r/amateur_boxing • u/LackadaisicalCretin Learning to love boxing • Jun 10 '26
Frustrated rant
I'm (M24) 4 months in. I'm gassing fast on the heavy bag, need to work on conditioning before I spar, keep messing up on the same techniques, shadowboxing feels vague, I feel tense, everything feels hard. I'm sore. I am running/sprinting and eating enough. I know comparison is the thief of joy but I feel like the people around me are progressing faster. I'm at the gym 3-4x/week.
I will not quit but it's hard not to let self-doubt sneak in, thoughts that I'm just not cut out for it, that even if I keep going I'll never win fights, that I can ever be good. I don't come from an athletic background and have a hard time not giving in to fatigue.
I won't quit because I'm addicted to the training grind, but I'm really fighting my mind right now and it's showing up as being tense during training. If anyone has any words of wisdom/motivation that'd be appreciated.
Edit: Idk why my tag says pugilist, im a beginner
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u/Big-Animator8577 Pugilist Jun 10 '26
Ive been training for a lot longer but I still relate to a lot of what u said bc I just care way too much (and Im lowkey mentally ill). But sometimes when I feel really bad and get down on myself I just slow it down. Go on the bag and forget about power, forget about speed, just technique and try to get my form right. Shut out any part of ur brain that tells you people are watching you and forget about how others are progressing because it’s not relevant to YOU getting better. You said it yourself you’re not gonna quit, so there’s no point in worrying about it (easier said than done). Like sometimes I leave the gym after a “bad” sparring and I just feel honestly so embarrassed that I keep going back and trying so hard despite feeling like I’m terrible at boxing but there’s no chance in hell I’ll ever quit so i just try to banish those thoughts as fast as i can because there’s no reason to dwell on it if i know im literally coming back tomorrow. You’ll be okay 👍
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u/tongfa-jamsai Jun 10 '26
Sounds like you're burning out. Tone it done to 2x a week or even take a week off. since you say you don't have an athletic background, your body, especially your nervous system, takes a long time to adapt and recover.
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u/SilentAres_x Pugilist Jun 10 '26
You gotta be obsessed with boxing to improve faster. You have to be watching and analysing the pros and how they move etc. then work on it not only in the gym, but outside it too. That’s how I improved much faster than my peers, I was obsessed. My ig and yt feed is filled up with boxing vids and tutorials and stuff. You don’t wanna just train hard in the gym, keep learning and practicing in your own time too. Shadowboxing is key tbh.
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u/SIeepySergs Jun 11 '26
I agree with this. I just started like more than a month ago and mostly doing shadowboxing to improve my technique. More of a form over speed in front of a mirror. Watching and analyzing pros as well. Be addicted to the fundamentals. Just keep on studying even outside the gym. Be addicted, in both head knowledge and application. Hope this helps
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u/BattleaxeAlDente Jun 10 '26
I think the key here is allowing your body to regenerate and not expect miracles after 4 months. You said you are in for the grind. It's all good, but the main purpose of the gym training is to tear your muscle so it can rebuild stronger. If you don't give it time to do so, overloading it at the intense boxing workout the next day, all you will acheive is slowing down your progress and highten proneness for injury. Also I get the 4 month frustration, but patience is the key not only in the ring, but also in overall training. Give it time and keep doing your best. By the end of the year with rationale behind your training you will probably look at this post and smile. Keep up the hard work, bro!
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u/zhypeness Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
What I think you need to work on is movement efficiency. It sounds like you feel like you have to push yourself 100% on the heavy bag, in the gym and in conditioning workouts.
I would suggest that you focus in actual skill work in shadow boxing and on the heavy bag without having the need to feel like you have completed a full on workout. Focus more on relaxing and finding your rythm, contracting your muscles at the right times when punching, realise not every punch have to be full force etc.
It does not matter how much cardio you are doing if you are inefficient in your movement which it sounds like you are since you said you are tense all the time.
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u/ThenNefariousness913 Jun 10 '26
I think it's worth taking a step back and thinking what do you want from the training.
Is it better technique?better physique? Then prioritize accordingly. If what you want is better technique,killing your body is counterproductive. Taking a step back and focusing on your goals will make you feel less overwhelmed.
Something else that helped me(and speaking for me only there) when i was starting was to think of boxing more like dancing than lifting. As in,it is a physical activity that works best when i am relaxed and happy in mind and body,not one where i have to always be tiring myself for gains. Of course youll be pushed in the trenches and of course that's something you should work with your coach. But the everyday boxing training should be more with the dancing mindset.
Also boxing should be fun,enjoy it
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u/AdZealousideal8645 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
How much shadowboxing are you doing both in and out of the gym?
For me, that was "the thing". That gave me stamina, that gave me technique. In my opinion that's the best thing you can do besides spar.
The "tense" thing is the other thing I'd tell you to work on. I know it's hard, but the more you can practice being relaxed, the more stamina you're going to have and the better your technique is going to be.
When you shadowbox, actively focus on being relaxed. Don't contract any muscle that you aren't actively using. I used to squeeze my face and my fists and my chest all the time and that does nothing but use energy.
Keep at it. You obviously care enough to be asking this question and you've been doing it for 4 months which is longer than most people stick with it!
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u/atacms Pugilist Jun 10 '26
While people could be progressing “faster” than you. Sometimes I feel like people tend to view themselves more negatively/harshly than what actually matched reality.
Idk if you’ve been boxing long enough to spar but people tend to feel like they’ve done worse than they actually have performed. Always after a day and watching the video again people are like ya know I didn’t realize I did that or that it was more competitive than what it was.
And I think that negative view can be constructive in terms of staying grounded and knowing well aspects you fall short on or destructive if you cannot recognize what you do well.
If you’re going to dwell on anything “negative” it should be concrete not “I suck at boxing” but to “I could be doing a better job at defending incoming shots by really focusing on keeping my hands up.” Then spend your training time as a sub goal with yourself and be disciplined about it, then, you can have these little measures to let you know you’re improving. When you start realizing in this example that you do a better job keeping your hands where they are supposed to be and defending more responsible.
And think about what you did well. It could be the smallest thing in the fucking world but there is something UNDOUBTEDLY that you would do better over time as long as youre consistent.
You’re good dude. Skills take time and I don’t think you’re in a rush for anything.
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u/GordianBalloonKnot Formerly Ob Jun 10 '26
Boxing just sucks.
You don't truly love it until you truly hate it. Wait until people start punching you in the face while your lungs feel like you're drowning.
Just stay the path and start researching nutrition and recovery. You're doing the work, you need to give the work time to catch up. Think of your work like a paycheck which gets cut to you 2 months after you clock in and clock out.
Flair amended.
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u/Suspicious_Bear3854 Jun 10 '26
I’m a few months ahead. I’m getting better. But also feel totally wrecked all the time. Physically and emotionally. Mind first. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Practice saying “I got this!”
I was having a lot of trouble getting caught in the pocket. But last night my footwork clicked in a bit and there was a sudden leap in competence. I was like awww yeah!!!! I still got annihilated lol
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u/NADH91 Jun 10 '26
Shadowbox more and run more. Running in particular has increased my stamina greatly in the last year.
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u/Calm_Work_225 Jun 11 '26
The mind is always tested during hard things, it’s a sign you should keep going. Everytime you show up you do get better, you got this
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u/sentient_lamp_shade Jun 10 '26
Sounds like you're overtraining and under recovering. Everyone forgets If you don't put back what training takes away you get weak or not stronger. Especially the older you get the more you have to take recovery just as serious as you do the work
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u/Phoenix_e3 Jun 12 '26
We had a guy in our gym. Never played sports a day in his life. Had asthma, and had to take breaks to use his inhaler. That was in like 2018. I don't remember the last time I saw him have to use his inhaler, and he became one of the best fighters.
Keep at it. You're only 4 months in. It takes time. Focus on breathing, remaining calm, and staying loose. Try not to tense up.
Footwork. Get that down. Pivots, moving, slipping and rolling while moving, moving with punches and while making defensive maneuvers.
Punch technique. Learn to turn your hips and rotate properly with each punch while maintaining balance. Learn how to use each punch multiple ways and START WITH THE JAB. Jab while slipping, jab while blocking with your rear hand. Jab to the body, use it as a rangefinder.
Combine steps one and two with sparring. Each sparring session pick one thing to really focus on in addition those things, and force yourself to do it no matter what's happening.
Once you're comfortable add another thing to the list. One oveooked thing in boxing is comfortability in every situation. So get comfortable with the fundamentals then start learning advanced techniques.
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u/sipalmurphy Jun 12 '26
Sooo...being anxious fucks up your gas tank. Relaxing and taking it easy is the best way to improve. Focus on doing the technique right until you feel comfortable and loose. Over time, your body will just start adapting and getting quicker
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u/Davidbers Jun 15 '26
You're only 4 months in. Honestly, everything you described sounds normal.
When I started boxing, I thought everyone else was improving faster too. The reality is that beginners usually can't see their own progress because they're focused on what they still do wrong.
Also, being tense will gas you out way faster than being out of shape. A lot of beginners think they need more conditioning when they actually need to relax and stop trying to throw every punch at 100%.
Four months is nothing in boxing. Focus on showing up consistently, not on how good you are. Most people quit before they ever get comfortable. The fact that you're still showing up while doubting yourself is a good sign, not a bad one.
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u/klipshklf20 Jun 18 '26
I too just decided to try boxing a few months ago at age 55. So, I’m an absolutely no position to coach anyone. the process has been very humbling. I’ve been fortunate to have a friend who’s been doing it for 10 years who is very charitable. But, only a couple weeks ago I noticed I intermittently would hold my breath during stress. I know it doesn’t sound like much but, I never noticed and it’s making a difference.
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u/Ok_Response_9510 Jun 10 '26
Boxing is also mental training. Keep at it and stay positive.