Problem with everything BUT sparring

[HighestHand]

This is a weird phenomenon for me. I happen to be bad at everything... EVERYTHING but sparring. I'm the guy who people don't want to be paired up with for pads. My cardio is not good at all. My technique is not polished at all. My footwork is not good when doing drills. I often get paired with the newbiest person doing drills on the instructors word.

But everything goes out the window when I head inside the ring for a spar. I can see my opponents movements and I can react accordingly. I actually don't get hit very often and it feels like I'm in the zone.

What do you guys make of this?

 

[kflo]

how long have you been training and who do you spar against?

 

[SummerStriker]

People with natural talent often dislike drills or fail to get the most out of them. In music, some kids come in and play a song by sight reading or after the first week and have it at 90%, and then never get better.

Other people take 6 months learning a piece, but eventually master it.

Maybe you need to work harder and pay more attention when you drill. The fastest way to improve is often by doing the things you are worst at.

 

[SkribbLe]

You should include a video if you can. this sounds interesting.

 

[HighestHand]

how long have you been training and who do you spar against?

I've been training for 5 months and I don't know who I usually spar against. We usually just grab a partner and exchange names. Next time we see them, we say hi.

Edit: I'm not the best at sparring, but I can hold my own and I can confidently say that I am in control most of them. Maybe I am just more competitive so I go harder than they do.
When I drill, it is disgusting though.

 

[KounterPunch]

I agree

 

[TheMadHatter]

maybe you just think you are doing good in sparring, with your cardio being terrible I find it hard to believe you would be able to well by the time you spar.

 

[kflo]

I've been training for 5 months and I don't know who I usually spar against. We usually just grab a partner and exchange names. Next time we see them, we say hi.

Edit: I'm not the best at sparring, but I can hold my own and I can confidently say that I am in control most of them. Maybe I am just more competitive so I go harder than they do.
When I drill, it is disgusting though.

my guess is you have some natural ability, generally spar against other newbies, and should focus on getting better at the drills and fundamentals. it's hard to imagine you actually being very good without being able to drill and 5 months of training.

 

[HighestHand]

maybe you just think you are doing good in sparring, with your cardio being terrible I find it hard to believe you would be able to well by the time you spar.

There's actually a class designed specifically for sparring. After 10-15 minutes of jump rope, you go right into sparring.

I can handle the jump rope just fine, that is a warmup.

My explanation for it is that when I spar, I tend to be a little more competitive and that leads my body to produce more adrenaline which keeps me up.

And my cardio isn't SO bad. It's actually better than the average person. 3 miles in under 18 minutes. I mean that my cardio pales in comparison with the people I train with. It's like they don't get tired doing drills...

 

[PeterPain]

It could be that or...
... you have a better than average fighter IQ.

If you can read people and react accordingly, create the oppenning you want, always be where you want to be. You may have a better than average fither IQ.

Some people have perfect technique but don't react well. Are agressive when they sould not, don't take oppertunity when they created one.

Focus on technique man... everyone need it.
Cardio can come along or you can get outside of your gym.

 

[kflo]

There's actually a class designed specifically for sparring. After 10-15 minutes of jump rope, you go right into sparring.

I can handle the jump rope just fine, that is a warmup.

My explanation for it is that when I spar, I tend to be a little more competitive and that leads my body to produce more adrenaline which keeps me up.

And my cardio isn't SO bad. It's actually better than the average person. 3 miles in under 18 minutes. I mean that my cardio pales in comparison with the people I train with. It's like they don't get tired doing drills...

3 miles in under 18 is pretty great.

 

[The Clamburglar]

I had/have problems doing armbar drills(among other drills) from guard and such, but when rolling I can throw them up pretty good. It is a attention problem for me, the drills bore me, but the I love rolling, and thus, I do better in that situation.

 

[TheMadHatter]

There's actually a class designed specifically for sparring. After 10-15 minutes of jump rope, you go right into sparring.

I can handle the jump rope just fine, that is a warmup.

My explanation for it is that when I spar, I tend to be a little more competitive and that leads my body to produce more adrenaline which keeps me up.

And my cardio isn't SO bad. It's actually better than the average person. 3 miles in under 18 minutes. I mean that my cardio pales in comparison with the people I train with. It's like they don't get tired doing drills...

that makes more sense, I was assuming you sparred at the end of class. this is how it has been at most places I trained at. Running cardio is completely different from fighting cardio by the way.

 

[HighestHand]

that makes more sense, I was assuming you sparred at the end of class. this is how it has been at most places I trained at. Running cardio is completely different from fighting cardio by the way.

Yeah I kind of figured that fighting cardio is way different. Heck even drill cardio is different than running cardio. It's so embarrassing when the instructor comes and critiques my technique. They tend to tell me everything that I already know and I just don't have enough strength to put it in practice and I don't want to make an excuse saying I'm tired. Yesterday, was training and wanted to stop to get a 3 second water break and the instructor said "Hey!! there's no time to get water now!! You're gonna jeopardize the workout of your partner." Of course she said it jokingly but it was still embarrassing..

3 miles in under 18 is pretty great.

I know but I just can't seem to keep up using my whole body to do drills. Maybe I should have a sugary drink before going in.

I had/have problems doing armbar drills(among other drills) from guard and such, but when rolling I can throw them up pretty good. It is a attention problem for me, the drills bore me, but the I love rolling, and thus, I do better in that situation.

I also have to agree that sparring is a lot more fun and intense that's why it catches my attention.

 

[KounterPunch]

3 miles in under 18 is pretty great.

It's more than great , it's top class of Navy Seal level !
18 min will get you in the top 5 of most any 5k race.

You (TS) say your mates do even way better than that ?
What are you in .....a competitive running gym ?

Plus if you do run that then you KNOW that's way faster than the average guy .......screw the average guy , it's way faster than the average fighter !

I'm tempted to call shenanigans , my friend.

 

[thewhiteSRR]

A lot of guys who appear to be naturals to me tend to be very calm in sparring even when they first lace up, so that they can read the fight and strategise without fearing the counter or what their opponent is going to do. There are great athletes who freak out and get beat up every day, but some guys are just mentally there from the start. I am quite envious.

TS sounds like one of these guys, but if you want to be really good, do your damn drills.

 

[SaiWa]

It's more than great , it's top class of Navy Seal level !
18 min will get you in the top 5 of most any 5k race.

You (TS) say your mates do even way better than that ?
What are you in .....a competitive running gym ?

Plus if you do run that then you KNOW that's way faster than the average guy .......screw the average guy , it's way faster than the average fighter !

I'm tempted to call shenanigans , my friend.

who knows... sounds like shenanigans but then again.. maybe he's really skinny and scrawny. the best runners aren't the muscular ones but the skinny lean ones u know.

unless we see a video of him sparring who knows if he's actually good. he could be sparring with newbs for all we know and if he's got unbelievable stamina then he's got a huge advantage over most opponents in the ring.

 

[Felipe Valentim]

He says he has terrible cardio but he can run 3 miles under 18 minutes... I'm calling BS

 

[KounterPunch]

He says he has terrible cardio but he can run 3 miles under 18 minutes... I'm calling BS

Running cardio isn't the same as fighting cardio but I agree with you.

 

[thirteen]

Well at least you don't suffer from the dreaded 'Every excuse under the sun to NOT spar' syndrome TS.