is, if you are too relaxed you might lose that fighting spirit. I suppose, and this is only conjecture, you need an appropriate balance between healthy tension and relaxed awareness.
1 of my coaches picks at me a lot be breathing hard for breathing hard in sparring. but im very fit, i last about 2 rounds before getting too tired. even before the match, i could hear him talking to my friend who im going up against say. "so are you here to kick Muggshot's butt" i been loyal to the gym, i been going there for 10 months. all he seems to want to do is only pic on me. practicing as hard as i can till i just about puked. sitting down, dripping like a kitchen sink, nearly ready to barf in a bucket. comes over to me and says "did your jump rope run out of batteries, why you sitting down?" despite getting dumped on by him on a daily bases, i still work my hardest to get where i want to go. he got on me, and tried to put me down so much. that getting punched in the face is not even a thing that i am remotely nervous about anymore. i even went in there with only 1 leg to work with, because the other leg had a cramp in it. so im hoping on 1 leg, trying to punch the double end bag. another time both legs gave out while in the gym, and then to get across the floor to get to the heavy bag, im using my arms to walk across the floor to get to it. so im punching it, he dont hardly say a word to me before leaving. i go to the MGGA mon through fri at 5:30pm to 8:00. the kind of lack of motivation he gives me, i doubt he is going to try to get me in a tournament. can you come in sometime, and see what im doing right. 10 months of being there, i got to be doing at least 1 thing right by now. can you come down sometime, and see what im doing right and wrong. i want to compete, and im not going to stop until i get to.
Can you make a video on how to do body sparring properly, and details on why it's still useful / what lessons we can learn from it compared to normal sparring?
body sparring is very useful as a way to approach sparring for those just starting out..certainly better than Not sparring at all.. the reactions and movements are the same as full body sparring except the head is off limits as far as contact... the downsides are that if this is the Only type of sparring you do, there is a tendency to be lazy as far a defense of the head becuz you Know you you are not being hit there... this leads to hands low and head exposed...thus if this is the only way you trained, your head defense could be lacking...For those who Do choose body sparring only, I'd recommend carry ur hands As IF the head were still a target... both fighters Incorporate feints To the head without real contact... this will train you to Still be aware and defensive to head shots and keep you from being lazy and unconcerned about it , which would not work well in a real situation.
I have around 6 hours of boxing experience and I always look forward to the light sparring; my coach tells us to lightly spar with five different opponents/ one minute each. My first time I was able to understand the levels to boxing, you also get a better measure of your defense/offense and adjust. I also like to mimic moves higher level opponents use on me and try them out with others.
I weigh 60kg and I bought 16oz gloves precisely to prevent and not harm my colleagues, but apparently not everyone is interested in that, some even use 8oz gloves, it's unfair Right now I have a broken rib and am now forced to rest for 6 weeks. I am seriously considering purchasing less oz gloves
Love your videos! By watching your content I started kickboxing training. Only thing I regret is I started it this late, im turning 37, but this is great exercise
Excellent advice Tony, especially about trainers who throw unprepared newbies into the lions den with nothing more than basic offense...this happens more than most people realize and turns alot of beginners off to an incredible sport....Those same students might flourish under a good trainer who emphasizes learning the fundamentals, developing solid defense to go along With offense as they are 2 sides of the same coin, starting them with emphasis Always on technique, good form and control so that sparring can be entered into as a forum to test and apply what you have been taught...Those same students might become very good at a skill they may have walked away from if taught poorly.
I think the biggest thing I can say is, unless you’re just a crazy natural, sparring is WAY different than any other training. You got someone who’s going to be moving, hitting, and working on their selves along side you. The absolute worst atrocious things to look out for is nerves and a temper. You really got to be calm and remember it’s a sport we’re all bettering ourselves in. You want to apply what you have learned in training and improve on it as well as getting that experience. My younger self learned that lesson very quickly. Stay comfortable and remember your technique and try to get better.
Had my first sparring session in day I wrote this comment against newbie and it went okay but I feel like I was too soft. Cuz this guy got me in body, it was not hard punch but still felt kinda bad and disappointing. After this video I got motivated, thanks Tony. I understand now that first time is first time and you can still improve.
Understand Your Motivation: Determine why you want to spar: to fight, to experience the ring, or because of coach’s insistence. If you’re not planning to fight, reconsider sparring unless you have a true desire for it. Control Your Breathing: Deep breaths before entering the ring to manage nerves and heart rate. Continue focusing on breathing during sparring to avoid fatigue. Focus on Defense First: Prioritize defense over offense to reduce the chance of getting hit. Effective defense can boost confidence and calm nerves. Practice Techniques: Sparring is for learning, not fighting or hurting. Focus on specific techniques or themes (e.g., left hand only, straight punches). Stick to Fundamentals: Concentrate on basic techniques: proper stance, movement, straight punches, and basic defense. Avoid complex combinations initially. Identify and Correct Bad Habits: Recognize bad habits (e.g., dropping your hand after a jab) before sparring. Focus on correcting these habits to avoid being hit. Sparring Method - Shoulder and Body Sparring: Engage in shoulder and body sparring instead of head sparring to reduce risk of injury. It helps improve reactions, learn to take body shots, and maintain competitiveness without head injuries.
Tony first gym I joined in NYC the owner said at least 6 months before you can spar and if you suck gotta train 6 more months. Of course I thought I was ready in shorter time but I waited it out and worked hard. Once in the ring the worst part was I didn’t breathe. Even though we worked on it. Did pass the test and continued sparring for years after. Eventually sparred with Kid Chocolate, lou savareece and others. Boxing is a great sport that challenges not just the body but the mind, the heart, the character and courage of men.
One of my most important questions is how to do techniques in shadow boxing in fights. I am pretty good at shadow boxing but I am not as good in doing the techniques in a fight. I am not afraid of being punched at all but not doing well and losing!!!!
I've had my first boxing sparring with my friend a few weeks ago! For context, I've been trained Taekwondo throughout my childhood, and during the pandemic, I've realized that I also need to learn punches. That's why I self trained Muay Thai with a punching bag, learning the foot rhythms and everything. When he invited me to have a boxing sparring session, I was pretty confident in my punches. That's when his first ever punch hit my solar plexus, I ran out of breath immediately and called for a timeout xD At that time I was thinking "woa, I totally forgot that was a weak spot" I protected my liver and jaw with my right hand, but due to the sparring session, I realized that my center was wide open. Throughout the session, my feet were itching to kick, but I stopped it. I only ended up pushing him back with a kick once, since my instinct kicked in when he rushed me. Sorry bro TvT Overall, training only with a punching bag can be detrimental, since you're up against someone who can't punch back. That's why I focus on offence in the bag, and defense and counter punches in my sparring sessions. I still hope that I watched this video before my first sparring though xD
A good mittholder will be able to help you work ur defense as well as offense... the mitts Can hit back when used to show you holes in ur defense by a decent holder.. they should Always be testing ur reactions, exposing flaws in ur defense and making you work ur returns off ur defense, changing angles and helping you develop ur footwork...never static.... the poorest example of holding mitts is someone who is just standing there like a portable punching back, who gives nothing back.
I wish i had taken an interest in boxing and/or martial arts when i was younger because its so much fun, i wont compete but i do love light-medium sparring, as soon as you've had a few sessions you'll get the hang of it and realise its the equivalent of having some banter.
I have been taking boxing for 3 months almost, and I've sparred a guy who's been there a while and along with some other newbies. My defense was the first time I sparred the experienced guy a few weeks ago, and him tonight was so much different. I took notes on how he was hitting me, and he gave me advice right after, and I got countering him as often as he got me. It felt good, but he knocked me real good when I gassed out. Lol I spent a lot of time trying not to punch hard because I was scared of hurting them. But I got pretty good at not hitting hard, or I hope. No one has told me to take it easy. I hope they'd tell me to ease up.
I think for self defence and awareness is to spar getting used to that amount of stress and aggression. Knowing that if I’m out with my daughter or partner and somethings happening and I can’t simply avoid the conflict knowing I can protect is deeply important to me. Self defence classes etc only go so far I’ve got countless experiences and techniques but boxing provides actual mental training for this there’s 2 types of sparing technical / shoulder sparring just enough to get a hit so they know that’s what you exposed Then harder sparring which is a fight simulation to be as close to the real deal but safe and you build that % up. There will be people you can beat in a fight but not in a spar it’s a different beast but it’s very important to practice that fight sense there’s many black belts who get sparked out because they climbed the ranks but didn’t proper spar it was all like Leg kick punch “ how was your week Jerry “ there’s no sense of alert or danger or mental fatigue and pressure
I have sparred a couple of times and it is really surprising the speed at which you correct mistakes, because you make them and you get immediately hit.
Hey tony, can you make some more dodging tips? Ive been trying to learn how to slip away from jabs alot, but i didnt get much luck since im still a beginner
i have never been to a boxing gym, but have sparred once with a shool mate of mine (for fun we both agreed) and i lost, not by much we are having a rematch this friday so i am training for it cuz i really wanna win. I'll update you guys on who won
I box's in England when to Australia to turn pro couldn't get lic waited 15 years when back England had two pro fight when back to Australia had 14 more pro fight retired at 40 years old love every minute of it unfortunately I left it to late
Hey Tony, have you already made a video discussing whether headgear is beneficial for sparring? If no, could you share when one might need headgear and what type you recommend? I'm actually a bit confused, as I've heard so many different opinions on this. Thank you for this incredibly helpful video!
There was no cardio boxing gyms in the old days (as you obviously know). If you showed up to the gym, you were learning to box for competition. I dont blame trainers for testing the guts of a potential student when you have limited time and a stable. I was beat up on day 1 as a 10 yr old. Different times.
Since 3 years I'm going to a local muay thai gym and sparring is always optional they say but they always push even very beginners to do sparring and they are insulted and angry if you say you don't want to. I've had a few great sparring partners who like me wanted to focus on technique but most spar very hard. I still don't know if this is a common thing. In my opinion before anybody does any sparring they should maximize their footwork and defense techniques, I couldn't do any of that when I began 3 years ago and during my first sparring sessions then I received 2 strong liver shots and several strong hooks and jabs in the head by a guy who was very advanced, in 2x3 minutes I couldn't even land a single punch on him.
Well, I was never injured in my first sparring. I was just nervous, and exhausted. I mean even light sparring is hard on the body and stamina. It's basically brisk run while moving the whole body.
When i started to really spar at 16 i had no head movement whatsoever. I did kickboxing and relied on my kicks more and more but was severely open for punches
Yup. Just started boxing. Coach wanted to spar, he knew Ive never boxed before or done sparring. He told told me to hit harder, so I did, and he popped me in the nose and Im pretty sure its cracked at the least
From very limited experience, when I wasn't too nervous before sparring I got my ass beat. When I was nervous and worried, usually goes rather well 'cause I took it seriously a focused on basics.
I dont know how true it is, but yeah I was concerned about just being thrown in the ring and being told to tough it out. So to avoid that, I just started with some private lessons. Ive got some nagging injuries and issues that are way easier to communicate privately at first.
Imagine that coach seeing Tony emerging from his screen while watching this vid after doing what he should not have done earlier that day, and then proceeds to get absolutely beat up.
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Hi i'm angel im interested in boxing i want to be a boxer i'll be 29 in november 15 Tony Jeffries can you be my boxing coach is it to late to be a boxer🥊at 29 years old
😂😂😂 great video
I've been boxing sparing for over ten years, those are the best tips i have ever heard
Glad you like them!
@@Tony_Jeffries You are really great Tony, I've been watching you since you started the chanell
“Coach i can’t spar I haven’t finished the video”
Famous last words
I sparred for the first time 3 weeks ago and I highly recommend it at some point. I have no plans of ever competing (34 year old engineer) and I only box for fitness with running. There are a bunch of guys in the gym who spar with no intentions of competing. It's one thing to hit, slip, and roll the pads, but things don't "click" until you're actually avoiding someone's punches. You realize there's a whole world of other things to learn such as distance management, using feints, etc. It's good to try it once to see if you like it even if your goals are just fitness. Never trying it is like doing basketball drills but never playing a pick up game at the park.
1. Stay fueled and hydrated on the day you spar, you don't realize how tiring sparring is until you do it
2. Go for light sparring. Unless you're going to actually compete, I don't see how hard sparring makes sense if it can negatively impact your professional life. My coach lets people spar hard if they are experienced and want to, but people just go light.
3. Keep your emotions and ego in check. Even if you are light sparring you'll still get hit and you and your training partner can accidentally throw a wild punch. I've gotten rocked a few times and my partner would apologize right there and we'd continue on. Don't let this get the best of you and turn it into a competition, sparring is for learning.
4. Communicate with your sparring partner if you have to. I'm 145 lbs and the people I've sparred with ranged anywhere from 150-190 lbs, even a light jab can feel like a whopper with that weight difference. If they're going too hard, let them know -- and always offer the same in return.
My coach lets us rotate sparring partners during the class, so it's been a great way to meet other people in the gym. It's all love at the end of the session and everyone gives feedback on how to improve.
I'm 32 and plan on going pro next year. I know I know I'm too old to go pro. But I'm not aspiring to be world champion, although if the opportunity presents itself, I'm taking it. The main thing is to remain calm which is easier said than done.
@@trillhittaproductions7872Youre never to old, George Foreman became champion at age 45
@@trillhittaproductions7872- good luck to you!
Those are great tips! I tell everyone to control your breathing and control your footwork when you're in there. It's okay to reset and establish a pace so you can engage your oponent properly.
One thing that a lot of people forget to do is to get used to breathing through your mouthguard and headgear. It can get bloody hot too.
I had a coach like that - a coach that upon my first day in the gym threw me in the ring to spar knowing I had no clue how to box - and the guy with which I was sparring threw bomb after bomb and all I could see after every punch was white… left out of that gym with a concussion and never went back. To this day I loathe that coach.
That sucks bro. When I was a teenager I was hit by a heavyweight (a tall and fat grown man, a cop, who was pissed he could not get the hand on me because he was a beginner and I boxed several years) in the ribs and could not breathe for a long time, my coach saved me by pressing my solar plexus or something like that, I don't know exactly how he de-blocked my breathe). We were not supposed to hit in savate everyday training, just sting without putting power (it is called "assault boxing" in French) and that really took me off guard and I was hesitant to go training as I almost died from that.
It's a shame what happened to you was the fault of the coach.
You put your trust in his and he got you concussed, there's nothing worse than a really brave "coach"
You did the right thing though! Some poor souls will keep going there, thinking it's the correct way.
Coach made me spar on my second day against one of the top guys that had been boxing for years. I got beat up so badly, he had to make me a spar a 12-13 year old. I left that gym shortly after. I'm Glad I'm not the only one that feels that way.
I unknowingly sparred a pro mma guy on my first day of sparring class, tried knocking me out, made my nose bleed, and took out my air with a hard kick to stomach all in one go. The pro and manager are denying responsibility and see me as the problem. I'm glad I'm not alone in this case because cases like this need to be exposed so that new kids, teenagers, or YA don't learn the hard way and they're trained correctly until they're ready to compete.
P.S. - I sparred 3-4 guys before the pro guy and it was nice and easy, mutual energy, up until I came across the pro. Some guys are just rats in combat sports whether they know it or not.
I've been boxing for about 6 months and I think sparring is an absolute necessity, even if you don't plan on competing. After learning for a while, I thought I had some skill for fighting, but boy was I wrong. Sparring humbled me in an instant because someone, unlike a bag, is hitting back. So sparring introduced me to the vital art of strategy - knowing when to hit, how to set up combos, how to defend, slip, duck, move - all of this a bag or mits cannot teach you. So I spar lightly every training session to learn how to strategize and practice my techniques under stress. I think this would translate to the real world too, so you'll be able to remain calm in a real confrontation, and be more confident in your skills.
Absolutely brother! its the uncertainty and pressure you receive from an opponent that forges ur skills and develops ur ability to Apply them in a real situation...there is no substitute for this....
Best thing I’ve done getting in to boxing training, not to be a fighter at the age of 41 obviously but for fitness and just knowing how to fight properly/smartly.
One of the great things about Tony's videos is it always reinforces what a brilliant coach i have. Now sparred hundreds of rounds, had one white collar fight at 42 and have always been brought along at the right pace, helping me to improve and also stay safe
Started boxing again at 28, I love this sport
Spar day is today! Love this video
Appreciate it mate 🥊
@@Tony_Jeffries im afraid of gurting them even lightly
Imagine I become a professional boxer in the future
I believe in u dont imagine just do it
Nah, I reckon you can. I'm planning on it, taking a couple of years to training, then sparring then action
See you then 😉
Maybe
You can mate🥊
By far the best boxing channel out there
Great video. I wish I watched it before I started sparring years ago. The gym I was in there was no “technical sparring” it was a full on fight anytime you stepped in there. I was big so I always got put in with smaller guys who were at a way higher level than me. I took a lot of beating early on. Like you said the Coach wants to see if you are tough or not……..not cool I was pretty tough and took the beatings. I hate that mind set I would never do that to someone starting out.
You make it sound like a real fight, honestly it wasnt too big of a deal for me. I didnt expect the other person to beat me up, and luckily they didnt. So bascially chill light sparring
In some gyms it is like a real fight.
@@australienski6687 yeah that's true
@@animal9470 Soft sparring is a great way to learn to box, but it will give you a false sense of security. You will get a rude shock when you actually fight someone and you haven't sparred hard before.
Light sparring is best mixed with some hard sparring once in a while
@@Andieu9753 I agree
I thank my coach for teaching us how to breathe correctly. I didn't understand it at 1st why he had to do so until I got in the ring. Man!! Your channel is great to learn from Tony, I am a kickboxer but for my boxing I watch this channel. We watching all the way from South Africa. Peace!
Thank you so much. I HAVE to do sparing because the teaching is only one hour, with some combo and then sparring.
It is good motivation to work technics, but it is hard for me without basics.
I have today tried to focus on my breath, defense and basics and it was really helpful.
Hope you are going to post other vids about beginner sparing !
I just started boxing this week, and your videos have helped me so much man. Thank you
Most honest tips I’ve ever heard. My first session I held my breath and barely made it through the first round. Thanks for spreading some real hands on knowledge.
Awesome Thank you 🙏🏼 - means alot
Please share it for me mate :)
I've boxed in the army around 7 years ago, I picked up kickboxing and man.... I feel like a beginner again. Dutch kickboxing sparring goes hard, and i mean really hard. I usually tell the other guy I just got back into it, is 60% ok for you? They usually agree and even start giving tips while sparring. That being said, there's always the guys with something to prove. I've been liver punched, got a black eye 3 weeks ago and last Monday my tooth was temporarily loose... Guess i know to work on my defence now lol.
You shouldn’t be getting hurt while sparring
@@Roman_900 don't worry I hurt them back
@@thedutchest see that’s what happens when you get hurt you get mad and try to hurt them back, you should be sparring to learn not to fight
I just picked that up were mixing kickboxing and takedowns
Leave that place.
Im training and working on becoming a professional boxer now 😄. Im 35 but i been in and out of it but i am truly following it andnyoure videos definitely help me a lot. I know how to fight and now learning to box as a fighter. Makes it simpler and learning techniques and relearning and discipline myself. Im definitely taking youre words as Gold 🪙🥇. Thank you so much for youre time and wisdom. God bless you ❤. Much respect on my end
Glad I came across this recent upload. My first time sparring is today.
- deep breaths
- focus on defense>offense
- understand your bad habits
- think of it as a spar not a fight
- learn how to take body shots
In my club we do group sessions with "light" sparring. Being punched in the face can occur even then although we're supposed to stick to body & shoulders and practice the moves. Boxing is the hardest sport I've ever tried.
Im 33, just turned, in 6-8 months in training/ learning at 3-5 sessions a week, doubles some weeks(2-3 hour long sessions) one day a week...
I sparred 2 or three months in with two intentions to learn or objectives.
1. As a man, i think its a good idea to learn to take a hit, an keep on keeping on.
2. I plan on competing in amateur before i get too old....
I am thankful i have good coaches. I started out orthodox, an have just started switching to unorthodox.... I must now learn as well defense.
This sport is challenging, for a reason, its peeling my bad layers off( insecurities, strength of mind, willpower,etc.) as well getting instincts clear.
The main reason i joined as well, in addition to, was for psychological reasons and benefits. I have nothing to say but positive things on boxing.
Thank you Toni, for the advice an tips.
I took your 1,1,2,3 combo foundation an have made it my foundation, as well... Whilist studying Joe Frazier's 3. 😊 Thanks again!
That is so true , I was really nervous at first, thanks
Tony thanks for the videos. I recently got into boxing. Started in January. Got in the ring for the first time about 3 weeks ago. Wasn’t bad. Wasn’t nervous at all. Went against my couch and I guess I knew he would take care of me. But awesome experience. He asked where else I was learning boxing from because he knew I had no experience. I told him Tony Jeffries. Great tips.
@Tony Jeffries Coming from a different art, karate (namely shotokan) we have a slightly different approach: We go gradual. First spar is 10-15% of force and speed. No gloves or anything, let it happen, like a play. After a couple exchanges, coach stops and make correction: "Hey look, he come with a long punch and you tried to "hunt his hand" instead of moving your body away at the same time.
5:54 My first boxing coach (vice Europameister) would often put his finger in the air and say, "The most important is [X]." "X" would change from day to day, sometimes multiple times a day. It didn't take long for me to realize (note at that time I hadn't been punched in the head so often) that there were a LOT of "most important things that ALL needed to be learned and combined to be a good boxer. There is ALWAYS room for improvement.
getting told 50 different things, then being told "relax." wha?
@@tabo01Yeah, that is a challenge that only comes with experience (= practice, = repetition). Tony mentions this a lot in various videos. The only way to relax is to practice doing everything so often that each individual action it becomes second nature and you don't have to think about them. Then you can concentrate on improving one thing because all the others are OK. This is also a reason to do targeted/partial sparring where you'll (for example) only use your lead hand.
Love to spar , getting to put the training and tips to good use . Go light to maybe 70% .At 40 Most likely won't get to competition but sparring is a lot fun .
I have sparred a handful of times in my amateur boxing. I have received some heavy punches, a bloody nose, and scraped lips. They do not feel good, but none of those hurt to where I fear them. However, I still feel anxious whenever I spar.
My coach is amazing, my gym mates are great, and the comradery I have seen so far in the sport is palpable, and I seem to have good body movements, footwork, and stamina, yet it is still hard to shake the nervous feeling. This saps my stamina, makes me rigid, and forget everything but throwing jabs and straights. I think I feel this way whenever I am involved in something competitive. I need to learn to move past this feeling and be able to perform how I know my body is capable of doing.
I appreciate the tips and will try to remember them next time I spar. The breathing and defense in particular are what I will keep in mind. I have a lot more sparring ahead in my near future before my first bout soon.
Being tense and nervous usually ends bad, but relaxing and being aware of your environment will lead to optimal results. The only caveat is, if you are too relaxed you might lose that fighting spirit. I suppose, and this is only conjecture, you need an appropriate balance between healthy tension and relaxed awareness.
1 of my coaches picks at me a lot be breathing hard for breathing hard in sparring. but im very fit, i last about 2 rounds before getting too tired. even before the match, i could hear him talking to my friend who im going up against say. "so are you here to kick Muggshot's butt" i been loyal to the gym, i been going there for 10 months. all he seems to want to do is only pic on me. practicing as hard as i can till i just about puked. sitting down, dripping like a kitchen sink, nearly ready to barf in a bucket. comes over to me and says "did your jump rope run out of batteries, why you sitting down?" despite getting dumped on by him on a daily bases, i still work my hardest to get where i want to go. he got on me, and tried to put me down so much. that getting punched in the face is not even a thing that i am remotely nervous about anymore. i even went in there with only 1 leg to work with, because the other leg had a cramp in it. so im hoping on 1 leg, trying to punch the double end bag. another time both legs gave out while in the gym, and then to get across the floor to get to the heavy bag, im using my arms to walk across the floor to get to it. so im punching it, he dont hardly say a word to me before leaving. i go to the MGGA mon through fri at 5:30pm to 8:00. the kind of lack of motivation he gives me, i doubt he is going to try to get me in a tournament. can you come in sometime, and see what im doing right. 10 months of being there, i got to be doing at least 1 thing right by now. can you come down sometime, and see what im doing right and wrong. i want to compete, and im not going to stop until i get to.
Can you make a video on how to do body sparring properly, and details on why it's still useful / what lessons we can learn from it compared to normal sparring?
body sparring is very useful as a way to approach sparring for those just starting out..certainly better than Not sparring at all.. the reactions and movements are the same as full body sparring except the head is off limits as far as contact... the downsides are that if this is the Only type of sparring you do, there is a tendency to be lazy as far a defense of the head becuz you Know you you are not being hit there... this leads to hands low and head exposed...thus if this is the only way you trained, your head defense could be lacking...For those who Do choose body sparring only, I'd recommend carry ur hands As IF the head were still a target... both fighters Incorporate feints To the head without real contact... this will train you to Still be aware and defensive to head shots and keep you from being lazy and unconcerned about it , which would not work well in a real situation.
I have around 6 hours of boxing experience and I always look forward to the light sparring; my coach tells us to lightly spar with five different opponents/ one minute each. My first time I was able to understand the levels to boxing, you also get a better measure of your defense/offense and adjust. I also like to mimic moves higher level opponents use on me and try them out with others.
Just had my first spar, I remembered what you said and kept the punches simple. I definitely need to work on defense! Went better than expected 😊
Use 16oz gloves.
I weigh 60kg and I bought 16oz gloves precisely to prevent and not harm my colleagues, but apparently not everyone is interested in that, some even use 8oz gloves, it's unfair Right now I have a broken rib and am now forced to rest for 6 weeks. I am seriously considering purchasing less oz gloves
@@saulcedillo3820just make sure they wear 16-14 oz gloves
@@saulcedillo3820don’t ever spar somebody like that that’s a bully not a colleague
I use 24 oz
@@southerncharmoutdoorsi didn't know that they have them this heavy.. good to know.
Tony, I love sparring.......but only with my mirror image! 😂
Love your videos! By watching your content I started kickboxing training. Only thing I regret is I started it this late, im turning 37, but this is great exercise
Excellent advice Tony, especially about trainers who throw unprepared newbies into the lions den with nothing more than basic offense...this happens more than most people realize and turns alot of beginners off to an incredible sport....Those same students might flourish under a good trainer who emphasizes learning the fundamentals, developing solid defense to go along With offense as they are 2 sides of the same coin, starting them with emphasis Always on technique, good form and control so that sparring can be entered into as a forum to test and apply what you have been taught...Those same students might become very good at a skill they may have walked away from if taught poorly.
I think the biggest thing I can say is, unless you’re just a crazy natural, sparring is WAY different than any other training. You got someone who’s going to be moving, hitting, and working on their selves along side you. The absolute worst atrocious things to look out for is nerves and a temper.
You really got to be calm and remember it’s a sport we’re all bettering ourselves in. You want to apply what you have learned in training and improve on it as well as getting that experience. My younger self learned that lesson very quickly. Stay comfortable and remember your technique and try to get better.
A helpful trick I learned for calming your nerves is take a half inhale, pause for a moment then take as big as a breathe and then finally exhale
3 days in the boxing gym today and I just wanna spar to get a taste of it
I remember in 1999 i had a coach named Thomas Jeffries he was alot like you. He had a strong British accent and moved to another area.
Sparing is the game! ❤
Tony LEGEND, a very fantastic tips sir,am now 12 years in the game.
....boxing is great 👍.
Had my first sparring session in day I wrote this comment against newbie and it went okay but I feel like I was too soft. Cuz this guy got me in body, it was not hard punch but still felt kinda bad and disappointing. After this video I got motivated, thanks Tony. I understand now that first time is first time and you can still improve.
Understand Your Motivation:
Determine why you want to spar: to fight, to experience the ring, or because of coach’s insistence.
If you’re not planning to fight, reconsider sparring unless you have a true desire for it.
Control Your Breathing:
Deep breaths before entering the ring to manage nerves and heart rate.
Continue focusing on breathing during sparring to avoid fatigue.
Focus on Defense First:
Prioritize defense over offense to reduce the chance of getting hit.
Effective defense can boost confidence and calm nerves.
Practice Techniques:
Sparring is for learning, not fighting or hurting.
Focus on specific techniques or themes (e.g., left hand only, straight punches).
Stick to Fundamentals:
Concentrate on basic techniques: proper stance, movement, straight punches, and basic defense.
Avoid complex combinations initially.
Identify and Correct Bad Habits:
Recognize bad habits (e.g., dropping your hand after a jab) before sparring.
Focus on correcting these habits to avoid being hit.
Sparring Method - Shoulder and Body Sparring:
Engage in shoulder and body sparring instead of head sparring to reduce risk of injury.
It helps improve reactions, learn to take body shots, and maintain competitiveness without head injuries.
Tony first gym I joined in NYC the owner said at least 6 months before you can spar and if you suck gotta train 6 more months. Of course I thought I was ready in shorter time but I waited it out and worked hard. Once in the ring the worst part was I didn’t breathe. Even though we worked on it. Did pass the test and continued sparring for years after. Eventually sparred with Kid Chocolate, lou savareece and others. Boxing is a great sport that challenges not just the body but the mind, the heart, the character and courage of men.
One of my most important questions is how to do techniques in shadow boxing in fights. I am pretty good at shadow boxing but I am not as good in doing the techniques in a fight. I am not afraid of being punched at all but not doing well and losing!!!!
I’m starting sparring on Tuesday. Been boxing for a year. We start with Jab only sparring in my gym though and then build up from there.
I've had my first boxing sparring with my friend a few weeks ago!
For context, I've been trained Taekwondo throughout my childhood, and during the pandemic, I've realized that I also need to learn punches. That's why I self trained Muay Thai with a punching bag, learning the foot rhythms and everything. When he invited me to have a boxing sparring session, I was pretty confident in my punches.
That's when his first ever punch hit my solar plexus, I ran out of breath immediately and called for a timeout xD At that time I was thinking "woa, I totally forgot that was a weak spot" I protected my liver and jaw with my right hand, but due to the sparring session, I realized that my center was wide open. Throughout the session, my feet were itching to kick, but I stopped it. I only ended up pushing him back with a kick once, since my instinct kicked in when he rushed me. Sorry bro TvT
Overall, training only with a punching bag can be detrimental, since you're up against someone who can't punch back. That's why I focus on offence in the bag, and defense and counter punches in my sparring sessions.
I still hope that I watched this video before my first sparring though xD
A good mittholder will be able to help you work ur defense as well as offense... the mitts Can hit back when used to show you holes in ur defense by a decent holder.. they should Always be testing ur reactions, exposing flaws in ur defense and making you work ur returns off ur defense, changing angles and helping you develop ur footwork...never static.... the poorest example of holding mitts is someone who is just standing there like a portable punching back, who gives nothing back.
Great video👍
Glad you enjoyed! Please do share it as well mate but all good if not 🙏🏻
This guy will be a very good coach for beginners
I wish i had taken an interest in boxing and/or martial arts when i was younger because its so much fun, i wont compete but i do love light-medium sparring, as soon as you've had a few sessions you'll get the hang of it and realise its the equivalent of having some banter.
So its basically chess in the ring
I have been taking boxing for 3 months almost, and I've sparred a guy who's been there a while and along with some other newbies. My defense was the first time I sparred the experienced guy a few weeks ago, and him tonight was so much different.
I took notes on how he was hitting me, and he gave me advice right after, and I got countering him as often as he got me. It felt good, but he knocked me real good when I gassed out. Lol
I spent a lot of time trying not to punch hard because I was scared of hurting them. But I got pretty good at not hitting hard, or I hope. No one has told me to take it easy. I hope they'd tell me to ease up.
I've also spent a lot of time just trying to land jab and cross, single jab and double jabbing.
Can you make a video of lace up vs Velcro gloves please😊
Lace ups are a pain in the ass and will piss everyone off around you because you will have them tie your gloves all the time
Awesome tips 👌....no matter the discipline, this applies greatly
Ngl coach i watch alot of ur videos before i start my warm ups and then between sessions it comes in handy alot thankyou
I think for self defence and awareness is to spar getting used to that amount of stress and aggression. Knowing that if I’m out with my daughter or partner and somethings happening and I can’t simply avoid the conflict knowing I can protect is deeply important to me. Self defence classes etc only go so far I’ve got countless experiences and techniques but boxing provides actual mental training for this there’s 2 types of sparing technical / shoulder sparring just enough to get a hit so they know that’s what you exposed
Then harder sparring which is a fight simulation to be as close to the real deal but safe and you build that % up. There will be people you can beat in a fight but not in a spar it’s a different beast but it’s very important to practice that fight sense there’s many black belts who get sparked out because they climbed the ranks but didn’t proper spar it was all like
Leg kick punch “ how was your week Jerry “ there’s no sense of alert or danger or mental fatigue and pressure
Goat
I am trying to become a boxer. I love the videos Tony.
Cheers Tony, your legend mate
I have sparred a couple of times and it is really surprising the speed at which you correct mistakes, because you make them and you get immediately hit.
3 hours from my first sparring class....never really been hit. Definitely nervous but im also PUMPED. Naturally watching all how to spar videos haha
Good stuff, Tony! You're awesome!
Man if i ever do boxing and become famous, just know you inspired me
Perfect timing thank you
Thanks sir
Hey tony, can you make some more dodging tips? Ive been trying to learn how to slip away from jabs alot, but i didnt get much luck since im still a beginner
This is the tips i get from my coach boxing is mind game
i have never been to a boxing gym, but have sparred once with a shool mate of mine (for fun we both agreed) and i lost, not by much we are having a rematch this friday so i am training for it cuz i really wanna win. I'll update you guys on who won
I'm sparring next week, great tip
Subscribed! Been watching your videos for a while it's pretty good but always forgot to subscribe! See you in the next videos tony!
I box's in England when to Australia to turn pro couldn't get lic waited 15 years when back England had two pro fight when back to Australia had 14 more pro fight retired at 40 years old love every minute of it unfortunately I left it to late
We met in Tokyo on the street, with our families and I recognized you!
thank you for improving me man
Hey Tony, have you already made a video discussing whether headgear is beneficial for sparring? If no, could you share when one might need headgear and what type you recommend? I'm actually a bit confused, as I've heard so many different opinions on this.
Thank you for this incredibly helpful video!
There was no cardio boxing gyms in the old days (as you obviously know). If you showed up to the gym, you were learning to box for competition. I dont blame trainers for testing the guts of a potential student when you have limited time and a stable. I was beat up on day 1 as a 10 yr old. Different times.
Since 3 years I'm going to a local muay thai gym and sparring is always optional they say but they always push even very beginners to do sparring and they are insulted and angry if you say you don't want to. I've had a few great sparring partners who like me wanted to focus on technique but most spar very hard. I still don't know if this is a common thing. In my opinion before anybody does any sparring they should maximize their footwork and defense techniques, I couldn't do any of that when I began 3 years ago and during my first sparring sessions then I received 2 strong liver shots and several strong hooks and jabs in the head by a guy who was very advanced, in 2x3 minutes I couldn't even land a single punch on him.
Well, I was never injured in my first sparring. I was just nervous, and exhausted. I mean even light sparring is hard on the body and stamina. It's basically brisk run while moving the whole body.
I been training for a couple months. Just wanna spar so I can learn. I have no intention of competing lol but the gym I go to is cool.
Those hayabusa gloves are top notch
I just enjoy sparring, like it’s genuinely fun
Thanks tony
When i started to really spar at 16 i had no head movement whatsoever. I did kickboxing and relied on my kicks more and more but was severely open for punches
Strong video! 💪🏻
Yup. Just started boxing. Coach wanted to spar, he knew Ive never boxed before or done sparring. He told told me to hit harder, so I did, and he popped me in the nose and Im pretty sure its cracked at the least
From very limited experience, when I wasn't too nervous before sparring I got my ass beat. When I was nervous and worried, usually goes rather well 'cause I took it seriously a focused on basics.
Thankyou sir for this great knowledge ❤❤
Happy to help mate
I dont know how true it is, but yeah I was concerned about just being thrown in the ring and being told to tough it out. So to avoid that, I just started with some private lessons. Ive got some nagging injuries and issues that are way easier to communicate privately at first.
Imagine that coach seeing Tony emerging from his screen while watching this vid after doing what he should not have done earlier that day, and then proceeds to get absolutely beat up.
I'm a southpaw and my weakness is a very aggressive boxer, I've experienced how it felt and I lost, do you have any tips to fight boxers like that?
Thank you
0:27 I feel attacked. I got my nose busted and wanted to smear blood on my gloves but then people would think I had problems
Hahaha mind games, start dancing like Emanuel Augustus to boot and see their reaction - fear.
Thank you 🎉
4:55 Thanks coach, I did it hehe
I used to trained by a wrong coach🤦🏽♂
Thanks champ!
I got a fractured nasal bone and have more of a bump-hump shape in my nose after six weeks of going to a boxing gym for the first time, rough start.
I would feel safe when i had a coach like him to do some fighting in the ring