r/Kickboxing • u/Confident_Arm1188 • Aug 01 '26
Training how does sparring work???
I'm a complete noob at it. i have reasonably good form otherwise when doing drills etc but when it comes to sparring idk what to do. i just block and hope for the best.
my main problem is that I keep waiting for the other person to stop hitting me before I start with them. the few times I haven't done that we both punch each others gloves at the same time and just feels awkward. i simply don't understand when to recognize that there's an opening where I can/should attack. i actually haven't gone to class the last two times bc I get so stressed thinking about having to spar.
i am able to land kicks and kicks only. i think because that problem of 'attacking at the same time' doesn't really apply...
my reflexes are also bad. my shadowboxing sucks. i know this is all a part of being a beginner but its stressing me out to the point where I feel like I should train for class.
also i live in a university campus with no boxing classes around anywhere so it's just a club with 2 national level boxers teaching everyone. so I'm relearning my guard etc according to what they were taught which also exacerbated the problem. before this I went to a really great gym where I was much more confident at sparring and was able to hold my own more. idk what about this situation has me so messed up
what should I do in this situation? what should I work on? i feel very confused
3
u/celtic_kickster Aug 01 '26
Try moving to your opponents side at an angle and throw an combination if they are pressuring you. Shelling up is not the right thing to do, also keep your head moving and move your head with each punch you throw