Sparring fresh or tired

[TheReadyTimeBoy]

Fresh, after at least 6 rounds shadowboxing.

Slightly different topic, but im a big believer now that 'less is more' when it comes to sparring. I ALWAYS have better timing, reflexes, in ring creativity, more in ring mental clarity and awareness, when i havent been sparring much, as opposed to when ive been sparring every day.

I feel like once per week hard sparring is enough, with light work, body sparring and drills 3-4 times a week

[abracada]

Fresh, but having worked through the shadow boxing...?..Rockin'

Agreed with this.

A spar session equates to a full workout.

[Rockin']

Agreed with this.

A spar session equates to a full workout.

The sparring is the fun part and is just the beginning of your work out. You then have your bag work, etc, etc.... Rockin'

[GelfSara]

I was wondering whether it’s most beneficial to spar after a light warmup or after intense 1-2 hour workouts. Seen people argue for both sides.

In general, when you are training for a sport involving a high-level of skill (which obviously includes boxing) you wish to do the sport-specific work (sparring; technical drills, etc.) first, and any non-technical, general fitness work later. The reason, of course, is that you are learning very specific and precise motor patterns while doing the sport-specific work and these are most likely to be learned correctly when you are not unduly fatigued.

Obviously, it is also extremely important for a boxer to be able to fight in a technically sound manner while tired; the best way to accomplish this (in addition to general "strength and conditioning" work) is via training sessions that mimic as closely as possible what a boxer will experience in a long fight, i.e. long sparring sessions, long sessions with the heavy bag, with pads, etc. The only concession that needs to be made in this area is for the health of the boxer; while the best and most specific training for boxing is Cus D'Amato-style sparring (no headgear; in essence not "sparring sessions" but in-the-gym fights), most fighters lack the defensive skills needed to do this often without shortening their careers.

[GelfSara]

im a big believer now that 'less is more' when it comes to sparring. I ALWAYS have better timing, reflexes, in ring creativity, more in ring mental clarity and awareness, when i havent been sparring much, as opposed to when ive been sparring every day.

When you were only sparring infrequently, had you been doing an equivalent amount of equally intense shadowboxing, bag work, etc.? In other words, did you feel better specifically because of less sparring, or because of less total exercise?

[HeadBodyBodyBody]

As said already, both have their uses

[welsh_rarebit]

Coaches at the gym I'm in have us spar at the end so that at least after 90 minutes. We usually skip for 30mins, circuits, 30mins then bags then spar. I'd prefer to spar fresh myself but rarely get the chance.

[Lomadeaux]

The sparring is the fun part and is just the beginning of your work out. You then have your bag work, etc, etc.... Rockin'

Yep. Exactly.

Also, every once in a while. Tell a guy he's not sparring and have him work on the bag, that way he won't conserve himself. When he's done, have him spar.

Nice little mind test for a fighter.

When he's done he'll feel he accomplished something difficult.