There are always people in the gym who want to hurt newbies

That fear faded away after I found a partner who did actual light sparring until I got comfortable sparring.

Great video, i've had a fear of getting hit in boxing because i've been in like the first year i started boxing. (6 years ago) I even know when it started. I was sparring a guy who had a few fights already and he wasn't a great fighter in the ring. But he was great in the gym though and could handle anyone because he was so smooth with his movement and his punches were very accurate. I remember being downed 5 times in 1 round of sparring. I got up from all of them but was really buzzed after the second knockdown. He just was too accurate and too skilled for me and he didn't really gave me any chance to really get back into my grove. How did i get over it? First off it took me over 4 years to stop feeling anxiety going to the gym. (i've been going around 2 or 3 times a week) I didn't know how to shake that feeling. The thing is i started paying attention to getting my DEFENSE in order. Protect yourself at all times. So i started sparring alot of guys without really focussing on landing anything clean, just faking, feinting and making sure to keep my opponent busy enough so i could block or parry all his punches. After i did that for several weeks i got more confident in my defense. Another thing that helped me get over this anxiety was wearing some headgear but still paying attention to my DEFENSE. I did feel i could open op some more, getting my punches off. It seems like a really long time to get over this anxiety since it took me years but my point is this. I spar anyone confidently without headgear nowadays. I hardly get hit while sparring and never really get hit flush to the head. I do get hit to the body by some of the gyms best body punches but i can cope with that alot easier since i can time the counter and make them warry to throw that body punch. Also the most important thing my coach taught me was "don't over commit to any punches" I got hit alot in my first years because i over commited or i telegraphed alot of punches. Bottomline: 1. never go in straight, always keep moving your head. 2. don't over commit or telegraph punches 3. don't admire your last landed punch (land the punch pull out and if possible step back in with another flurry) 4. have a few combo's that work for you 5. don't get cocky, keep your hands up and protect yourself at all times 6. don't be afraid to ask your coach or more experienced fighters some advise (worked alot for me) 7. talk about your anxiety, it was a big part of overcoming it for me. you can train all you want but fighting(boxing) is way more the mental part than it is the physical. It's easy to get in shape but when you have doubt on your mind it shows in the way you fight. CONFIDENCE is key! Sorry for the long post, hope it helps some up and coming boxers or maybe someone who wants to have a try at boxing but didn't dare to go into a gym to begin with.

I'm training a friend at the moment who blinks a lot because of the fear of getting hit. This is what we do: Rule 1 keep your eyes open. Rule 2. Guard up high. He isn't allowed to blink while holding the pads and the exercise that helps the most is basically training that. He stands against the wall or the ropes and he has to take shots at a 50% speed and power rate. Staying calm is key and if he's doing a good job at blocking and seeing the shots coming we go faster. Hope it helps somebody!

i got beat up today in sparring someone 10x better than me. lasted only 2 and a half round. he used to go around asia and compete now hes retired eventually the spar got intense and decided to amp up on me. my nose bled took heavy body shots but I persevered I tried to keep fighting but my speed wasnt off my technique was off the only thing I could do was punch like a maniac We clenched and I told him to finish me off he said no and he let me punch a lot. he eventually stopped the spar since I was bleeding so much. I got beat up bad physically and mentally. but the on the physical part I could handle. but mentally it was harder. after the spar I cried on the bench remembering the times where I got beat up and cried. I never felt so weak and hopeless till that spar now All I can think of is train 3x harder. What Im trying to say is I salute every single hard working boxer out there. i dont know how you keep it strong physically and mentally but Im willing t traim my ass off for that strength. Getting into amatuers :)

I just learned more than I ever did at my boxing gym. I need to find another gym. Sage advice!

I am always more timid when facing more advanced guys (bc I know they can whoop me at any moment) so I hold back, only to find out they still go hard regardless of how hard I go lol. sometimes the best defense is a better offense, cant just have the "just survive" mentality vs better guys, you have to punch back so they have something to think about. thats something im still struggling with

good stuff! you never talk bullshit on your channel much respect

this is the best boxing coach on youtube, thanks bro, greetings from UK

Things that helped me are sparring with bigger guys and utilizing your jab efficiently and never take your eyes off your opponent. Also look for counters and try to take away their punch instead of fearing it. It doesn't take much to make a punch miss. if you move laterally while pumping your jab and looking for hard counters your opponents will be feel the pressure and you will realize that you're in control.

Slap boxing with both fighters wearing focus mitts is fun way to introduce sparring, much can be gained with very low risk of in jury,..endurance,foot work,feints /fakes combos,head movement all the great things you mentioned can be addressed and a mistake does not cost you so dearly that you get demoralized.

Your video was very helpful. My first few months of boxing I hate an irrational fear of getting hit to the point I avoided sparring. But soon after, I told myself to man up and take punches because it's part of the game. Whenever I get hit, whether its once or multiple times I tell myself that it doesn't hurt. I programmed my mind to think of something else rather than "ouch I just got hit" - like fighting back and hitting my opponent twice as hard. Basically, my problem was because I dwell on myself getting hit when really, it's all part of the game. Get hit, move on, fight back.

The hit that hurts the most is the hit that you don't see. Even if you stand still and cover up, you are prepared to get hit and it does not hurt as much as when you think you are dodging but the opponent just caught your head

Just got into boxing a little older (25). This is the best youtube channel I've found for tips on how to get started. Anyway I've sparred a few times and I'm learning to appreciate the hits I take because every one teaches me something about my patterns/defense/timing etc.

When I first boxed i wAsnt scared... Until Later I got hit hard on the chin, fell, forgot where I was, what I was doing, and had a sudden killer headache. Scary scary feeling.

how the hell can you dislike this video?

You're a good teacher.

Summary ~ Have 4-5 preset combos 7:43 3 things that make it much harder to hit you: 1. Lateral motion, moving side to side 8:48 (Like Hopkins, Hagler) 2. Feints and fakes to throw off rhythm and timing (footwork step, back step, head movement, hands)10:08 (Feints, fakes + lateral motion = Sugar Ray Leonard style of boxing) 3. Head Movement. Move your head before you go, make your head a moving target. 11:27 (Ricky Hatten, Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins vs Kelly Pavlik)

Greatly appreciate your generosity sharing your wide and deep boxing knowledge. You're an ambassador for the sport brother!

This is fantastic. I just came from sparring where I was getting hit before I could even throw my combos and it was really frustrating! Not to mention, I got hit A LOT! This gives me great ideas to practice - thank you :)

Always on point brother, Great advice.

Thank you for offering such thoughtful advice and instruction on this topic. I've learned a lot about boxing from watching your videos and it's helped me in the ring. I think your channel is absolutely indispensable for new boxers.

Thanks Jason... Being watching you for a few years. Always appreciate your knowledge!

This coaching is to me the most honest n no pretention I really enjoy watching n learning from you thank u so much your videos are on point n simple to learn from thank you again for sharing

So glad I've found tis channel. Thank you for alllll of these tips.

JT, Awesome vid again! I've been boxing for a year now and got into sparring about 3 months ago. I found that you need to get hit to understand what it feels like to be hit. After all it is boxing so you're in the game of punching and being punched. A punch to the head is a very unique feeling! I find that when I'm sparring a new person I try and judge how strong they are and how hard they can hit. I sparred a few weeks ago and he looked tough but didn't have a powerful punch at all so I found myself being more confident and taking more risks. and i worked on my counters!

I have learnt a lot from this, as much as I don't have that much fear in getting hit but going back to basics to level your game out is always a great idea

I boxed for 10 years as an amature and had a fear every time

Once I accepted an offer from uknown for me sportsman in the gym to get sparring. After a few minutes I decided to stop doing that because of next reasons: 1. He was obviously better and heavier (in15kg) than me. 2. I just didn't know what I have to do because of extremely lack of expirience in sparring session despite having not bad conditionig. 3 I was without mouth guard. 4 there were nobody to tell me any advise. On the next day I felt that guy disrespect me for my tomorrow's refusal and I was dissapointed deep inside. But, nevertheless, after watching this video I convinced myself that I was right. Thank you guys for great stuff

I love all your information! Thanks so much for taking the time to share!!!

Thank you brother 💪🙌👊 your videos are f**king awesome man. Appreciate the workouts and advice. Keep up the good mahi! 🥊🥊🥊🥊🥊

i wanna take a moment to thank you for taking the time to make these videos and help us out!

Ok. I just bought head gear from rival..i did some work.about head gear before i bought it. When i get it i will do a review on it. Thank you for getting back. I wish you was close you tuff but fair..iam 35 and iam boxing now..and i live it. Age nonthing but a limit. GOD FIRST IN ALL I DO

This sort of stuff is really helpful. Thanks loads JT Van V, I've been watching your videos and trying to apply the info into my sparring sessions. I'm constantly nervous when sparring people because I am so fresh into it but I'm looking forward to your tips coming naturally. Cheers bud

Thanks for making this video! Really helpful!

Respect for the knowledgeable info. just subscribed to your link.

You sort of apply this to a lot of other things. Fear of approaching women, fear of public speaking, fear of speaking up at an appropriate time in a group, etc 4:42 - "getting hit less requires a lot of other work" - in the context of approaching women: working out, staying fit, eating well, reading and living a balanced and healthy life, working on your career, your social life, working on independence, loving yourself, etc "Fatigue makes cowards of us all", "getting hit on the way in", etc are all truths that you can apply one way or another. You also apply this to other sports that require mastery of fear. Cus D'Amato's piece on "fear is a friend of exceptional people" was really helpful in understanding the role of fear in protecting human beings from doing something stupid. It is there to tell you, "be careful", and gives you that extra edge in situational awareness.

Excellent advice! Keep these videos coming! JT your examples and explanations are great and you make it easy to understand! Cheers Bro

thank you very much for taking the time to make all your videos they have really helped me and i have seen improvements in my sparring immediately! and my confidence is growing and im really enjoying sparring now instead of panicking and shelling up and getting a beating.. thanks again all the best from Melbourne Australia!

Fear is good, it makes you better.

Great video Jason. I think a good point is also that if you have a good sparring partner or gym, you can make an agreement to move up in intensity. Sometimes its the surprises from breaking this agreement that leads to bad experiences, and this fear. I'm sure a lot of us have been in a situation where we have been told to "light tap" or "go light and controlled" - and the other guy completely goes nuts. At least I've been through this in muay thai sparring. I'm sure this will happen as I start boxing sparring. Of course, defend yourself at all times - but for some beginners, I have seen that this "breach" of agreement can be a bit traumatic, not to mention unsafe.

Such a great video. Keep up the good work JT! Awesome

Learned so much, very helpful! Thanks JT

Hi JT. You are great at what you do. Excellent teacher. Super articulate and well spoken. Thanks for you work. Much love and respect.

Can't wait to start boxing! 👊 I love your vids man keep em coming

A very good and informative channel. You got a knack for teaching, and explaining things well.

Thank you for making these videos. I'm just getting into boxing and it has become my hobby and passion so I have learned a lot from these videos. I too had a fear of getting hit like a lot of people but being scared is what helped me defensively I'm going to definitely use your tips. :)

That s totally me, I have too focused on protecting myself that I don't retaliate.

Fuck this shit I'm slip-roping, shadowboxing, and foot work drilling like a madman!

Thanks a lot man, started teaching myself the mechanics of fighting bout a year ago , ur video was the 1st one I watched. Thanks man.

Thanks for this video...I discovered your videos today, I will keep watching...

Work ethic eliminates fear--Michael Jordan. Exactly what you're saying👍🏾

Gennady Golovkin is one of those aggressive hard-hitters that just lets whatever come at him. He'd slip and weave a bit but really he's conditioned himself in a way that it even if he does get hit he'd hardly flinch and still land that punch of his.

Another great video JT! Awesome work man!

Your are real coach man , much respect

This video!!!!!!!!!......EVRYONE should see.......Nice Work....

This was a great video, thank you. I definitely deal with fear of getting hit, mostly when I am sparring partners that are above my level. Getting kicked in the jaw with mouth open by a much better opponent was a wake up call. There is one tip, keep your mouth closed when you are sparring, whenever possible. Oscar De La Hoya talks about how he would sometimes bite through his mouth guard during his fights, which is what he accredited his strong chin to. I find it also helps to just change my perspective on it. When I get hit now, I think about how durable that makes me feel afterwards. It makes you feel strong and tough when you take a solid shot and still fight back. This type of mentality can be applied to your whole life, and I feel like sparring is in some ways like training for life. Anybody else look at it like this, or am I crazy?

This is my favorite video of yours. So much good advice.

Beautiful explanation, amazing presentation, hats down.

what i have done dealing with the fear getting hit.. training with headgear and dodging punches, sparring ofc.

"No matter what happens, control the outcome"

The best online boxing teacher, thanks for all those lessons mate

Very clear and well spoken advice thank you

Some gyms just do fitness, shadow boxing, pad work, bag work then sparring. For beginners to go straight from the pad or bag to free sparring, is a big leap. From my experience, I would suggest it is better to build up to that. So work with different partners and say practise a round of jabbing each other and attempt to catch the jab, then build it up to sparring just with straight punches, etc. When you are doing this you must really be hitting each other, but it is a lot less to deal with for a beginner than punches from all angles. Also, if you know what's coming it's easier to accept getting hit. If beginners go straight into free sparring especially off the bag they're often loading up with winging shots and no skill is being learnt. Once you get taught the basic defense techniques and counters whilst getting hit, then you should have a go at free sparring after.

I never got KO... That was the real fear... Getting hit not so much you get used to it after a while...

Thanks very much for this. Very helpful. Particularly the part about lateral movement.

Good video. Always felt this way myself. Thanks for the insights.

I fear getting hit till the 2nd or 3rd hit they land than i am good to go

im not afraid of getting hit, im afraid of getting knokcked the fuck out... its scary

Love your work Jason

Amazing teacher, fantastic lesson. Thanks

Really wish I had these types of videos of instruction back in the day ( I was a preteen going to a boxing gym) late 70's and early 80's-pre-internet/pre vcr! Really good material-especially this one. For those that have never been to a boxing gym you do not get this type of training or instruction unless you get lucky and end up in a gym where you have a trainer willing to work with you. I learned how to punch straight and do certain drills but that was about it. Sparring was always a nightmare because the "trainers" never taught us how apply any movement of any kind--no foot or head movement. So I took a lot of heavy shots to the head. One day I pretended I was a young Muhammad Ali (remember, this was during the late 70's early 80's) while sparring and that's how I learned the value of movement of all kinds, foot, head, feints, grabbing and pushing off-like Ali. I realized after that I got hit a lot less AND the sport got fun. So you youngsters--pay attention--this is good material.

I'm 4 hours away from my first ammy fight. The "healthy fear" tip is what I'm taking with me.

thanks alot for your tips they help really much, i am about to go my first boxing match in august :) i hope for the best and im really hyped

Another Great Video JT!

I used to fear getting hit and event if I had good head movement, I couldn't really do something, I was just bobin' and weavin' and sometime throwing a jab or two. Now, I let my opponent, in the beginning of the sparing, hit me with one or two strikes and then, I know it doesn't really hurt so I don't fear anymore the strikes and my game has really evolved since there (still bob and weavin' but more combination, in and out action, I just need to create more angles to the side and I will be ok :p )

Three things I could do in boxing.. 1. Good at dodging 2. Hitting faster 3.Good at jump rope That's all.. :((

thanks JT Van V you're a great coach and you're always positive nice...!!

Great advice man. I wish i had a coach like you when i was fighting... I was the type of fighter that was great whilst training. Really good actually, and was always expected to get really far. My coach and team mates always expected me to do really well at any given tournament. But everytime i went to a tournament i would just loose focus and fight like shit... Strange how that always happened...

It’s ok to be scared but but not if your always scared

Facepunch don't hurt more than body shot.

I love this material.....please keep producing

Great video! Love watching your content. Thanks for all the great wisdom

I'm not scared of getting punched but I feel like I'm doing bad if I get hit My trainer Is always telling me that you know it's ok everyone gets hit but I only feel like I'm doing good if I'm dodging and I'm the only one punching

I'm a Thai fighter and getting punched in the face is no big deal to me. Most kicks and knee's arent too scary too me either. Two days ago, I took my first really well connected, powerful middle kick to the ribs and it took all the wind out of me. That took my confidence down a huge notch. Now I feel like i get a little more nervous. Hopefully ill get over it, I guess I will eventually get better at parrying those kicks.

Thank you for your transparency.

Really great stuff - excellent vid, I really liked you're previous one with first time sparring definitely great advice taken on board!!!

From my experience if you train boxing etc you will get hit many times and with time you use to get hit and get hit less and less. Boxers learn how to get punches what is very good for self defence and should be practice. If you know the pain and got many hits you don't afraid it any more kind of adaptation (mental and physical) and during fight with adrenaline etc is not much pain really. It is not such a scary thing to get hit as it seems.Human skull is very tough and not made from glass. Sparring gloves are big , body relaxed. In karate kyokushin and other tough martial arts people getting hit with full force for training purposes and later they don't afraid fight. A good helmet with the nose protection is good for beginners as the head should be protected. I don't think so it is really dangerous on the recreational level to spar full contact etc just a good coach is needed as it was said in here and sparring partner should hit this same hard like you (not taking advantage etc)

At the start he forgot to also mention that in ice hockey your guaranteed to get hit Like to agree

thank you for sharing your knowledge, it has been helpful

Appreciate your videos, thanks.

I'm 18-0

Exactly what I needed to know. I am not preciesly into Boxing-yet- but into Martial-Arts.So more the defense style. So its good to know this things. Thank you very much

love your videos helps me a lot thanks man

I just had my third sparring practice for the boxing team at my school. Totally love it and I'm improving my leaps and bounds every day. Your videos have been so helpful to me, thank you so much

This is really good. my fear of getting hit used to hold me back alot too. Ive seen this video now and going back thursday to test the improvement

Definitely the best coach on youtube

Well explained, well trained, wealth of knowledge! Big up!

Appreciate your insights. Thank you. Your comment re having a sparring partner with respect and sparring etiquette helps big time.

Very useful and instructional content, specially because of the examples of real fighters who apply the concepts you're teaching -- subscribed