is it possible to get good just by sparring?

[murphyx500]

or do you need the punch bag and other things?

[amy]

you need a trainer

[Primenal]

you need a trainer

I'd agree. Sparring, and working out go hand and hand really.
If all your doing is sparring then you don't know what your doing, and you aren't going to learn much of anything because you don't know what you did right/ did wrong. If all you do is the workout part of it (bag work, footwork, shadow boxing, etc) then you aren't going to have the visual of fighting an opponent.
Bruce Lee for instance trained 6 days in a row, 8 hours a day (he was a machine), and he sparred on the 7th. This is a very good idea IMO...Besides the fact it's to much to workout that much. He trained for 6 days, and then on the 7th he's finally able to see what he can do. Then, any mistakes he made, or any weakness...he trained for 6 more days to straighten those out. Can't really beat that.

I shouldn't say you wouldn't learn nothing from sparring. There are even some bar fighters out there with no experience that would tear some decent boxers up in a street fight. Reason is....They found out what works for them with trial/ error. They just do what works over and over again until they run up against something that doesn't work on. Much better to be trained though...

[tommy the hat]

Sparring is a very important part of boxing training. Because ultimately what you are training for is to be able to do what you are practicing on a live opponent. The bags and the mirrors in the gym are important, but they don't hit back. Being able to throw combinations on a bag and on a live person are two completely different things. Ultimately a fighter needs to feel comfortable and relaxed in the ring, and the only way to do that is through sparring. That being said, you still need to do other things in training besides spar. You still need to work the mitts, do road work, skip rope, work the bag. Excessive sparring is not good either, because a fighter can get burned out easily and get too banged up that he has nothing left when he goes to fight.

[BRICKS]

id say its one of the most important things u can do, along with conditioning. other things are important but wont fully prepare u to see the punches coming and learn how to move around the ring. but yes u need someone to tell u what needs to be done different especially if u arent able to adapt in the middle of a fight.

[MrMagic]

Unless you're very aware of your flaws you will develop some really nasty habits bro, better have someone view and correct you.

[Bazooka]

You have to work with a coach so that you learn to turn your shots over correctly and so that you work on your defense and footwork, Sparring allows you to work on those things, but when your doing mitts you get a bit more time to correct those mistakes in sparring you get hurt when you make those mistakes.
The bag work etc... is for conditioning and basicly everything else I just said above. Sparring alone wont get it done, you have to work on alot more than just throwing and taking shots

[BRICKS]

Unless you're very aware of your flaws you will develop some really nasty habits bro, better have someone view and correct you.
im aware of my flaws and have the ability to understand what mistakes ive made while fightin. ive been fighting since a kid and no matter how much uve been trained on all other basis of fighting it cant help you once youve been hit in the face and have to respond. which is why i feel if ur only taught how to throw a 1-2 and are greatly conditioned and spar a lot you should be able to 'box'. if u can take a punch mentally without crumbling that is.

[brawler9000]

or do you need the punch bag and other things?

You will get better than you are now if your sparring parteners are better then you, but You need to do other things mitts, heavy bag, ect. But the thing you need a trainer because you are you limited to what you can learn by your self and your sparring parteners.

[murphyx500]

thanks for the informative responses. For now I cannot get to a gym with a trainer. I will be able to in January. Not too long to wait. For now me and sparring partner are just doing jabs and straights and combos of those. We've been giving each other feed back along these lines:

-leaving yourself open after a punch
-footwork mistakes
-being too static
-not being fit enough!
-throwing the wrong punch at the wrong time

I've done quite a bit of homework on boxing technique and strategy but I have noticed some horrible habbits I have which I didn't think I had. One big problem I had was turning away from an incoming punch, leaving myself in a ridiculous position. We're ironing out the creases at the moment but once my gym membership here expires I will heed your advice and look for a proper boxing/martial arts gym.

Just to brag I had an awesome shot on him and I want your opinion on it technically/strategically. I read that a southpaw (me) should keep their lead foot on the outside of an orthodox (opponent) lead foot. I tried this out and saw the benefit straight away. My partner threw out a jab, which I slipped to the outside whilst throwing a straight of my own and I had him right in the chin. Awesome I thought.

[Primenal]

Actually, I had a question about sparring though...Like I said Bruce Lee sparred once a week, and that's what I was trying to do.
I'd like to do more though, but I'm really in to lifting, and everything so it's hard for me to really focus on sparring whenever I'm already sore.
So, I was working out to much...Like 6 days a week (this includes weights, boxing, martial arts, running, swimming, etc). So, I cut it down to 5, and that seems perfect for me.
I do 4 days of lifting...On those days I use boxing/ martial arts to warm up though, and practice my tecnique. About 30 minutes a day of that. Then I go to the gym, and lift. Day 5 I was doing a little bit of cardio/ SPARRING. That seemed to work alright, but I just want to start fighting twice a week because I've trained a lot, but never sparred to much.
So, I tryed last week to do 6 days....but the 2 days where I spar that's ALL I DO. Of course I train a little bit before I spar to warm up tho. Then, I was planning on lifting the other 4 days, and I can't do it! Last night I sparred (doing MMA to which I've only done for a week), and I'm the sorest I ever been! Going to the gym would not benefit me right now because my body is broken in half.
So, in my case what's good? I can't lift any less than 4 days...Lifting for 4 really isn't even enough for me, it's bare minimum. I also cannot lift on the days I fight because I'd be battered!
Is working on tecnique by myself for 4 days, and sparring the 5th enough in my case? Sparring is the only thing I ever lacked...

[Vantage_West]

terry norris used to do most of his training via sparring about 50%. did some comboing on the pads, did some heavybag work, some wieghts and a run...but sparring is where his bread and butter was at.

i think you could become a decent fighter by just sparring...but it has harmed other fighters because it doesnt better your reactions or skills....if your tough enough you can get by...and tough enoug hisnt enough in boxing and prolly one of the most overated aspects. some i feel become very complacent with what they are doing. buster drayton was a sparring partner for alot of fighters around the area and seemed to become very beatable later in life becuase he didnt aadapt he just fought.

[Boxaholic]

What about if u just shadowboxed (by yourself and in pairs), hand pads and sparred? Im considering doing this all at home since I have a training partner thats willing and the gym here is a joke (fitness mostly). I have a heavybag but Im thinking about not using it (much) since it gets u used to not moving as you throw your combinations and I find it awkward at times while sparring since Im not completely used to it. And of course Id be doing all the neccessary conditioning, running, core, drills, etc...

[Bigcat]

Unless you're very aware of your flaws you will develop some really nasty habits bro, better have someone view and correct you.

Exactly , the trainer or coach is just a second set of eyes that you can referr to after each round or session...........

Sparring is the best way to fast become a far better boxer than hitting the bags though, even though using the bags , mitts and listening to great advice is the absolute key..

Tip, respect your trainer , and never question what he tells you.. He does it for the good of your own health..