Sparring a guy 1 foot taller than you, and 75 more pds...

[Primenal]

Alright, I've been training for boxing for a while. I used to have this old pro (he was 86) working with me, he was a damn good trainer, etc. With him I never did that much sparring against people. Mainly hit the mits, bag drills, speed bag, and he passed his knowledge on to me. The people I sparred with at the time were out of my league (like multi time golden glove winners, and people who fought a ton of fights), and though I did very well...Of course they got the best of me. I finally tore my shoulder from overtraining (before I got to fight amatuers), and realized boxing wasn't a career that I wanted.
I want to model/ bodybuild, maybe even powerlift one day, but I box every day still mainly at home (movement, bag work, angles). I'm 5'6, 165 and about 6% body fat so I'm not a skinny little dude. Well, i joined a geen ku doe class (bruce lee's martial arts), and enjoy it. There's some guys that started that wanted to spar me because I have good skill. One of them is 6'6, 242 LOl. So, even though I never got much sparring in I was like "hell yeah." I damn sure outpointed him, and he never hurt me, or anything (he was professional surprisingly), BUT I didn't beat him the way I wanted to.
We started out, and he tryed to keep me at bay with the jab. As soon as I'd see a jab, or straight right, I'd swoop in to the side, and crack his ribs, and then go to work on the body. He'd push me off, clinch, or try to fight back. Back on him again I'd go. That was pretty much my only weapon though. Luckily I was in better shape, he started to tire, drop his hands, and finally I could reach his face to get some headshots in. I was just wondering what the hell else can I do to this guy??? Fighting somebody a foot taller, and MASSIVE i might add (felt like fighting a damn mountain)...I could barely reach his face, and if were skilled enough and fought tall there's no way I could. He did real well though, thank god I lift weights, work my legs and neck like crazy so I can take a punch, or else I damn sure wouldn't have the power to get inside on him.

[scurlaruntings]

Bet you feel all warm and fuzzy inside now! And its Jeet Kun Do mutherfucker!

[Primenal]

Bet you feel all warm and fuzzy inside now! And its Jeet Kun Do mutherfucker!

LOL, calm down bud. However it's spelled...and why would I feel warm and fuzzy inside? Because I showed up a guy who's much bigger, but that's only been training for fighting for like 2 months now? I personally don't think I did good enough, and that's why I was asking for pointers. And I'm planning on sparring with this guy a lot, so once he gets use to my attack, and gets some skills himself...There's no chance I could handle him using the same shit. If he'd fight me tall, use his jab more, catch me whenever I duck down, use uppercuts in the inside..He'd beat the shit out of me. I know what he needs to do to beat me...Just wondering what I'd have to do to beat him at that time?
BTW: It's a martial arts class, but we aren't doing any kinds of kicks or anything when we spar. Just straight up boxing.

[scurlaruntings]

Naw im just fucking with you mate. Be cool!

So lets get this your doing Jeet but all your working on is just boxing right? If thats the case you got some big disavantages. Seeing as his much taller than you and punching downwards, work on getting inside with some deft head movement and work that body like windmill. Use alot of lateral movement as his jab will be fairly difficult to negate but you have a massive target there to work with as theres plenty of body to hit.

Seeing as his a foot taller than you you might want to get someone closer to your size later on..

[Primenal]

Yeah, were working on martial arts, but when it comes to sparring it's straight up punching. Well, more jeet ku doe boxing (vertical fist, your fastest hand in front, more in-close fighting, etc). That's what I didn't do enough of whenever I went against him. I work a lot of movement, but for some reason when I was up against him I didn't go side to side much, didn't move my head, etc, but then again I haven't sparred in a couple months.
There's others at the gym to spar with. He's just pretty dedicated, and somebody I know that'll always be there to spar with. And since I'm so short for my weight, if I would ever decide to box he's good practice since everybody I'd be fighting would be taller than me.

[scurlaruntings]

How do you weight train though? Functional muscle and simple muscle mass are entirely different. I combine weights and boxing with Silat and Wing Chun but my weights regime isnt a bodybuilders regime. I lift mainly for strength and overall conditioning plus it helps me with my explosiveness and power.

[RDJ]

Right.

[scurlaruntings]

You better not be being facetious Himmler boy.

[RDJ]

You better not be being facetious Himmler boy.

Was that supposed to be funny? :-(

[Primenal]

How do you weight train though? Functional muscle and simple muscle mass are entirely different. I combine weights and boxing with Silat and Wing Chun but my weights regime isnt a bodybuilders regime. I lift mainly for strength and overall conditioning plus it helps me with my explosiveness and power.

I train the proper (athlete) way. I stretch before, and after every workout so I don't get bulky and slow. I box a little bit each day. One day I'll practice movement (not so much punching), the next day I either do bag work, or shadow box (not much movement). Do cardio about 2-3 times a week, not including the boxing.
My weight training...Have tons of different schedules. I go for both size/ strength (low reps), and more cut/ endurance (high reps). One week I'll do 10 reps of everything, next week 7, next week only 4. I focus a lot on dead lifts, squats, rows, bench (compound exercises, and major muscle groups). Started focusing a lot more on legs cuz if I ever want to bodybuild I'm gonna have to have awesome legs, plus it'll help with boxing. Work my traps (neck) a lot as well so I can take a better punch. Do abs daily. I workout mon-sat about 2-3 hours a day. A bit much, but with summer coming up I want to be in even better shape.
That's pretty much it. Started taking the martial arts class recently, starting to learn how to kick a little. the only 2 kicks jeet kun do has is mule kick, and groin kick...The effective ones. So, that's my workout schedule for right now.

[ralphc]

If the bulk you are carrying is not natural, it will not be of any use against a real opponent. Increasing muscle size and muscle strength is not necessary in boxing because size and strength are so easily neutralized. Nevertheless, assuming you aren't doing anything special to attain this bulk, I have known men who were naturally muscular, then you need to learn how to fight small. This is something that your trainer should have taught you long ago. Although there is more than one way of fighting small the Tysonesque style is probably the most common. This is a great style but all the crouching and bobbing and weaving requires a very high level of physical conditioning. When you get to that level of fitness it is almost impossible to maintain an unnatural degree of muscularity.

Truthfully speaking you should choose between bodybuilding or boxing. The two really don't mix very well and this will soon become apparent once you face a dangerous opponent.

[RDJ]

If the bulk you are carrying is not natural, it will not be of any use against a real opponent. Increasing muscle size and muscle strength is not necessary in boxing because size and strength are so easily neutralized. Nevertheless, assuming you aren't doing anything special to attain this bulk, I have known men who were naturally muscular, then you need to learn how to fight small. This is something that your trainer should have taught you long ago. Although there is more than one way of fighting small the Tysonesque style is probably the most common. This is a great style but all the crouching and bobbing and weaving requires a very high level of physical conditioning. When you get to that level of fitness it is almost impossible to maintain an unnatural degree of muscularity.

Truthfully speaking you should choose between bodybuilding or boxing. The two really don't mix very well and this will soon become apparent once you face a dangerous opponent.

Great post.

[Primenal]

If the bulk you are carrying is not natural, it will not be of any use against a real opponent. Increasing muscle size and muscle strength is not necessary in boxing because size and strength are so easily neutralized. Nevertheless, assuming you aren't doing anything special to attain this bulk, I have known men who were naturally muscular, then you need to learn how to fight small. This is something that your trainer should have taught you long ago. Although there is more than one way of fighting small the Tysonesque style is probably the most common. This is a great style but all the crouching and bobbing and weaving requires a very high level of physical conditioning. When you get to that level of fitness it is almost impossible to maintain an unnatural degree of muscularity.

Truthfully speaking you should choose between bodybuilding or boxing. The two really don't mix very well and this will soon become apparent once you face a dangerous opponent.

I agree with you, and that's why I already chose to not box. Something like toughman, or something like that isn't out of the question to me, but amatuer/ pro is out of the question. I have to much muscle, and not enough height to compete. I mean...By no means am I slow (like I said I stretch properly, have long lean muscle), but being 5'6, and right now I'm 165....And growing quite well I might add. At 165 it'd be hard enough for me to fight a muscular guy who is say 5'11-6' who has skill. I have the power to maybe get a lucky punch, or bull him if I can take his shots, BUT like I said I'm not finished getting the size I want.
That's why I took this Jeet kun do stuff...More self defense stuff, and street fighting. I just like to train for the boxing, stay in good shape for boxing, the physichal contact, and the confidence it brings.

[Orishaman]

I use to spar with this cat 260 and '-5..dude you learn a lot about movement an in fighting....I was hurting after each session

[Primenal]

I use to spar with this cat 260 and '-5..dude you learn a lot about movement an in fighting....I was hurting after each session

Sure do. He's only been boxing for 2 months so I figured he'd hit me pretty stiff. Amazingly, he didn't hit me that stiff. Quite a few times he'd be like "OH sorry" like he hit me hard, but I honestly didn't feel jack shit. Last time I really sparred somebody in a normal match (besides my 5th degree black belt instructor) I was 20 pds of muscle lighter...So, I don't know if I can take a hell of a punch, or he was just thinking he hit me to hard.
Anyways though, I woke up the next day...Touched my chin, and was like Ooooouch! The bones feel tender! So, apparently he must have hit me with some shit, but I just didn't feel it at the time. That's alright though...He was at the gym yesterday, and he was walking around like those ribs were mighty sore :happy

[MrSmall]

Right.

Only steers and queers come from Texas, and you don't look like no steer to me.

[rodney]

Find a more suitable sparring partner.
Like someone more your size with a litle more experience.
Your not going to learn nothin against this guy.

[joekirkbycobra]

im sparrin a fella today with a similar size difference
spared him about 9 rounds b4 n he still aint hit me
tho despite hittin him alot i dont think ive hurt him
yet

[Pugsley]

That's odd. JKD wouldnt dedicate itself to Hands only, since it is a 'whole art'. But obviously your session with the guy shows that your training as a Boxer has paid off. You might know how he can beat you, but if he cant figure it out -seeing as he is not a boxer, you still have a chance to try other things. What you have trained in the Gym may not apply to these guys who are from another discipline... the world of fighting is far and varied and there are millions of variables which can offset your expectations. Remember, it is knowledge which separates you from the rest.

If you're heavy for your height, that just works in your favor as a wrestler. You're still lifting weights, but with technique behind it -functional strength and all.


LOL, calm down bud. However it's spelled...and why would I feel warm and fuzzy inside? Because I showed up a guy who's much bigger, but that's only been training for fighting for like 2 months now? I personally don't think I did good enough, and that's why I was asking for pointers. And I'm planning on sparring with this guy a lot, so once he gets use to my attack, and gets some skills himself...There's no chance I could handle him using the same shit. If he'd fight me tall, use his jab more, catch me whenever I duck down, use uppercuts in the inside..He'd beat the shit out of me. I know what he needs to do to beat me...Just wondering what I'd have to do to beat him at that time?
BTW: It's a martial arts class, but we aren't doing any kinds of kicks or anything when we spar. Just straight up boxing.

[Primenal]

We don't dedicate to boxing, but I've been boxing a couple years, this guy wants to win toughman next year...So, a lot of our emplasis is on boxing. JKD is a lot hands on though at any rate.
As far as teaching him how he can beat me, I don't really mind if we actually work together for a while. I taught him how to throw a good uppercut (almost asking for my chin to get jacked), how to clinch properly, etc. I mean honestly this guy is way to big for me...I honestly shouldn't be beating him. I figure though if I show him how to beat a smaller guy (like myself) that'll make me have to up my game to compete with him. Get it? By making somebody else better, you get better just to stay above them, or at least that's how I feel.
I'll try to help get him to win toughman (he isn't going to have a problem around here if he sticks to it), and in the process I'll have a good big man to spar with me. I just want as much fighting experience (in all situations, against as many possible opponents) as possible. Wether there big or small.

[dangerousity]

Sure do. He's only been boxing for 2 months so I figured he'd hit me pretty stiff. Amazingly, he didn't hit me that stiff. Quite a few times he'd be like "OH sorry" like he hit me hard, but I honestly didn't feel jack shit. Last time I really sparred somebody in a normal match (besides my 5th degree black belt instructor) I was 20 pds of muscle lighter...So, I don't know if I can take a hell of a punch, or he was just thinking he hit me to hard.
Anyways though, I woke up the next day...Touched my chin, and was like Ooooouch! The bones feel tender! So, apparently he must have hit me with some shit, but I just didn't feel it at the time. That's alright though...He was at the gym yesterday, and he was walking around like those ribs were mighty sore :happy

Maybe cos hes from a JKD background rather than boxing he's use to very light sparring. Its only in boxing where people go all out with sparring, some gyms anyways.

As for the height, hes not unreachable. Im 5'6 and 140, biggest guy I sparred is 6'2 220lb. Used alot of footwork and parry's, parry his punches, sidestep and get him from his blindspot. At 2months exp he cant be too hard to figure out. Its all about counters too, he can hit harder and take a harder punch but if your landing your punch before he can then its all good. Just time him.