Body problems with sparring

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Devonmac95

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Hey guys, I think there is something wrong with me, and im wondering if any of you can relate, or help me out. So, I have been training and sparring for 6 years now, so im definitely used to all the motions, and getting hit and all that stuff. The thing is, when i spar against someone who is my level or better, an i know will challenge me, I end up getting extremely nervous, and a huge adrenaline rush. This goes on from the car ride to the gym, and until im done sparring. It feels like im terrified to step in there and i get a fight or flight response whenever i spar hard. After about 4 rounds, im not physically tired, but because of fear or adrenaline or whatever it is, i always come close to puking, and have to stop sparring. Once i stop, my throat somewhat closes up and im shaky. I dont know whats causing this, if its anxiety or im just a pussy. This has been making me so depressed lately because all i want to do is fight, i cant continue because of this shit. I asked my coach, my doctor and friends, and none of them know for sure what it is. I know its not tiredness or body shots, so im thinking it has to be anxiety. If anyone has anything similar and knows how to deal with it, it would be greatly appreciated, because right now, ive just given up on life because with this "condition" i cant see myself fighting.
 
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not sure if trolling or being real, fighting is not for everybody if you cant grow some hair on your balls and go in the ring ready to tear up anything that moves then i think chess will be for you!!Once again ,every time i see these posts i wonder what kind of answers you expect!! The change comes from you and nothing anybody can say or do, you have to be ready for what ever challenges lie ahead of you whether its boxing,women,life in general! All you have to do is train fucking hard , so you have the confidence that you going in with the best of abilities and even if you get your ass handed to you take the best out of it ,make note of your mistakes and work on perfecting them , now its your move
 
romanicko said:
not sure if trolling or being real, fighting is not for everybody if you cant grow some hair on your balls and go in the ring ready to tear up anything that moves then i think chess will be for you!!Once again ,every time i see these posts i wonder what kind of answers you expect!! The change comes from you and nothing anybody can say or do, you have to be ready for what ever challenges lie ahead of you whether its boxing,women,life in general! All you have to do is train fucking hard , so you have the confidence that you going in with the best of abilities and even if you get your ass handed to you take the best out of it ,make note of your mistakes and work on perfecting them , now its your move
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Why the fuck would i be fucking trolling? Im wondering if anyone else has any experiences with huge adrenaline rushes every time they spar, and if they feel like puking when they areent tired or havent been hit in the gut hard, and if they do experience that, how they deal with it themselves. Honestly if you have nothing helpful to say, dont bother commenting, i know i have to train hard, and make the best out of it, the problem isnt with my head, its with my body, and i dont know how i can deal with it so im asking if there is anyone else with those problems and how they deal with it. Im not here to bitch to the forums, or get bitched at... im here for constructive answers.
 
That's as constructive as you gonna get it, the most constructive possible answer you gonna get is go see a doctor
 
romanicko said:
That's as constructive as you gonna get it, the most constructive possible answer you gonna get is go see a doctor
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from you atleast. I appreciate it regardless. like i said my doc doesnt know what it is, im thinking of seeing a specialist. hopefully someone else has something similar.
 
Romanicko, problems that are in your head need drills, exercises and time the same as problems in your body. "Just do it" is a completely unhelpful sentiment.

Devon, maybe try sparring lighter for a while and work back up gradually to a higher intensity? You're not going to get used to something that freaks you out by doing it lots, you'll just ingrain the freaking out response.
 
breathing exercises and meditation.

Control your breath frequency and heartrate and your anxiety will be purely mental.

Then deal with it :cool:

(also this attitude of "AHHH panic!! my life depends on fighting if icant fight im gonna ddddie111!!!!" probabyl isn't helping either)
 
YouTube healing frequencies. Listen to them for an hour prior to sparring...supplements such ad Sam-e..st johns wort and roses rhodiola help with anxiety and uncontrolled fear
 
I was always taught growing up that if you have a problem with something, you need to immerse yourself in it. Have conversations with these people who make you nervous. Just talk about whatever. Humanize them. What are you gonna do when you step in the ring for a real match? Pee yourself? You've gotta ease your mind because if you aren't relaxed, you'll never use your good boxing. Tension kills your energy (as you can see) and focus. If I'm sparring guys I know are good and I'm nervous, I intentionally take a jab to the forehead or block a power shot. Then I feel like I know the limit of their power and I can handle it.
 
TS, I'm the same way. Overcoming this is a tool worth getting for the crossover benefit in the rest of your life.

Ghost Dog says a samurai should be able to make his decisions in the space of seven breaths. I like to try and do it in 5.

Practice calm abiding meditation for five minutes a day. When you start to get scared, take five deep breaths in and out while focus only on your breath.

Remind yourself that your skill is its highest, and therefor your safety, when you can treat hard situations like playful but serious sparring. Fun.

I'm at the point now where I can hard spar in front of a crowd with a stranger and almost take a nap.

This is a skill some people have to develop.
 
Sounds like you've got some major performance anxiety. A sports psychologist may be able to help, although that could be expensive. Meditation, as others have recommended, could also be useful for calming you down.

If I were you, I'd try to evaluate what you're so worried about. Are you putting too much pressure on yourself because you're a perfectionist who always wants to do well in sparring? Maybe try going into sparring with a couple specific goals or techniques you want to work on, and as long as you do that you can consider it a successful training session. Or, try to focus on the thrill of it, instead of doing everything right. I was getting out moved and tagged by a coach once when I decided fuck it, I'm gonna keep coming forward, back this guy into something, and hit him, and if I take a shot or two in the process, so be it. I stopped thinking about things and let instinct take over, and it was FUN. I'm not saying do that every sparring session, but some people who are very critical towards themselves can end up thinking too much in sparring, especially when facing someone who challenges them. At a certain point you have to let go and just enjoy yourself in there.
 
If you don't like it don't do it?!? Take up crossfit or play basketball, why do something that freaks you out so much?
 
PointyShinyBurn said:
Romanicko, problems that are in your head need drills, exercises and time the same as problems in your body. "Just do it" is a completely unhelpful sentiment.

Devon, maybe try sparring lighter for a while and work back up gradually to a higher intensity? You're not going to get used to something that freaks you out by doing it lots, you'll just ingrain the freaking out response.
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he's been sparring for 6 years ,im pretty sure thats more than enough time to train your mind and body
 
NAKMUAY18 said:
And how do these sparring sessions go?
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I end up doing pretty well, I'm not getting hit hard, but im not landing much either. Its usually me playing defense for most of it throwing little landing little, while my partner throws a lot, and lands only a bit more than i do. They are usually intense but i try to keep a slower pace using my defence which works most of the time, but if i get hit and sucked into the corner it turns into a brawl. I try to keep it slow paced, but still hard so i can calm down, but it sometimes doesnt work out that way.
 
The answer isn't "more time," it's "a better trainer." Find somebody who will work with you and help you get past this, if you really want to. Like most mental problems, you're almost certainly not going to figure it out on your own.

And if you've been feeling this way for six years, my guess is that your coach is not helping you fix the issue.
 
SingleSpeed said:
breathing exercises and meditation.

Control your breath frequency and heartrate and your anxiety will be purely mental.

Then deal with it :cool:

(also this attitude of "AHHH panic!! my life depends on fighting if icant fight im gonna ddddie111!!!!" probabyl isn't helping either)
Click to expand...

ill try that next time im in there, and yeah my coach is trying to work on my all or nothing attitude with me.
 
SummerStriker said:
TS, I'm the same way. Overcoming this is a tool worth getting for the crossover benefit in the rest of your life.

Ghost Dog says a samurai should be able to make his decisions in the space of seven breaths. I like to try and do it in 5.

Practice calm abiding meditation for five minutes a day. When you start to get scared, take five deep breaths in and out while focus only on your breath.

Remind yourself that your skill is its highest, and therefor your safety, when you can treat hard situations like playful but serious sparring. Fun.

I'm at the point now where I can hard spar in front of a crowd with a stranger and almost take a nap.

This is a skill some people have to develop.
Click to expand...

thanks for the advice man.
 
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