Page 105 - Doug Werner Boxer's Start-Up

Sparring

Start-Up Sparring: Common Problems:

Squaring off to an opponent (planting your feet directly in front
of an opponent so that you face him with your chest).Never com-
promise your basic defensive posture.

Signaling intentions with shoulders, head or flying elbow
before your punch is thrown. Deliver your punches crisply and
cleanly. Straight punches fire directly from chin to target.

Predictability with movements or offensive and defensive style.
A boxer must mix up his approach so that his opponent won’t
see patterns.

Reaching and pawing. These are largely useless actions that
will expose you to dangerous counters.

Hesitation. Finish your punches.They may land or disrupt the
counter. Half a punch is worthless.

Flinching. Learn to keep your eyes on your opponent – even
under fire!

Fatigue. It takes time and training to build stamina.

Slow and sloppy technique. It also takes time and training to
groove your offensive and defensive actions.

Nervous prancing and bouncing. Happy feet happen naturally
and must be curbed to conserve energy.

Inability to relax between actions. The intensity of sparring
makes it hard to relax out there, but relax you must, in order to
conserve energy and to execute technique properly.

Anger. Has no place in sparring.

Charging. Usually the result of frustration.With an experienced
opponent you’ll be cut down in no time.

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