[Rabbit]

This is my first post as a user hear and i would like to say thanks in advance for the info on the site. I have already learned a lot. Anyway......

One of my friends and i were sparing yesterday (his first time) and he is measurably bigger than i am. About 4 inches taller and about 30lbs heavier. We had a hard time not hitting each other hard. How can you spar at full speed and not beat the crap out of each other? We are getting head gear as soon as we get the money. We both are using mouthpieces pretty good gloves and handwraps. After only 3 2 min rounds he had a pretty good mouse under his eye and its a little black and blue today. I used to box a bit when i was younger and i always see the open holes in his guard and it is a natural reaction for me to hit them fast before they close up, and the same going for my sparing partner and he hits hard! We are best friends and we never get mad or try to intentionally hit each other that hard. Any tips for controlling the action from getting so intense?

 

[Madghost]

I only spar at full speed, often w/out headgear, dispite having it. You need to simply take the knocks and understand it is critical to "condition" yourself to getting hit... Whats o couple black eyes between friends eh?

 

[Brooklyn Rican]

I only sparred without a head gear with my brother he used it cause he was innexperienced and i wanted to teach him a lesson (he was taught a valuable lesson lol) but i guess for it not to be so rough fight with open gloves? Iono..

 

[daveDaboxingfan]

Use big soft gloves even with the head gear most of the time. This will help reduce impact


Then once in a while put on smaller tighter gloves for some serious training.

 

[Matty The Ghost]

I spar without headgear only when me and my friends are drunk.

 

[The New Boy]

the only way for you guys to get used to hitting eachother hard and being okay with it is to do it more often the more you hit eachother the more you will be used to it.

or just go slow and if you punch occasionaly too hard thats no problem if your friends then slowly go harder each spar.

 

[Pork Chop]

How can you spar at full speed and not beat the crap out of each other? We are getting head gear as soon as we get the money. We both are using mouthpieces pretty good gloves and handwraps.

Who makes your gloves?
Where did you buy them?
How old are they?
What weight are they?
Do you use the same gloves when you hit stuff like the bag and pads?

You wouldn't believe how many times i've heard "well these are pretty good gloves" used to describe 2 year old, 12ounce cheapo everlasts bought from a local sporting goods store, and used on a daily basis for bag work.

Unless they're puncher's gloves (Reyes, Grant, mexican style), or bottom of the line everlast (not their pro series); a 16 ounce pair of sparring gloves will protect you from getting too busted up - as long as they've experienced less than say 6 months of heavybag work.

Any tips for controlling the action from getting so intense?

this one's easy and it's my personal preference to just banging.
do "sparring drills" instead of straight out sparring.
Give your sparring a purpose.
Take turns: one guy shields while the other guy flurries, one guy jabs while the other parries, one guy punches while the other guy uses head movement or counter punches; and go back and forth with that stuff. You can even use full speed and power as long as your respectful (and understand that you'll get back what you dish out). If it starts causing damage, communicate with each other & don't be afraid to tone it down.