Fight someone from your own club

[Fluidic Kimbo]

It's been 14 years since I competed in any combat sport.

I had three fights in amateur Thai boxing about 15 years ago, and I remember how the process went each time: from the day they announced the fight show to the day I stepped into the ring.

So anyway I started doing normal Western boxing (hands only) a few months ago. There's talk of a fight show coming up in November . . . but see here's the thing . . a few of us would be fighting someone from our own club.

In particular there's a guy in my club who's a good match for me. I reckon I have about a 50/50 chance against him, it would be a very good fight.

I'm just trying to get my head around the idea though of getting into the ring for a proper fight with someone who you've been training with and sparring with for a few months. This is totally out of the ordinary for me because it never would have happened in my old Thai boxing club.

I haven't decided yet what to do. Would you get in the ring for a proper boxing bout with an audience against someone from your own club?

[Ol_Wolf]

Used to do amature mma until came out of one match with concussion symptoms. At that time I was 37 and I realized my odds of making money in MMA were next to none. I was going to have to rely on the grey matter between my ears and I needed to protect it. That is when I stepped away, taught TKD for a while, but eventually just went to lifting full time.

[Mooseman33]

dream world. there is no fight, there is no club.

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I don't know how I will get into the same old mentality of training hard for a fight, when the guy I'm due to fight is there at my training sessions and I'm doing drills with him and sparring with him. I'm not saying that it's wrong, I'm just saying that it's very strange from what I'm used to.

Maybe there's just more sportsmanship now than what I'm used to.

[wango]

I don't know how I will get into the same old mentality of training hard for a fight, when the guy I'm due to fight is there at my training sessions and I'm doing drills with him and sparring with him. I'm not saying that it's wrong, I'm just saying that it's very strange from what I'm used to.

Maybe there's just more sportsmanship now than what I'm used to.

We always did full contact sparring at our school (after many months of training). You are correct, it is tougher to get a killer attitude going against a friend or training partner - getting to that mentality/mind-set is different with different people. If you are on the more compassionate side just be careful, because typically the understanding is that once you touch gloves, you are ready for all-out battle. In boxing; with gloves, head gear and a large groin protector, it takes a lot of the injury risk out of it. If you add kicks, knees and elbows, it’s a completely different story however.

[Honkey_Kong]

dream world. there is no fight, there is no club.

I'm sure he's referring to some video game he's picked up on his Playstation. He's about as much of a fighter as he is at lifting weights and training.

[Rot-Iron66]

cool story bro!

[Fiskevatten]

I can only speculate since I haven't done this myself, just been sparring and even then I feel bad when I hit that certain someone. I remember in mma on floor I didn't need technique against the guys since I could rely on strength alone, that made it boring for me and good for them training-wise. However, rolling around, punching, kicking or anything else is a sense of respect and mutual understanding. Going against someone entirely new can be bad who has an ego, but someone with a few losses and ability to be humble is a great thing. What I am trying to say is that if you don't go all out for the fear you have, then it can be seen as a lack of respect for his skills or goals. Sometimes a punch is better than words to build a brotherhood. Don't be afraid, give him a hug before and say let's go all out mate, and whoever wins or looses doesn't matter, be sure to show appreciation for the match after only. You both will come out not just better fighters, but as stronger friends and people.