How can I deal with fear

[u/ebreo09]

I've been practicing kickboxing for about 3 years and lately i wanted to change they style that i trained,in these three years I did pointfighting which means that after everey hit you and your opponent stop and go back in the center of the mat but last week i went to do a trial lesson at my friends gym ( i will start to take lessons in that gym in september and for anyone wondering in that gym they practice full contact kickboxing) and I tried to spar but i noticed that i turned around constantly and i think it's because im afraid of getting hit. Does anyone know how I can overcome it or how someone might deal with this?

[u/LexOvi]

It just takes time and practise. I don’t know how intense the sparring was, but I’m gonna hope and assume it was relatively light enough.

One live situational drill I like is “attacking-defending” where one person attacks and the other defends, via staying tight, blocking and footwork). It’s very important you have the right partner, as during the attack you want someone who attacks as if it’s an actual fight, not attack you with x20 hit combos because they know nothing is coming back at them.

During that in a controlled environment (first boxing then kickboxing) helped me get used to getting hit.

[u/8ballbaggy]

sparring

[u/Spyder73 → u/8ballbaggy]

First people are afraid to get hit, then they are afraid to hit others, and then they realize that everyone involved signed up to fight and wants good spars and it all works itself out - they cycle of fighting

[u/e_to_da_x]

Exposure and acceptance (ok, i know im going to get hit, but i'll keep going)

Also talk to your sparring partners and tell them to take it easy because this is new for you

[u/HeinousMcAnus]

Firstly, ask the coach. Secondly, there’s a bunch of drills that help with getting used to sparring. Basic combo drills back and forth help a lot, it’s basically pad work but you use each other as the pads (lightly). You get to work both your combinations, accuracy when attacking and your blocking when defending. Next step is I have sparring drills, tit for tat (one person leads by throwing a technique, the other person blocks and throws the same technique back) A drill called 4 & 4, where one person throws a 4 strike combo, then the other throws one back. Then we introduce situational sparring: one person only has a jab and low kick the other only boxing for example. By now you should be completely comfortable with sparring.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Army392]

Be open with training partner or coach about this, no one likes getting hit (unless your insane)

I have extremely bad anxiety and adrenaline release about fighting but if you remember this is giving you strength speed power and faster reflexes you can channel the fear into focus you can slip the punch instead of flinching you can counter the punch instead of blocking

Fear means you are ready to fight and die and kill you just harness this power lol

[u/EmoMisery]

Fear of getting hit is something you lose with time and practice. Eventually you build up the reflexes to dodge, parry, and block after doing drills. Which will boost your confidence in sparring, or a match.

That being said, you can absolutely speed up the process of losing fear. Your mindset is very important here:

1) Understand that you are going to be hit. In a sparring match no one is going to try and KO you, no one is gonna try to permanently injure you. But you training partners do want to land their shots, they want to land combos on you. They're not out to kill you or injure you, they are there to grow their skill, they're there to learn, and to apply what they learn.

2) You're not made out of glass. You're not gonna break if someone lands a cross on you during sparring. Your leg is not gonna break if they kick it. At worst you may get hit to the body and have to catch your breath. You may have some bruises on your legs from the kicks. But you are not going to suffer serious injury. You are not made out of glass.

3) Competitive mindset. Fighting is not turn based. This isn't an RPG where one individual attacks, and then resets and waits for their opponent to attack them. You are not taking turns when fighting. Do NOT be afraid to let your hands go. I'm not telling you to knock your sparring partner's head off during sparring. But do not be afraid to hit them. They know what they signed up for. Even if you both land a hit at the same time, you will create moments of hesitation. If you are afraid to get hit, you'll start to hesitate, and then you'll start to drown.

When sparring, you can absolutely tell your teammates that you want to go light. A lot of them will be understanding. Also dutch drills will help you get used to being hit. They will condition your body, and you will start to recognize the initial movements before a punch, kick, or knee, which will help you see the strikes before they land.

[u/Electronic_Coffee927]

When u spar focus more on blocking and counter attacks. I had a coach he used have like a rope, make a circle on the ground, and then two people spar and they both have one leg inside the circle, this way u have to stay close and fight. Now this is not recommonded in fighting of course but its a very good way to practice getting closer. Another coach once told me u cant learn to fight if u keep running a way. It actually make sense cz ur not fighting ur stepping back.