being scared before fight...

[johnnyL]

I need help conquoring fear. I always get scared before fights.(My last fight especially it was first in 1 year) I got in the ring looked at my oppenant and I can't help to think, "He's much bettter than me, he looks stronger than me, he looks tougher than me,ect." I feel like this really hurts because even if I start to do well I think, "I am ahead now, that is good enough for me. I will probably lose anyways." First few fights I was so scared I just let all my adrenaline take over and after 45 seconds into first round I couldn't do anything.

I feel pathetic because in the ring even if I'm not getting hit sometimes I will just run thinking "You don't have a chance just stay away. Don't even try, you'll just make it harder on yourself." And the reality is afterwords I think about it, and I did indeed have a chance, and wonder "Why didn't I do this?" My trainers also often wonder the same thing and suggested I see someone to help me like a phychologist or something. I do fine in sparring but when I step into a ring I think "They are better than you, don't bother anymore." And the thing is I KNOW I'M BETTER. But I'm so nervous about it I can't even think about it. Just the enviroment makes me a nervous reck.

I feel like maybe there is something I am missing, and its probably confidence. People have I always said to me that I need more confidence even since I was 10 years old. I am trying to get better at having confidence in general, IE: Whenever people say something like "You're stupid", I think "Fuck them, they don't know shit." Wherareas I used to would have probably thought. "They're right I am dumb". If anyone else has anyway to improve confidence I would greatly apreciate it.

I want to become less afraid, and more confident for next fight. I do spar alot and have been boxign for quite some time, I get so anxious before fights all I can do is piss every 10 mins and I shake alot sometimes.

[Kolya]

Dude. You need to talk to a counselor or a sports psychologist. That's some severe shit right there, you're defeated before you even go into the ring that way. I had problems with anxiety myself and learned to deal with it with relaxation exercises and just training and everything, but yours is completely defeating yourself before you go into the ring. I agree with your trainers. You should see a professional about it.

[johnnyL]

I did before but not for very long cause I thot it might fix itself. But I have been like this my entire life. Even thinking about doing things sometimes makes me shake or get nervous. Ussually things in front of a crowd, I am fine alone. I wish I could have bouts in some1 basement with me, my oppenant his coaches and my coaches, a ref and judges. WHen other kids would go to my gym to spar, or I would go to a different gym to spar I was fine. I just get terrifyed with all the people there.

[Kolya]

Dude, no. You need to talk to someone. Trust me, I've been here and done this. It's performance anxiety, classic performance anxiety. But if you don't start learning to deal with it, cope with it and overcome it; not only will it not go away, it could someday go to full blow Agoraphobia.

[johnnyL]

WOW. I just looked up what Agoraphobia is and I kinda can see it already happening... It seems that whenever I go places with large amounts of people I get kinda nervous. Really crowded Bars, Restaraunts, Amusement Parks. And I feel like I need to get the hell out of there. I also get the comfort zone thing... I do feel 100x better in my home than anywhere else. Although familiar places like my gym and school don't make me feel this way. Maybe this is alot more serious than I thought. I should probably really learn to get over this I think before I start fighting again. I might try to get some help, thanks for the heads up.

[Kolya]

Do it dude. It helped me and worked for me and I beat it and overcame it with some mental discipline, hard work, and listening to my coach and my counselor.

[ryan8331]

i used to get likke that before public performances of any kind.just freeze up.i dont really get it any more,i have a more positive perspective now,i put everything into training and being beaten doesnt sit well with me,i feel i need to administer a beating to my opponent to prove ant doubters wrong.
do you feel shit after you fight knowing you havent done your best?

[cjgloves]

sounds pretty serious mate, do as kolya said and see a counselor. your in school you say so i take it your young. Talk to your parents about it and maybe they will help you get a counselor again.

[johnnyL]

i used to get likke that before public performances of any kind.just freeze up.i dont really get it any more,i have a more positive perspective now,i put everything into training and being beaten doesnt sit well with me,i feel i need to administer a beating to my opponent to prove ant doubters wrong.
do you feel shit after you fight knowing you havent done your best?

Yes I feel bad about not doing best, when I had fights at my gym I felt I did better, although I was still a little nervous. But other than that afterwords I'd feel like I hadn't done all that I could and I knew I could have made it alot closer.

[Doomas]

Do it dude. It helped me and worked for me and I beat it and overcame it with some mental discipline, hard work, and listening to my coach and my counselor.

Could you explain mental discipline part in detail (what you do to discipline yourself)??

[ryan8331]

Yes I feel bad about not doing best, when I had fights at my gym I felt I did better, although I was still a little nervous. But other than that afterwords I'd feel like I hadn't done all that I could and I knew I could have made it alot closer.
just try not to think about the crowd,its only you and him in there,the guys i train with and my coach give me alot of support and confidence,take time before the fight trying to get in the right frame of mind and visualising what your going to do.think of your previous fights and how you could of done better.dont leave it till afterwards then regret it.i know what you mean though.

[Ai9184]

xanax.

[sheff-fighter]

when I go in, I go in having resigned myself to a broken nose, pain etc etc. Once you know they're going to happen, they're much much easier to face and I go in much more confidently.

Plus, when the worst doesn't happen (as is normally the case), it feels even better

[Pugsley]

WOW. I just looked up what Agoraphobia is and I kinda can see it already happening... It seems that whenever I go places with large amounts of people I get kinda nervous. Really crowded Bars, Restaraunts, Amusement Parks. And I feel like I need to get the hell out of there. I also get the comfort zone thing... I do feel 100x better in my home than anywhere else. Although familiar places like my gym and school don't make me feel this way. Maybe this is alot more serious than I thought. I should probably really learn to get over this I think before I start fighting again. I might try to get some help, thanks for the heads up.

Your analysis of yourself is possibly the most correct. It may carry over into the ring when you are surrounded by a crowd of people. Agoraphobia is not that uncommon. Nervousness is normal but when your fear has reached an irrational level, where it impairs your ability to function properly means it could be clinical.

Dont question your responses and you will find it much easier. You cant reason with what is irrational. You also dont have to eliminate the fear itself, but acknowledge it is there and put it in another compartment where you will deal with it later.

Of course a self diagnosis wont always be a complete picture, it may also relate to another phobia, such as fear of making mistakes or relate to an earlier incident in your life.
Most people lie to themself on a daily basis from big to little things, and none of those lies are true unless you believe in it. If you find that you constantly talk yourself out of what you are afraid to do, you can also talk yourself into it.

Good luck in your fight against your greatest enemy.

[joekirkbycobra]

u need phycologist help
but u neva dont want to b nervous b4 goin in2 a fight
you just want to b nervous and confident
confident in ur ability and coaching
thers a fighter in our gym who seemed confident to the naked eye always sayin how e hes gonna knock im out n all that
but e always ended with words like
wont i
cant i
do you agree
wich imo sugests e needs bak up ther4 isnt confident

but wen u fight bear in mind ther shittin themselves too n in am boxing 3 2 min or 4 2 min the only way to really embarass yourself is to go in2 a shell scared
u have to go for it

[lfsdan]

Everyone gets nervous before a fight but you seem to be doing the extreme. I remember in my amateur bouts i had that nervous/exciting feeling but when it came down to it and the bell rang it went away. Much similar to a street fight. You have that first nervous reaction and then your instincts and skill kicks in.

Take Kolya's advice and see a professional about it. You'll never know how truly great you can be until you get that sorted out. Just consider it your first step to becoming a better fighter. Remember the fight game is at least 50% mental.

[Kolya]

xanax.


Useless and actually counter-productive.

[johnnyL]

Yea I think maybe I will visit a professional. It does seem though that it is worse at other gyms. When I fought at my own gym I was actually really comfortable in the fight I had there,(was much more experienced oppenant and I made it a close fight). I didn't really start thinking negative there, but in other gyms that's what seems to happen. Perhaps it was also at my gym the crowd was a little smaller.

Nonetheless I will still see a professional about it.

[Kolya]

The reason it seems worse at other gyms is because it's an unfamiliar environment and unfamiliar people that you're not comfortable with.

[Relentless]

i remember my first exhibition, i looked out and saw a mean crowd and my stomach started hurting and i started choking up, i almost threw up on the way to the ring.

[lfsdan]

The reason it seems worse at other gyms is because it's an unfamiliar environment and unfamiliar people that you're not comfortable with.

Imagine being fresh meat at kronk gym. Just walking in there for your first day... That'd make me pretty damn nervous.

[The Predator]

Yea I think maybe I will visit a professional. It does seem though that it is worse at other gyms. When I fought at my own gym I was actually really comfortable in the fight I had there,(was much more experienced oppenant and I made it a close fight). I didn't really start thinking negative there, but in other gyms that's what seems to happen. Perhaps it was also at my gym the crowd was a little smaller.

Nonetheless I will still see a professional about it.

One of my fighters has the same problem. You wrote something here that is one of the keyelements. thinking negative, you have to change those toughts. as soon as you notice them you have to stop it and start think on the stuff you are good at. "my jab is very fast, I´m hard to hit." etc. etc. Work on it in your daily training inside and outside the gym, think on the stuff you are good at. Once I was told that it is as easy to think positive as it is to think negative, it´s true.
Best of luck
The Predator

[brigh&hovecity]

Hi, ive always been too embarrassed about being scared before a fight to even talk to any one about it. I could not work out why the other boxers from my gym managed so well before a fight, I found that being nervous drained 90% of my energy in the hours leading up to the fight, and when I climbed through the ropes I had the exact same feelings like you have of inferiorority and ended up losing. I did not understand why I had those negative feelings and I now know that looking back at my 11 fights / 6 wins I could have beaten all of them had I been going in to the ring feeling positive. Its 8 years since my last fight and since then I really regret not beating those guys.

There is no quick fix to getting over it all I can say is I am older and wiser and have read some interesting books on dealing with fear and adrelanine. The key thing they all seem to say is that fear comes from uncertainty - not knowing, and the solution is to face your fears gradually step by step in a controlled enviroment and to accept that when fear comes you accept it as a natural consequence - not panic that you are feeling it.

Like the other people on here have said you should get some help, but in the mean time try and get a few books on the subject.

I found these useful:

'Tao of jeet kune do' by Bruce lee (I am serious) This has some excellant insights in to the psychology of fighting and just being positive and happy, I am not in to martial arts but found his wisdom very useful. Its written in short random nuggets of his thoughts but I still read it now and then. 'Fear: The Friend of Exceptional People - Techniques in Controlling Fear' by Geoff Thompson. This is more for the every day to day fears, spiders, enclosed places etc but the techniques are really simple and can help in every day life.

What ever happens you will be a much happier person if you can get some where with this, it is something that will take a lot of hard work and you will get a few knocks back on the way but stick with it.

Dont forget - You might always feel some fear when fighting but remember the reason you are doing it is because its meant to be fun!

[BRICKS]

i figure its good to be a lil nervous or scared. keeps u sharp. but u have to relax and not be so tense or else ur not gonna do as good as u should.

[BITCH ASS]

Fuck a psychologist. Just force yourself to be in undesirable positions and force yourself not to be scared.

[amy]

Fuck a psychologist. Just force yourself to be in undesirable positions and force yourself not to be scared.
That's great advice. :roll:

[BITCH ASS]

That's great advice. :roll:

Well, ultimately, isn't that what it comes down to?

[Samurai]

Fuck a psychologist. Just force yourself to be in undesirable positions and force yourself not to be scared.

Like you would have any fucking clue.

[Kolya]

Well, ultimately, isn't that what it comes down to?

No, it doesn't, and as always, you don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

[rusty nails]

I need help conquoring fear. I always get scared before fights.(My last fight especially it was first in 1 year) I got in the ring looked at my oppenant and I can't help to think, "He's much bettter than me, he looks stronger than me, he looks tougher than me,ect." I feel like this really hurts because even if I start to do well I think, "I am ahead now, that is good enough for me. I will probably lose anyways." First few fights I was so scared I just let all my adrenaline take over and after 45 seconds into first round I couldn't do anything.

I feel pathetic because in the ring even if I'm not getting hit sometimes I will just run thinking "You don't have a chance just stay away. Don't even try, you'll just make it harder on yourself." And the reality is afterwords I think about it, and I did indeed have a chance, and wonder "Why didn't I do this?" My trainers also often wonder the same thing and suggested I see someone to help me like a phychologist or something. I do fine in sparring but when I step into a ring I think "They are better than you, don't bother anymore." And the thing is I KNOW I'M BETTER. But I'm so nervous about it I can't even think about it. Just the enviroment makes me a nervous reck.

I feel like maybe there is something I am missing, and its probably confidence. People have I always said to me that I need more confidence even since I was 10 years old. I am trying to get better at having confidence in general, IE: Whenever people say something like "You're stupid", I think "Fuck them, they don't know shit." Wherareas I used to would have probably thought. "They're right I am dumb". If anyone else has anyway to improve confidence I would greatly apreciate it.

I want to become less afraid, and more confident for next fight. I do spar alot and have been boxign for quite some time, I get so anxious before fights all I can do is piss every 10 mins and I shake alot sometimes.

dude, courage comes from recognising your scared of something then doing it anyway. ive been in the ring and know the exact feeling.
i have a little 3 point checklist i use not just in the ring but in life it might help.
1# recognise its ok to be afraid, in fact its normal. whats not okay is letting someone hammer you because they were shit boxers but "a bit scary"
2# ask if your fear is real? are you actually afraid of the guy because of what hes done or rather what he might do? and am i afraid of HIM or what ive BUILT HIM UP TO BE. paul briggs used to tell himself lets wait to see if this guy can hurt me THEN ill decide if im afraid.
3# use your fear! this is the most important one.. what happens when your afraid? your blood pumps and your heart races. this is because your body is producing massive amounts of adrenalin to fuel your body and endorphins to focus your mind.. endorphins are otherwise known as NATURAL PAINKILLERS!! in other words your body is preparing for war and the best part is you wont feel a thing!

hope you find the courage within champ! god bless!
3# Use your

[The Predator]

Rusty nails,

those advises are superb! I think everyone should print them out and put them on the wall in their gym, I think it would help a lot of fighters.
All the best
The Predator

[joekirkbycobra]

Rusty nails,

those advises are superb! I think everyone should print them out and put them on the wall in their gym, I think it would help a lot of fighters.
All the best
The Predator
i agree good post rusty

[Knoxknockout]

Get your stamina up and it will take away that fear. You cant be afraid if you never stop punching.

[Executioner]

I used to get extremely nervous before my bouts. Like, to the point where I'd be feeling sick and not wanting to fight. i'd suggest going to a sports psychologist, it works wonders. i went to one

[loveforboxing]

Get your stamina up and it will take away that fear. You cant be afraid if you never stop punching.


I like this advice. When you know 100% that you are ready and in the best shape that you could ever be and you gave your all in the gym you should feel confident and that alone should take away your fear.

[Kolya]

There's a difference between levels of confidence and what's known as performance anxiety, guys. The latter has more to do with performing in front of people and being in an unknown situation, it doesn't have as much to do with actual confidence or ability.

[Bill Humphrey]

To be afraid before a fight is a normal reaction and you should embrace it as such, there is nothing seriously wrong with you you are just being human. However how you deal with that fear can be the deciding factor in your fight. Your opponent will also be afraid and he will also be trying to deal with the fear factor and sometimes it boils down to who can find a way to overcome the fear.

When afraid you will look for excuses to loose you will tell yourself you are not fit enough or not good enough to beat your opponent and this is when you have to deal with the fear, you have to start telling yourself you are good enough and you are fit enought to beat this chump and some. To deal with the fear you have to start believing in yourself and removing the doubt with more positive thoughts. This is how you can deal with your lack of confidence and the fear factor, it's just a negqative thought pattern.

Remember also that before you enter that ring you must have done all the ground work and preparation because if you have been slacking in the gym you will take that into the ring and start doubting yourself.

Read the teddy Atlas book "From the streets to the Gym", Teddy was a good sports psychologist when it came to fighters.

Kind Regards BH

[mancuniankid]

dude, courage comes from recognising your scared of something then doing it anyway. ive been in the ring and know the exact feeling.
i have a little 3 point checklist i use not just in the ring but in life it might help.
1# recognise its ok to be afraid, in fact its normal. whats not okay is letting someone hammer you because they were shit boxers but "a bit scary"
2# ask if your fear is real? are you actually afraid of the guy because of what hes done or rather what he might do? and am i afraid of HIM or what ive BUILT HIM UP TO BE. paul briggs used to tell himself lets wait to see if this guy can hurt me THEN ill decide if im afraid.
3# use your fear! this is the most important one.. what happens when your afraid? your blood pumps and your heart races. this is because your body is producing massive amounts of adrenalin to fuel your body and endorphins to focus your mind.. endorphins are otherwise known as NATURAL PAINKILLERS!! in other words your body is preparing for war and the best part is you wont feel a thing!

hope you find the courage within champ! god bless!
3# Use your

Endorphins are not a natural painkiller and nothing to do with that

They are the bodys feel good factor and are released at times like, laughing, working out, or spunking in ur mrs

[sidvish69]

I need help conquoring fear. I always get scared before fights.(My last fight especially it was first in 1 year) I got in the ring looked at my oppenant and I can't help to think, "He's much bettter than me, he looks stronger than me, he looks tougher than me,ect." I feel like this really hurts because even if I start to do well I think, "I am ahead now, that is good enough for me. I will probably lose anyways." First few fights I was so scared I just let all my adrenaline take over and after 45 seconds into first round I couldn't do anything.

I feel pathetic because in the ring even if I'm not getting hit sometimes I will just run thinking "You don't have a chance just stay away. Don't even try, you'll just make it harder on yourself." And the reality is afterwords I think about it, and I did indeed have a chance, and wonder "Why didn't I do this?" My trainers also often wonder the same thing and suggested I see someone to help me like a phychologist or something. I do fine in sparring but when I step into a ring I think "They are better than you, don't bother anymore." And the thing is I KNOW I'M BETTER. But I'm so nervous about it I can't even think about it. Just the enviroment makes me a nervous reck.

I feel like maybe there is something I am missing, and its probably confidence. People have I always said to me that I need more confidence even since I was 10 years old. I am trying to get better at having confidence in general, IE: Whenever people say something like "You're stupid", I think "Fuck them, they don't know shit." Wherareas I used to would have probably thought. "They're right I am dumb". If anyone else has anyway to improve confidence I would greatly apreciate it.

I want to become less afraid, and more confident for next fight. I do spar alot and have been boxign for quite some time, I get so anxious before fights all I can do is piss every 10 mins and I shake alot sometimes.

you have to believe in your own ability or get out of the ring, self belief and heart can take you a long way in the ring.

[tommy the hat]

Just remember a few things johnny. First of all, you need to be nervous before a fight. Even the world champs get nervous before bouts. But you need not to let the fear of fighting consume you, you have let it work for you. When you go into the ring, just have faith in yourself, have faith in the fact that you trained hard, that you are in shape and above all just go out there and do the best that you can. If you can look at yourself in the mirror after a fight and say to yourself win or lose, that I did the very best that I can , then that is all you can ask for. Also remember Johnny that the guy you are fighting is just as nervous as you are. When they say boxing is 80 percent mental, it is so true Many fights are won and lost before the bell rings

[PISTOL STARTER]

Im actually a fairly confident bloke..dont know what it is but i spar anyone and everyone. Its a good way of gaining confidence the more u spar the easier it becomes. iv sparred without head gear before against my cousins husband who is 90kg i only weigh 70kg. Once u know u can take a shot from a much bigger bloke ur confidence sky rockets...Boxing is the last sport u should be in dude if u have confidence issues, its just as much mental as it is skill....have faith in yourself, uv got balls otherise u wouldnt be boxing. Might as well make the most of it. Its ok to be nervous but dont ever doubt yourself, thats a recipe for disaster...i guess u already know that ay....

[malsah]

i think i suffer from the exact same thing, i fuckin HATE crowds watching me, i think negitive about myself, and get nervous before fighting. i never got any proffesional help however i decided i was goin to do somthing about it. i basically went to my gym n picked the biggest, muscled up bloke in there (who i later found out was some ex-heavyweight kickboxing champ). we sparred for a long while, obviously he was the better fighter, however the important thing to me was that i stood my ground, took his punches and got afew good hits in. this gave me a big confidence boost (as i was a newbie at the time).

also, i have always viewed fear as an advantage in a fight, if you know how to use it. fear is the human bodies primary defence in terms of survival, it numbs pain, makes you stonger and faster than normal, and allows you to work when nothings left in the tank.

for the negitive thoughts themselves, theres not much you can do other than 'try' think positive, which is easier said than done. personally, i intergrate the positives with the negatives, for example, if im thinking a guys way to fast for me, i try n solve the problem by takin it from him, i dont just dwell on it.

well, i prob have'nt helped u much, if at all, but i have nothing to lose saying it, so i may aswell say it...

[detached909]

Is boxing really what u wanna do??? Have u thought of that?? A little fear is normal however too much is not healthy & a great way to get hurt. Hope all goes well bro!! Work off the jab! Detached909