Sparring is probably the most important component of training - if you want to get good at something, do that thing. But it’s understandably also the most nerve wracking for a beginner, and commonly quite misunderstood.
Please note that throughout this piece I’ll be talking about sparring as performed by people who do combat sports as a fun hobby, not professional fighters.
The first point to mention is that sparring and fighting are two completely separate things. This should be obvious, but somehow still needs repeating. A fight is the culmination of weeks/months of training, one fighter against another, similar levels, sizes, experience, both of whom have agreed to go their absolute best and hardest until a clear result emerges. Sparring on the other hand, is a learning tool, and can be done by anyone of any level.
BEGINNERS
It’s intimidating isn’t it? You walk into a boxing gym or martial arts dojo and see a bunch of great big lumps pounding away at each other. That could never be you… well actually it could, and it doesn’t take that long. Here are my top tips:
Just do it
If you’re taking your first steps into a combat sport, sparring looks daunting. I have had many people say to me in classes that ‘they’re not ready’, or ‘not good enough’. But the catch is, the only way either of those things will change is if you start to spar… There isn’t a magical amount of hours you can spend on the pads after which you are suddenly good at sparring. Be brave, give it a go, and trust in your opponent to support you.
Remember your training
One thing that I see over and over again with beginners is that they forget their training. People spend ages working their technique on the pads and bags, and then the second they touch gloves for their first round it all goes out the window. They fall back on flailing and windmilling wildly. The adrenaline courses, the heart rate rises, someone’s standing in front of you with the goal of hitting you in the face, it’s scary! But part of your training process is to overcome this, to fight down the nerves and to attempt to put into practice the techniques you’ve learned. It’s the only way to get good.
Hit harder or hit lighter
Usually, beginners will go one of two ways. Either they paw ineffectually at their opponent, throwing punches from way out of range too scared to make contact, or they start smashing away too hard and too wild to show that they’re tough. In the former case, your partner has signed up for this, they won’t be annoyed if you hit them. And if they are more experienced than you, they should be able to spar without hurting you. In the latter, they will become annoyed. If you’re the beginner, the chances are they’re better than you. If you continue taking liberties, your partner will be left with no choice but to give you a warning shot, and they won’t feel good about that. Have the humility to accept that this is a learning exercise, not a display of ego.
Have a good attitude
You will get hit, that’s how it works. If you want to you can smile and acknowledge it, but carry on. Be someone people are comfortable sparring with. No-one will be impressed if you ‘see red’ and start going crazy, putting your opponent in the difficult position of either having to end the round or start replying in kind. Uncontrolled sparring is not good sport. On the flip side however, don’t be someone who talks all through the round, apologising if you land a shot, stopping to applaud each time they hit you, dropping your guard to make comments and so on. It ruins the flow of the round, and makes people uneasy.
ADVANCED
You’ve paid to come to a class, you’ve got pretty decent, and now you’re expected to prance about with some newbie who doesn’t know his hook from his cross? Exactly. Someone did that for you once, and now it’s your turn. Here’s how:
Don’t confuse fear with respect
At this level if people don’t want to spar you, that’s not a sign that you’re a great fighter. It’s a sign that you’re a bit of a dick. In my gym we put newbies in for their first rounds with our most experienced students. It might sound counterintuitive, but the explanation is simple: they’re the most controlled, have the least ego, and have appreciated by now that part of ones own learning is being able to teach others. Be that person. Einstein once said “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” This is as true in sparring as anywhere else.
Learn to have gears
I regularly spar anything from three rounds to twelve rounds at a stretch, and I always come out sweating. This is because I have gears, and will fight in the appropriate gear. If I know I’m only doing three rounds, I go hard for all three, twelve rounds and I pace myself. It’s the same with experience gaps. I will adjust my level to the person opposite me, so that both of us have a rewarding round. If you can only spar at your maximum, you’re missing a crucial element of your game, and this is a chance to work on it.
Use the experience yourself
On which note, a round with a complete novice needn’t be wasted. Set yourself targets. Say to yourself ‘I won’t get hit once this round’, or ‘I’ll work my head movement’, your footwork, whatever it may be. Simply practising your control can be hugely beneficial. Tap them at ten percent power. Fight slower and more technically. There’s always something to learn! But…
Don’t patronise or show off
One of the great things about combat sports, is it’s very easy to establish how ‘tough’ you are. The people around you know what it looks like. I can promise you that no-one has any respect for an experienced fighter who beats up a newbie for no reason other than to show they’re ‘hard’. On the other hand, if you wander about looking bored with a low guard, casually fending off inexperienced strikes, that will serve no purpose but to discourage a newcomer. Early sparring can have a great effect on whether someone decides to pursue the sport. If they feel that they’re being laughed at, or they get beaten up, that may be the turning point that makes them think ‘sod it, I’m not coming back’.
Conclusion
In a group sparring session, an experienced coach knows who to watch. We’re keeping an eye on newcomers to make sure they’re ok, but we also know which of the more advanced fighters are on our problem list. Fighters who always spar at the edge of what’s acceptable. Agressive, uncontrolled, borderline dangerous. If you’re someone who hears their name a lot, particularly coupled with the words ‘watch the power!’, ‘take it down a notch!’ or something similar, make it part of your training to correct that. Read the third paragraph again…
To both beginners and the more experienced I would say this - everyone has to start somewhere. If it’s your first time, don’t feel stupid. The person opposite you was in your position once, and they’re there to help you. And if you’re sparring someone new, remember that you were them once upon a time. Help them! You might learn something yourself…