Listening to Coach's advice

[Coyote142]

So the gym i normally train at had a fire yesterday and is closed for the foreseeable future. We have a certain style at my gym, they don't teach us a lot of defense, instead focusing on good aggressive offense.

I went to a new gym last night to get some training until ours reopens, and the coach there teaches a totally different style that relies on straight punches and good defense.

I can see merit in both styles, but I prefer the style i was taught at my original gym. I feel torn now because I want to keep boxing the way I am used to, and I feel my 'new' coach is trying to change me.

How would you handle this situation? Should I take his advice with a grain of salt and keep boxing the way I prefer (I like to get in close and fight on the inside), or should I try to adapt and learn a new style (fighting on the outside). I guess it never hurts to learn more styles of fighting, but Im afraid all the hard work ive put in the last few months training a certain way will be for nothing.

[Rockybigblower]

You should try to blend the styles. One is not more effective than the other. Now is an opportunity to learn adaptability. Think of this as adding a plan B to your game because not every opponent you face will be the same. If you have only one look you will soon get figured out and your win loss ledger will start to balance out.

[Mr.MojoRisin']

What he said^^

But yeah, one of your goals as a fighter should be to become a complete fighter. My coaches always say "You can't always be the hammer" and that's 100% true. You have to learn to fight on the back foot as well as the front foot. Even Gennady Golovkin boxed Lemieux and Stevens for a good part of their fights. I'm not saying don't fight the aggressive style you like, just have your other skills polished and in your back pocket for when you might need them. Imo it's a lot easier to fight on the front foot and be aggressive than it is to be elusive and controlling the fight defensively.

[tcbender]

Theres definitely benefits to training differently than you are used to. I always prefer to spar/fight a specific style, but force myself to try out new techniques (sometimes just working on head movement and defense without even really throwing back).

I've since been able to incorporate a few of the things I've practiced into my original style of preferred fighting and have found greater success.

Get out of your comfort zone, learn/practice some new techniques, and it will help your game evolve.

[abracada]

So the gym i normally train at had a fire yesterday and is closed for the foreseeable future. We have a certain style at my gym, they don't teach us a lot of defense, instead focusing on good aggressive offense.

I went to a new gym last night to get some training until ours reopens, and the coach there teaches a totally different style that relies on straight punches and good defense.

I can see merit in both styles, but I prefer the style i was taught at my original gym. I feel torn now because I want to keep boxing the way I am used to, and I feel my 'new' coach is trying to change me.

How would you handle this situation? Should I take his advice with a grain of salt and keep boxing the way I prefer (I like to get in close and fight on the inside), or should I try to adapt and learn a new style (fighting on the outside). I guess it never hurts to learn more styles of fighting, but Im afraid all the hard work ive put in the last few months training a certain way will be for nothing.

Adapt when you fighting in the ring, figure out your opponents strengths and weaknesses, be open minded.

[Ray Corso]

Why can't you train with your original trainer?
Go to the Boys Club, a church basement, a school gym just get it done!!!!!!!! Find a place, did your trainer leave his members out in the cold? Sounds pretty silly to me, you need a bag and your trainer!

good luck, Ray

[abracada]

So the gym i normally train at had a fire yesterday and is closed for the foreseeable future. We have a certain style at my gym, they don't teach us a lot of defense, instead focusing on good aggressive offense.

I went to a new gym last night to get some training until ours reopens, and the coach there teaches a totally different style that relies on straight punches and good defense.

I can see merit in both styles, but I prefer the style i was taught at my original gym. I feel torn now because I want to keep boxing the way I am used to, and I feel my 'new' coach is trying to change me.

How would you handle this situation? Should I take his advice with a grain of salt and keep boxing the way I prefer (I like to get in close and fight on the inside), or should I try to adapt and learn a new style (fighting on the outside). I guess it never hurts to learn more styles of fighting, but Im afraid all the hard work ive put in the last few months training a certain way will be for nothing.

Only listen to a boxing coach if he looks like this;

[Coyote142]

I appreciate the responses everyone!

Yea it definitely sucks with our gym, apparently they have to redo a bunch of electrical stuff and ceiling tiles before we can go back.

Tonight we are going as a team to the gym I sparred at on Tuesday, so I am looking forward to having my team with me this time, and my coach. Wish me luck!

[Coyote142]

Well the coach at the gym i sparred at Tuesday wouldn't let me spar tonight (our gym came as a team to spar tonight at their gym) because his "180 pound marine who likes to slug" wasen't there to spar me (I am 5' 9" 172). He said when I sparred Tuesday I was throwing lots of wide hooks and trying to land bombs. The thing is, when we sparred today his guys were throwing bombs and hooks too, so I guess he is pissed because i came in there without my team on tuesday and sparred his guy and landed a hook. Whatever the case, thats the way I fight. I get close and I throw left hooks a lot, I don't want to hurt anyone and I am the opposite of a bully in pretty much every way, but when I compete, and I get tagged, I go into slug mode and try to throw fast punches but they land hard inadvertently. Our coach teaches us to stay inside and not back off, their coach teaches them to score points and throw jabs and crosses. When I fight, I feel like the point is to take the other guy out, not just score points. Obviously with sparring its different, but I can't practice my natural style without throwing left hooks and right uppercuts. I guess maybe I breached some code of conduct I didn't know about when I took it upon myself to go spar at their gym on tuesday by myself. You can't please everyone though! And boxing is a selfish sport ultimately, I just want to get better.

[tcbender]

Well the coach at the gym i sparred at Tuesday wouldn't let me spar tonight (our gym came as a team to spar tonight at their gym) because his "180 pound marine who likes to slug" wasen't there to spar me (I am 5' 9" 172). He said when I sparred Tuesday I was throwing lots of wide hooks and trying to land bombs. The thing is, when we sparred today his guys were throwing bombs and hooks too, so I guess he is pissed because i came in there without my team on tuesday and sparred his guy and landed a hook. Whatever the case, thats the way I fight. I get close and I throw left hooks a lot, I don't want to hurt anyone and I am the opposite of a bully in pretty much every way, but when I compete, and I get tagged, I go into slug mode and try to throw fast punches but they land hard inadvertently. Our coach teaches us to stay inside and not back off, their coach teaches them to score points and throw jabs and crosses. When I fight, I feel like the point is to take the other guy out, not just score points. Obviously with sparring its different, but I can't practice my natural style without throwing left hooks and right uppercuts. I guess maybe I breached some code of conduct I didn't know about when I took it upon myself to go spar at their gym on tuesday by myself. You can't please everyone though! And boxing is a selfish sport ultimately, I just want to get better.

Yeah I mean certain people don't want to spar like that and being able to control your power in sparring is something that is sort of learned. You also should try not to get mad when you get tagged, think "Why did I get tagged?" let it wake you up on defense and movement rather than just trying to get them back.

Also the reason for sparring isn't to take the other guy out, it's to sharpen skills and learn. I don't mind taking a big hit in sparring, but a lot of people don't want to spar like that for safety or personal preference.

Seems like all the newer guys I spar have issues with controlling their power. Some of the older guys lash out when they get tagged though.

Best of luck.