Do you ever completely conquer nervousness?

[Primenal]

I've tryed seriously everything to conquer nervousness, but doesn't seem possible. Like before I spar or whatever I get a little nervous, but after I do it, take a few shots, get my adrenaline pumping...I NEVER FELT MORE ALIVE! I absolutely love fighting, and love taking hits, giving hits, etc, but I *still* get a little nervous before I do this kind of shit.
I've talked to many people...People who've trained most of there lives, who have been in many street fights, different walks of life basically, and they all say different things. Some say whenever a fighter loses that nervousness...Almost like a fear of losing (whatever his nervousness is) he's lost his desire, and is a done fighter. Some say you should feel nervous under certain situations, to try to stay calm and relax, and use that nervous/ exciting feeling (adrenaline) to your advantage. This came from my martial arts trainer who has trained 35 years, but admits he'll still get pumped up when fighting a guy with skill, etc.

What's true? Seems to me even the most trained fighter, who does nothing but train to fight...Would still get nervous under certain conditions. Does that person use it as fuel to his fire, or is he actually **completely** calm and relaxed? Any insight would be appreciated.

BTW: Whenever I say nervous I don't mean I'm so nervous I'd throw up or something...though I know people like that. I just mean that I seem to have some self doubt before, but it always erases afterwards.
Things I've tryed: Sparring obviously, mind control (telling myself how much I love it in front of a mirror), etc. I'm not even sure what it is...Maybe fear of losing?

[Kolya]

Nervous energy will always be there, it's from adrenaline. And trust me, I am one of the guys who would throw up, I got sever nervousness, bordering on anxiety, for some time. What helped me was just ring time, sparring, and I did some relaxation and breathing drills to calm myself down and ease my stomach down. You'll always be nervous, you're going out and exposing yourself in front of other people in a ring with a guy who's trying to punch you in the face. it's not like team sports where you have a team to hide behind.

[cjgloves]

ive been boxing for 9-10 ish months now i go to the local boxing gym 3 or 2 times a week and every time i go im nervous i dont no why im not scared. it is calming a bit now but it isnt bad its just there. whilest im walking to the gym is when its there. when i walk throught the door im all good, and i relax.

[Jennifer Love Hewitt]

I don't get nervous. At least not about boxing. Now, before a date, or if I have to give a presentation, or take a test I feel the jitters, but boxing is something I know As exciting as it is, it also just very fun and relaxing.

[Machine]

I think there's always a degree of nerves but they become less and less prevalent over time. It's the rule of familiarity: the more times you do something and it turns out fine rather than your feared worst, the more at ease you become with it. If you're sparring the same people week in week out for months your nerves will disapate. Same if you're sparring someone who you know you're a lot better than. However, I find you still get a bit of performance anxiety if you're sparring someone who you know is a lot better than you and tends to go all out on you. Same if you're sparring an unknown entity. But I think that in those situations it's completely natural to be a little nervous, that's part of boxing. The possibility of getting a physical beating, which is humiliating above all else, and how you face that challenge is what makes boxing (or combat sports in general) different and superior to all other sports.

[Kolya]

I think there's always a degree of nerves but they become less and less prevalent over time. It's the rule of familiarity: the more times you do something and it turns out fine rather than your feared worst, the more at ease you become with it. If you're sparring the same people week in week out for months your nerves will disapate. Same if you're sparring someone who you know you're a lot better than. However, I find you still get a bit of performance anxiety if you're sparring someone who you know is a lot better than you and tends to go all out on you. Same if you're sparring an unknown entity. But I think that in those situations it's completely natural to be a little nervous, that's part of boxing. The possibility of getting a physical beating, which is humiliating above all else, and how you face that challenge is what makes boxing (or combat sports in general) different and superior to all other sports.


Yup. Very good post. I always get a little bit of nerves sparring someone new that I don't know. But it's not as bad as it used to be.

[Primenal]

So, nervousness probably isn't something I'll *completely* overcome, but something I must accept, and basically embrace it? Like they say if you can't beat something join it. So, accept this as a part of me, and don't try to struggle with it?
I've tryed a new approach though...Training people. I'm quite good, train hard, and anybody who has seen me pretty much says I'm good (even highly skilled people) so I thought what could give me more a superior feeling than actually training somebody to fight? It sort of works, I mean if you can teach others to fight you realize...Apparently I'm pretty skilled if I can give them what I have.
I'm actually not about fighting that much. I'm more about training, staying in good shape, being confident, having fun, etc. I don't really care to lose either...It just fuels me to get better although I don't go for competitions. I'd honestly be more about training others to win a competition than I would be myself.
So, that's why I can't really understand my nervousness. I have high confidence, in good shape, have done it for a while, never went up against anybody that really outclassed me in a while, don't care to lose, etc....but still nervous. Guess I pretty much know I can beat it though so I'll just look at the feeling as something positive.

[Kolya]

It's not that. It;s just that you'll always have nervous energy going, not the anxiety kind of nerves, but the adrenaline kind of nerves.

[Machine]

Yeah what Kolya said. Adrenalin and "nervousness" bascially make you feel the same way (I mean it's actually the same thing), it's your mental state (or how you view this surge in adrenalin) that determines whether you feel it as something good/normal or something undesirable/bad in each specific situation. But I don't think it's something you can really talk yourself around mentally. You are fighting someone, that is going to produce adrenalin cos' that is what adrenalin is actually designed to do: it's creats the "fight or flight" response. This response is why humans have survived since the beginning of time. In relation to this specific context the more you fight (and don't get severely hurt/killed) the less your brain is going to tell you "fuck I could get beaten/killed here" and you're going to get less of this adrenalin surge hence less "nervousness" (and expend less nervous energy, which is critical)

So yes, just accept that there is going to be some adrenalin and that this is a good thing. And that if you want to have less of this nervousness you need to become more familiar and comfortable with this situation, which in your case is more and more sparring. Even if you have confidence in your skills, the familiarity with the situation and the outcome is the foundation of keeping on top the nerves. I assume that you mean you get this nervousness from sparring or do you get it from boxing training in general?

[papke26]

There are two types of fighters one gets in the ring, and does what he needs to do regardless of how scared he is. The other doesnt use fear to its full advantage, and uses the feeling of dread as a excuse for not fighting like a warrior. Every fighter must chose one option, simple as that.

[Primenal]

Yeah what Kolya said. Adrenalin and "nervousness" bascially make you feel the same way (I mean it's actually the same thing), it's your mental state (or how you view this surge in adrenalin) that determines whether you feel it as something good/normal or something undesirable/bad in each specific situation. But I don't think it's something you can really talk yourself around mentally. You are fighting someone, that is going to produce adrenalin cos' that is what adrenalin is actually designed to do: it's creats the "fight or flight" response. This response is why humans have survived since the beginning of time. In relation to this specific context the more you fight (and don't get severely hurt/killed) the less your brain is going to tell you "fuck I could get beaten/killed here" and you're going to get less of this adrenalin surge hence less "nervousness" (and expend less nervous energy, which is critical)

So yes, just accept that there is going to be some adrenalin and that this is a good thing. And that if you want to have less of this nervousness you need to become more familiar and comfortable with this situation, which in your case is more and more sparring. Even if you have confidence in your skills, the familiarity with the situation and the outcome is the foundation of keeping on top the nerves. I assume that you mean you get this nervousness from sparring or do you get it from boxing training in general?

Yeah, it's sparring. It usually happens whenever it's been a week, or two since I sparred. I'll spar, feel INCREDIBLE afterwards, and like "My god I loved that..." After like a week or so if I don't get it I'll start to kind of get nervous. It's just one of those things that it seems like I got to do all the time or else start to wonder what I'm doing. SO....Guess i'll just have to get it more, and push myself more.

[Kolya]

Yeah dude. It's all based on comfort and desensitization. How long have you been doing it for?

[Primenal]

Yeah dude. It's all based on comfort and desensitization. How long have you been doing it for?

I've been boxing for about 2-3 years, BUT haven't had that much sparring experience. Lately I've been trying to spar at least once a week.
Anyways, today I was quite proud of myself. I don't know if it's because I got over it because I realize my problem, or my mood. Today I was suppose to go to the dojo (we spar doing boxing there to). I had to get up at like 4 AM this morning and was tired. Unload a truck for 4 hours, and then worked til around noon...So, TIRED of course. Went to sleep for a few hours, then went and did cardio at the gym. Of course I was tired, and it's a hard workout day for me so I had NO INTENTIONS on sparring. Got to the dojo, worked out a bit on the bag, etc. Tired, but felt okay. Somebody came that I usually spar with, and even though my whole day I planned to not spar since obviously I'm tired, and not as good as I should be....I end up sparring. For like a split second before we spar I was nervous, and then thought just embrace this energy, and it WENT AWAY. This is also against a person who has trained much longer than me, is mentally superior when it comes to fighting, etc (basically somebody that I should be nervous a little bit against).
Ended up having fun sparring, got my lip busted (first time in a long time) because I didn't have my mouthpeice, and even still loved that. Hopfully I took the next step in conquering it more by realizing it's a problem. Like I said it could have just been my mood though so guess I'll have to see.

[Machine]

Good stuff. Nah I think you've overcome a hurdle and there won't be any going back if you keep your sparring up. Once you accept that a certain degree of nervousness is a normal part of sparring/fighting you won't be doing your head in any more and just go with it. I think papke26 summed things up perfectly, and you just became one of the guys that just gets on with it regardless :good.

[joekirkbycobra]

if u dont feel nervous b4 u fight you'll du sht in te fight i no from experience
the nerves gi u a lil edge n giv u nervous energy

[jones1]

I know its kinda off topic but I talked to some MMA guys who did some kind of hypnotism shit and now theyre as relaxed when fighting as if taking a walk. or so they say

[pit]

I've tryed seriously everything to conquer nervousness, but doesn't seem possible. Like before I spar or whatever I get a little nervous, but after I do it, take a few shots, get my adrenaline pumping...I NEVER FELT MORE ALIVE! I absolutely love fighting, and love taking hits, giving hits, etc, but I *still* get a little nervous before I do this kind of shit.
I've talked to many people...People who've trained most of there lives, who have been in many street fights, different walks of life basically, and they all say different things. Some say whenever a fighter loses that nervousness...Almost like a fear of losing (whatever his nervousness is) he's lost his desire, and is a done fighter. Some say you should feel nervous under certain situations, to try to stay calm and relax, and use that nervous/ exciting feeling (adrenaline) to your advantage. This came from my martial arts trainer who has trained 35 years, but admits he'll still get pumped up when fighting a guy with skill, etc.

What's true? Seems to me even the most trained fighter, who does nothing but train to fight...Would still get nervous under certain conditions. Does that person use it as fuel to his fire, or is he actually **completely** calm and relaxed? Any insight would be appreciated.

BTW: Whenever I say nervous I don't mean I'm so nervous I'd throw up or something...though I know people like that. I just mean that I seem to have some self doubt before, but it always erases afterwards.
Things I've tryed: Sparring obviously, mind control (telling myself how much I love it in front of a mirror), etc. I'm not even sure what it is...Maybe fear of losing?

No problem .. remember fighting is not natural , so its perfectly natural that you will be nervous or even sick .
But it also important for a train athlete to recognize this nerviness as good thing not a bad thing, learn to embrace it and use it to focus ..

Also note if you have done everything humanly possible to get in shape , you will notice that your fear and nervousness will turn to confidence , when it get down to it your not afraid of losing , your afraid of looking bad.

[Primenal]

No problem .. remember fighting is not natural , so its perfectly natural that you will be nervous or even sick .
But it also important for a train athlete to recognize this nerviness as good thing not a bad thing, learn to embrace it and use it to focus ..

Also note if you have done everything humanly possible to get in shape , you will notice that your fear and nervousness will turn to confidence , when it get down to it your not afraid of losing , your afraid of looking bad.

Yeah, I think your right. I'm not afraid of losing...Like I said I'm fighting some people that are so much more superior than me, and I'm one of those people who will admit if I get caught real good, or even admit "I got my ass kicked." Usually though I always make sure I get them back, or even if I said I got my ass beat it was a competitive fight where I lost. So yeah...Guess I'm afraid of not doing well, and looking badly.
Thanks for all your comments. It's pretty comforting to see that my little bit of nerves are a good thing after trying so hard to fight them. Sometimes trying to fight things (such as your mind basically) seems to make it even worse because you think about it so much more, and worry about it. Whenever you know it's common, and you *should* feel a certain way, and there's certain things in life you'll never completely beat then there's no reason to battle, and think about them anymore. Think my nerves will get a lot better with this more positive mentality.