Bad Run?

[DMC]

Hi Guy's

I am sitting hear angry at myself and frustrated, So I thought I would get it out on here and see what you guy's do in this situation.

This past week my boxing has been terrible.

As some of you know I am 31 and only took up boxing 4 to 5 months ago. I did it because I was overweight and lazy. I have never really done any sports my hole life and had self confidence issues. I had also never been in any sort of fight or physical confrontation my whole life. I decided this year I was going to turn it all around.

So I have lost weight and got active and feel great.

Boxing has been hard for me, I am not the most confident or coordinated person (but it's getting better) and I am a bit slow. I just don't have the reflexes YET.

I have enjoyed the boxing training I have done over the last few months and it has given me a new found confidence. I am trying to work my way up to compete in some white Collar boxing events we have at our gym. Every Tuesday and Thursday night we train and spar. Most of they guy's at the gym and much younger than me. There all great guy's and we all encourage each other.

All this aside over the last week i have had the worst run. I feel like I have hit a wall. I can hold my defense ok as long as the punches are coming right at me. But I am having so much trouble blocking anything thats coming from anywhere else, and I am just way to slow with blocking and punching.

Tonight was the worst, I took so many punches I didn't know what was going on. This was from a 17 year old kid who has only been at it 2 to 3 months. Ok I understand he has youth on his side. But everyone just seems that much quicker than me. Also I seem to always find myself on the back foot. I find it hard to get right in there and I will be lucky to get one sold punch in through there defenses. I just feel like moving punching bag for everyone else at the moment. (Bonus is I am learning to take punches I suppose.)

I know there are ups and downs in all sports, and I am sure its just a bad run. I am not going to give up, and I will keep fighting till I get it right. It just gets you down when you are trying hard.

I suppose I am typing this for two reasons 1) to get it off my chest ans 2) to ask what do you guy's do when this happens to you? if it happens at all.

Thanks for reading.

DMC

[mightymouse2k]

When i moved up to full contact from semi contact a long time ago, i encountered similar problems in regard to getting hit. They, however, were due to do with my lack of confidence and also a natural tendency to "tense up" when the punches did come. Im not sure if it this will help, but the only thing i can say is just to relax your body and let your punches and defense flow. You could change your strategy and be a slugging infighter and use your bigger frame to bully your opponents. Unfortunately i don't think there is a quick and easy method to overcome your problems, just hard training and whatever you do don't give up.

Quick question, how do you mean your slow? Is your movement slow or is it your handspeed?, you mentioned you only got one punch through this 17 year olds defense.

[DMC]

Thanks for the reply mightymouse2k,

I am a slow puncher. My hand and arm reflexes are not great.
Your right about the tensing up I do that allot, and I have this bad habit of throwing punches at there gloves not there head. I am finding hard to get myself to go on the attack. When I get in there I always seem on the defense.

DMC

[DELETED ACCOUNT 06]

Calm down DMC!! These times are created to test you. Everyone goes through a negative phase now and again - everyone thinks at one stage in your training that your progression has become almost stagnate and stopped.

Just plough through ... there would be no point to training if there wasn't anything to to get better at and I know all about sparring sessions where you get knocked around and dominated.

Start pressing to get yourself and your name down for a boxing show at your gym. Then you will have a target to work towards, i think that would be the best thing to do.


Other than that - think about how much it has changed your life i.e - your fitness, your appearence, your new found gym mates and like you said - your self confidence. All good reasons to stick at it. You'll get out of this slump!!!

ps

sorry for the long post.

[DoctorKillJoy]

The more scared you are of getting hit the more you will get hit and the worse it will feel. I think the best way to get over that fear is just to keep getting in there and believe in the things you've worked on. Ask your trainers lots of questions and no matter how discouraged you feel after a few bad sessions take pride in the fact that you're not giving up. Five months isnt long, especially if you're not a natural athlete. Just try to keep thinking and learning from every session.

[DMC]

Thanks guy's

You guy's are right. I will keep at it and I will push through this bad run.

I think I am more angry at myself for letting myself get hit. The brain knows what it should do, the body just doesn't want to cooperate all the time.

I will set a target match to be in, and work towards that, and work harder.
I think I also need to get more aggressive in there. I think I just seem to poke and prod at them instead of trying to really hit them.
I will let you know how I go, Next week will be different.

Thanks guy's for letting me get that off my chest.

DMC