Having to much fun in sparring can be a bad thing :(

[Snolla]

I have this "problem" were if I get tagged hard in sparring I will smile and start really enjoying myself. My technique will get sloppy and I'll start throwing wild shots and crazy spinning shit and I do it all with a big smile and eat more shots for it it.

My teacher said he knows I'm tough but I need to be smarter than that because I have the tools to pick people apart (his words). Does anyone else struggle with playing it smart the whole time in sparring when there is fun to be had? Also I tend to get more wily with the bigger guys (I'm about 20-30 pounds lighter than the regulars). They are my good friends so they never have any intent to injure me, which is probably another reason why I open up when I start having fun.

I guess I need to seriously ask myself if I'm there to have fun, or there to learn to fight... But I like doing both

Does anyone else struggle with the smiles when you should be a bit more serious? It's almost a problem for me because I remember the Grapplers Quest tourny I entered, the guy beat me and I was smiling the whole time just chillin' when I was suppose to be fighting. I put up a good fight but I just don't feel the necessary aggression or explosiveness that I need to compete in fight sports.

Maybe I'm destined to study martial arts and not compete and hey, I think I may be ok with that.

 

[MC Paul Barman]

So you're unhurtable and a killer if you could just keep your head on your shoulders?

At least humility isn't part of your problem with sparring.

 

[Snolla]

So you're unhurtable and a killer if you could just keep your head on your shoulders?

At least humility isn't part of your problem with sparring.

I don't know where you got that from bud.

 

[apizur**]

I'm not really sure what this has to do with striking technique, this is more of a psychological issue. I'm talking like Mayberry lounge material, but you'll never get a serious answer there.

Seems like when you feel like you're losing you just start going crazy because you have "nothing to lose". This isn't a movie, you're not down 4 rounds to 0 on the score cards. Focus on the techniques you came to learn and use them repeatedly. Mixing up your offense isn't a bad idea, but doing it just because you're frustrated doesn't do much good.

I'm not buying that you're truly enjoying yourself, otherwise A. you wouldn't be here, and B. you wouldn't throw away your whole round on getting tagged once. I think you're emotionally defending yourself. If you truly enjoyed the competition, getting tagged would INCREASE your focus.

 

[Big Nasty Edison]

I'm not really sure what this has to do with striking technique, this is more of a psychological issue. I'm talking like Mayberry lounge material, but you'll never get a serious answer there.

Seems like when you feel like you're losing you just start going crazy because you have "nothing to lose". This isn't a movie, you're not down 4 rounds to 0 on the score cards. Focus on the techniques you came to learn and use them repeatedly. Mixing up your offense isn't a bad idea, but doing it just because you're frustrated doesn't do much good.

I'm not buying that you're truly enjoying yourself, otherwise A. you wouldn't be here, and B. you wouldn't throw away your whole round on getting tagged once. I think you're emotionally defending yourself. If you truly enjoyed the competition, getting tagged would INCREASE your focus.

Good response.

I think you might have a bit of an ego problem and not really realize it. If you get tagged sparring, then tighten up and keep working. That's the point: to improve. As apizur said, you are inwardly or subconsciously protecting your ego emotionally after getting tagged and this is why you devolve and break down to brawling instead of trying to correct your mistakes.

 

[oceanlife**]

I know how you feel. I go hard on my elliptical daily, but it's soooo much fun that I can't help myself and I smile and start running in reverse! I know it's all about getting buns of steel, but I can't help myself sometimes...

 

[Snolla]

I'm not really sure what this has to do with striking technique, this is more of a psychological issue. I'm talking like Mayberry lounge material, but you'll never get a serious answer there.

Seems like when you feel like you're losing you just start going crazy because you have "nothing to lose". This isn't a movie, you're not down 4 rounds to 0 on the score cards. Focus on the techniques you came to learn and use them repeatedly. Mixing up your offense isn't a bad idea, but doing it just because you're frustrated doesn't do much good.

I'm not buying that you're truly enjoying yourself, otherwise A. you wouldn't be here, and B. you wouldn't throw away your whole round on getting tagged once. I think you're emotionally defending yourself. If you truly enjoyed the competition, getting tagged would INCREASE your focus.

I go into it with the mindset that I have nothing to lose because I really don't have anything to lose in sparring. I'm not a fighter, I'm an audio engineer. Either I lose the round with a focused mind or I lose just having fun and throwing techniques that I wouldn't normally.

And I thought everyone who was involved in martial arts was truly enjoying themselves to some degree ...

Two sessions ago I got tagged hard by my one classmate (cross on the mouth) and I could taste the blood so it was definitely a good one. I got much more focused and brought a good round after getting tagged that time, then last night Juan got me off balance and lit me up, after that I got a bit stupid

 

[Big Nasty Edison]

I go into it with the mindset that I have nothing to lose because I really don't have anything to lose in sparring. I'm not a fighter, I'm an audio engineer. Either I lose the round with a focused mind or I lose just having fun and throwing techniques that I wouldn't normally.

And I thought everyone who was involved in martial arts was truly enjoying themselves to some degree ...

I think that's the problem: you are thinking about sparring as "winning" and "losing". Its not about that. Its about working on your technique, putting it into practice, finding holes in your game and stitching them up. Sparring is not a contest, its practice. No one should be keeping score.

 

[Snolla]

I know how you feel. I go hard on my elliptical daily, but it's soooo much fun that I can't help myself and I smile and start running in reverse! I know it's all about getting buns of steel, but I can't help myself sometimes...

lol @ elliptical being fun

 

[Snolla]

I think that's the problem: you are thinking about sparring as "winning" and "losing". Its not about that. Its about working on your technique, putting it into practice, finding holes in your game and stitching them up. Sparring is not a contest, its practice. No one should be keeping score.

We don't keep score and we don't have a winner or loser at the end. One thing to keep in mind though is to "know when you are losing" and try to figure out what is happening. When I find myself backing up and feeling flustered, then I feel that if this was real then I would be losing, and I change something to hopefully turn it back in my favor.

 

[Phlog]

It sounds like your behavior might be motivated by fear. that's why you observe it in pressure situations:competition, sparring bigger guys or when getting beat.

It doesn't happen when your hitting mitts.

It's a defence strategy to save face, like "I'm losing but I'm OK with that, look at me smiling". Your technique gets worse because you are being psychologically overwhelmed.

It's only supposition. You might just love gettin beat and when your having a real good time your technique suffers... Or...

What's interesting is what one would do to rectify it. You obviously know there's a problem. Maybe your identifying the real cause may help you overcome it. In your position I would just tighten my focus/game. The fact you don't suggests that your current behaviour facilitates you in a way you are unwilling to admit.

Nice catch Apizur.

Now that will be

 

[Snolla]

It sounds like your behavior might be motivated by fear. that's why you observe it in pressure situations:competition, sparring bigger guys or when getting beat.

It doesn't happen when your hitting mitts.

It's a defence strategy to save face, like "I'm losing but I'm OK with that, look at me smiling". Your technique gets worse because you are being psychologically overwhelmed.

It's only supposition. You might just love gettin beat and when your having a real good time your technique suffers... Or...

What's interesting is what one would do to rectify it. You obviously know there's a problem. Maybe your identifying the real cause may help you overcome it. In your position I would just tighten my focus/game. The fact you don't suggests that your current behaviour facilitates you in a way you are unwilling to admit.

Nice catch Apizur.

Now that will be

 

[panamaican]

I'm not really sure what this has to do with striking technique, this is more of a psychological issue. I'm talking like Mayberry lounge material, but you'll never get a serious answer there.

Seems like when you feel like you're losing you just start going crazy because you have "nothing to lose". This isn't a movie, you're not down 4 rounds to 0 on the score cards. Focus on the techniques you came to learn and use them repeatedly. Mixing up your offense isn't a bad idea, but doing it just because you're frustrated doesn't do much good.

I'm not buying that you're truly enjoying yourself, otherwise A. you wouldn't be here, and B. you wouldn't throw away your whole round on getting tagged once. I think you're emotionally defending yourself. If you truly enjoyed the competition, getting tagged would INCREASE your focus.

I have to agree, especially with the last paragraph.

If you're focused on getting better then you wouldn't throw that away over getting tagged. If your response to "losing" is to suddenly treat it less seriously and pretend it's a good time then it's more ego than fun.

 

[Snolla]

I have to agree, especially with the last paragraph.

If you're focused on getting better then you wouldn't throw that away over getting tagged. If your response to "losing" is to suddenly treat it less seriously and pretend it's a good time then it's more ego than fun.

Even when I was winning at the BJJ competition I didn't have the fire under my ass that I should have. But I shouldn't say "winning" because I went on to lose

I just don't think I'm competitive enough and at the end of the day I do MA more for maintaining a healthy lifestyle but there is something in me that wants to have an amateur kickboxing bout soon. I will check my ego. To be fair though I really only start losing it and opening up in sparring when one of the big guys starts teeing off on me. When I spar Steve (who is my size) we are all business. Maybe if I don't feel like I have business being in there with the guy then I take it less seriously too but thats a mistake.

Thanks guys, your actually helping me shed some light on this

 

[panamaican]

Even when I was winning at the BJJ competition I didn't have the fire under my ass that I should have. But I shouldn't say "winning" because I went on to lose

I just don't think I'm competitive enough and at the end of the day I do MA more for maintaining a healthy lifestyle but there is something in me that wants to have an amateur kickboxing bout soon. I will check my ego. To be fair though I really only start losing it and opening up in sparring when one of the big guys starts teeing off on me. When I spar Steve (who is my size) we are all business. Maybe if I don't feel like I have business being in there with the guy then I take it less seriously too but thats a mistake.

Thanks guys, your actually helping me shed some light on this

No problem (although I didn't really add anything), good luck with your training.

 

[apizur**]

I'm just trying to save face.

mmmmmhmm.

I know how you feel. I go hard on my elliptical daily, but it's soooo much fun that I can't help myself and I smile and start running in reverse! I know it's all about getting buns of steel, but I can't help myself sometimes...

I enjoyed this, and the fact that it got by.

 

[jensen34]

Yeah, that's pretty weird. Maybe you're a masochist, nothing wrong with that, but I don't think a fighting gym is the best place for you health wise.

Maybe try hot wax on your nipples or something to save yourself some dain bramage.

 

[Phlog]

Thanks guys, your actually helping me shed some light on this

You sir are a rare person to consider it.

It can't be easy sparring people bigger than yourself, especially when they tee off. The fact they do suggests they consider you a threat. If you dedicate the time and effort you will be able to succeed, it's really just a matter of whether you want that. If your going to fight make sure your prepared as well as you can be. Having worked hard is the true win IMO.

It takes more skill to deal with someone with longer reach and more power so in the end your probably gaining most from those exchanges. Try to see them as a problem to solve over time.

I think fighting is much about face. Hence why we punch the face which has the strongest bone in the body, with our hands which have some of the weakest. The damage of a fight is worn like a personal billboard. It's why submissions will never be as popular as face punching.

It's an intensely social activity, a way of gaining respect/power that is available to those of us who can't buy our way out of our lack of social rank. Money is valuable but what it buys is what social capital provides.

I'm rambling

 

[shpboris]

I'm not buying that you're truly enjoying yourself, otherwise A. you wouldn't be here, and B. you wouldn't throw away your whole round on getting tagged once. I think you're emotionally defending yourself. If you truly enjoyed the competition, getting tagged would INCREASE your focus.

Fully agree with this part ... When you really enjoy the fight, you are creative, relaxed and most of the chances composed ... Actually, about "composed" this is probably not always the case ...

Fully loading on your punches, being tense and forgetting your gameplan etc. are signs that you are not enjoying the sight ....

 

[SaiWa]

I go into it with the mindset that I have nothing to lose because I really don't have anything to lose in sparring. I'm not a fighter, I'm an audio engineer. Either I lose the round with a focused mind or I lose just having fun and throwing techniques that I wouldn't normally.

And I thought everyone who was involved in martial arts was truly enjoying themselves to some degree ...

Two sessions ago I got tagged hard by my one classmate (cross on the mouth) and I could taste the blood so it was definitely a good one. I got much more focused and brought a good round after getting tagged that time, then last night Juan got me off balance and lit me up, after that I got a bit stupid

your background has nothing to do with what u do in the ring.

once u're in there, u are another fighter. don't use the "i am an audio engineer" as an excuse to lose. In sparring, u should be in there to (first and foremost) learn and develop but also try to win. No one is asking u to keep a real score but by fighitng to win u are attempting to validate your techniques and strategies.

Either I lose the round with a focused mind or I lose just having fun and throwing techniques that I wouldn't normally

.

Saying it like that means u are already admitting defeat. U should go in the round trying to win. Never go in to lose. Just my 2cents on this...