Letting your hands go: How?

[Nuclearlandmine]

Originally Posted by Scythegpd

Movement based shadow boxing helps aswell.

Bags are good and all but where the core problem lies is you always inherently know where they'll be. And, while you can move around the bag, most of the punching is static, defensive movement as well, it's slipping and moving around a "static" object, like the bag is a planet and you're a moon around it.
Things is, an opponent moves back, forwards, side to side and so on. So suddenly you have to chase, back up, change angle and so on. Now bag work doesn't directly translate to this situation because of the moon/planet analogy, unless your opponent is staying in one spot or within a step from that spot, it does not translate.
So you lose your comfort with range and movement. Throwing a 4 punch combo is easy on a bag that returns to point zero, that same combo on a target that is reversing is a whole different beast. That then also plays into the comfort of your movement, "chambering" into the next punch feels different as you're moving as well.
So try some shadow boxing but get your feet going. Get used to combos while moving forward, back, around, get used to how your body feels while doing this so you can get the "flow" from one punch to the next.
Then in the next sparring session make sure to use those combos and that movement, make it a goal to go "I will throw more than 1 punch"
It won't help being gun-shy and worried about the counter, only sparring will do that, but it will make you comfortable throwing moving combos as opposed to static ones.

Good point. It is one of the thing i am trying to do with my shadowboxing.

[Scythegpd**]

As well, I agree with what you said about how a lot of fighter only continue a combo if the preceding punch lands. Makes sense as you're effectively wasting energy throwing a combo when you know they're not going to land.
But remember, you're still learning. So IMO you should throw the combo anyway, even if they are defending it. Because that will get you familiar with throwing combos. You can then evolve that into "ok, I'm now comfortable throwing combos so I'll use them after the preceding punch lands". You're not going to be able to jump to that level if you're not comfortable throwing the combo in the first place because every time the first punch lands you'll be like "Oh, it's landed, what do I do? Shit, throw another on, which one, dunno, shit" and by then you've already reset (because you're used to throwing single punches) and your opponent has moved on.

[Nuclearlandmine]

Originally Posted by Scythegpd

As well, I agree with what you said about how a lot of fighter only continue a combo if the preceding punch lands. Makes sense as you're effectively wasting energy throwing a combo when you know they're not going to land.
But remember, you're still learning. So IMO you should throw the combo anyway, even if they are defending it. Because that will get you familiar with throwing combos. You can then evolve that into "ok, I'm now comfortable throwing combos so I'll use them after the preceding punch lands". You're not going to be able to jump to that level if you're not comfortable throwing the combo in the first place because every time the first punch lands you'll be like "Oh, it's landed, what do I do? Shit, throw another on, which one, dunno, shit" and by then you've already reset (because you're used to throwing single punches) and your opponent has moved on.

I contrasted my sparring video vs the douche bag and vs the instructor (the recently one) and each of them is an extreme of another. On one hand i pot shot while in reality i have plenty of time to follow up with combinations with those pot shots. On the other hand i was so into throwing punches now with a cover up target that i forgot to pick my shots properly. While yes, i should be doing baby steps to get rid of the problem, i think it is best to get into that mindset first so that there will be at least a direction to go while training.

[SkribbLe]

This exact thing used to happen to me when I was starting? are you starting? if so it will go away with more experience and after you get in there with somebody who is willing to take your head off. it'll just automatically go away with more sparring.

[CosItsFun]

Originally Posted by Nuclearlandmine

With the double end it is merely just to teach my body to let my hands go more quickly and more rhythmic. Also with the way the bag moves it will make a more difficult target to hit so being quick, rhythmic and precise is really the key. It is just baby steps for now, but i will try to do it when i get my hand on the heavy bag.

As for the second question, i don't know for sure. If any path present itself, i'm gonna go for it. But my first choice for now will be MMA, then boxing (i haven't think about the kickboxing option tbh). MMA is still a young sport so there's still space for guys like me, while with boxing i will compete with guys who trained much younger than me so it is the harder path.

Yeah, thats a major bonus of it. But I'd think to first drill in the concept of letting combos go, first work it on a heavy bag. Once you have that down a bit, then move on to moving targets eg double end bag or sparring maybe.

Oh thats cool. I was just wondering cos you're always talking about "old school boxing" lol and it made me curious.

[Nuclearlandmine]

Originally Posted by CosItsFun

Yeah, thats a major bonus of it. But I'd think to first drill in the concept of letting combos go, first work it on a heavy bag. Once you have that down a bit, then move on to moving targets eg double end bag or sparring maybe.

Oh thats cool. I was just wondering cos you're always talking about "old school boxing" lol and it made me curious.

I don't have a heavy bag at home, so a double end will suffice.

As for old school boxing, optimal combat principals is applicable no matter what the situation is, man. I may learn old school boxing, but i also learn the most optimal way of fighting so it is only a matter of adapt it to different scenario and rule set.

[CosItsFun]

Originally Posted by Nuclearlandmine

I don't have a heavy bag at home, so a double end will suffice.

As for old school boxing, optimal combat principals is applicable no matter what the situation is, man. I may learn old school boxing, but i also learn the most optimal way of fighting so it is only a matter of adapt it to different scenario and rule set.

It will have to then lol just drill that and shadow boxing, and it should come.

Yeah I hear that. But (dont want to start a debate) from my very limited knowledge of MMA, isn't having your hips forward like the stance appears to be doing, an easy way to get taken down? just wondering

[Nuclearlandmine]

Originally Posted by CosItsFun

It will have to then lol just drill that and shadow boxing, and it should come.

Yeah I hear that. But (dont want to start a debate) from my very limited knowledge of MMA, isn't having your hips forward like the stance appears to be doing, an easy way to get taken down? just wondering

Nah. As long as i keep the optimal distance, along with my southpaw stance and know how to sprawl (i forget how to sprawl, actually), i will be fine.

[SummerStriker]

I like to throw flowing, non-stop left to right punches on the bag. 1-2-1-2-3-3b-4-2-3-4-1-2-1-3b until I get tired. No being tricky. No feinting. Just let each punch turn into the next one in the most logical pattern. I think it helps me when I have the advantage and want to let a power combo overwhelm someone. You don't know exactly how they are going to defend, but you wouldn't know exactly how a bag would swing (you do but you don't), so it is similar.

[SaiWa]

i did notice in your last heavy bag workout that you did hit the bag harder which was good . but more shots... string them more. throw a combo, move/pivot out, set up and then throw more punches again without waiting too long. not every shot has to be a power shot. mix it up and make it flow (1, 1, 1, power 2, power 3). don't wait as if you are mentally picturing a counter.. let those fists fly.

another minor problem i see might be your height... you're tall (around 6' foot i think?) for a viet (assuming you are viet). do you have problems finding opponents around your height? everybody you have sparred with in your vids is a lot shorter than you. this might hold you back from truly going all out. you have so much reach against your opponents that you might be mentally holding yourself back from getting inside and attack.