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10 Types of Sparring Partners

If you have been going to a gym to learn the art of boxing, sparring is probably one of your favorite parts of the training. It’s where you get to put what you’ve been learning into action and weigh yourself up against the rest of the would-be boxers in the ring.

Even if you’re just getting started and still learning the essential boxing principles, sparring can be lots of fun. After all those footwork drills and punching bag exercises, you finally get to go up against real-life humans and that’s where it gets interesting.

Ask anyone who trains in martial arts and they’ll tell you they’ve made some of their most priceless friendships in the ring or on the mats. Relationships built in combat sports take a huge amount of trust and respect.

Whether you’re training in boxing, Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, or MMA, you and your partner have to respect each other enough not to go too soft and trust each other not to go too hard. Something about this dynamic forms a quite remarkable bond between fellow fighters, likening them more to brothers and sisters than training partners or fellow gym-goers.

Why people show up at the gym to spend their lunch break getting hit in the head instead enjoying a deli sandwich is anyone’s guess. At the end of the day, everyone has their own reasons. Some are there to toughen up, others to beef up; some to learn and others to teach; some to socialize, others with their eyes on competing.

Once you get into training on a regular basis, you start becoming acquainted with the types who show up for sparring sessions. Each one helps you improve your game in some way and, for that, it’s definitely worth showing some appreciation.

Here’s a list of ten types of sparring partners you’re likely to find in any boxing gym, along with some Christmas gift ideas so you can surprise them at the gym’s holiday party.

Which sparring partner are you?

(1) The Chatterbox

One of the first people you’ll make friends with at the gym is the Chatterbox. This guy or girl is friendly and outgoing and quickly draws you into their company, which is great. It’s essential to make friends when you train, after all–it gives you all the more reason to show up every day.

On the other hand, the Chatterbox might not be your best friend in the ring. Instead of getting into an intense round of blows for blows, you might find that the two of you are loosely throwing jabs at each other on autopilot while talking about recent vacations to exotic islands.

(2) The One-Upper

Every gym has a one-upper: a contagiously competitive individual who is always trying to outdo you. When the coach says drop for ten pushups, they do eleven. When everyone is encouraged to go all out on the bags, the One-Upper will the one yelling the loudest with each punch.

sparring partners

Why you hate them: You don’t have to watch Saturday Night Live to understand that one-upping is pretty annoying. The One-Upper’s constant need to do better than everyone else certainly gets quite tiresome after awhile.

Why you love them: Though this guy or girl can be annoying, they also bring out the one-upper in you. There’s nothing quite like pride, annoyance, and competitive spirit to push you past what would otherwise be hard limits and make you expect more of yourself.

(3) The Gentle One

Another great friend you’ll make in the ring is the Gentle One. This lovable man or lady treats you with respect and that makes them an invaluable ally.

The gentle one is kind, considerate, and very much in control of their strength. They may be overly cautious when they’re in the ring with you but that can also give you a breather in between high-intensity rounds.

You might occasionally wish that the Gentle One didn’t take it so easy on you but don’t forget that they are still warriors. Perhaps all you need to do is ask them to go a little harder–if you dare.

(4) The Hesitant One

This sparring partner is always uncertain. Even when they have mastered a technique, they’ll keep asking the coach if they’re doing it right.

Often, when sparring with them, you’ll find that they seem to hold back. Maybe they are afraid of their own strength or feeling self-conscious about doing it wrong. Chances are you were a Hesitant One once too, and that might make you just the person to give this sparring partner a confidence boost.

(5) Lad or Lady Fierce

Unlike the Hesitant One, Lad or Lady Fierce (also known as the One Who Knows Not Their Own Strength) simply doesn’t know how to hold back. They are the #nofilter punchers in the ring.

sparring partner

Most sparring partners who are bigger or have more muscle mass than you will be mindful of their strength and control their blows to more or less match yours, but there is always that one person who doesn’t seem to know their own strength.

In my experience sparring, this person is often a woman. Perhaps it’s because men are more cautious, particularly when sparring with the opposite sex, whereas women don’t feel as much of a need to hold back.

Lad or Lady Fierce is the one who surprises you with an all-in punch during a light sparring session and leaves you with a bloody nose or lip. Still, you respect them: certainly, they force you to keep your guard up.

(6) The Cage Clown

Just as you had a class clown in high school, you’re likely to have a Cage Clown at the gym–these types never die. And it’s a good thing they don’t! This whimsical guy or girl is an essential element of the training ecosystem.

When you’re hitting the limits of what your mind and body can tolerate, the Cage Clown is just the person you want around to lighten the mood and remind you that you’re here to push but also to enjoy yourself.

And the Cage Clown might joke around off the mats, but don’t let him fool you. Chances are he or she is a formidable opponent in the ring.

(7) The Meat Head

If you’re a lady, this is the guy who’s pectoral muscles distract you during the sparring session (But hey, you are supposed to keep your eyes on your opponent’s chest right?) and if you’re a guy you probably turn to the Meat Head for advice on working out and beefing up.

sparring partners

The Meat Head is also the one with so much muscle mass that even a controlled blow can send you flying back against the ropes if it catches you off guard. If you have a Meat Head in your boxing gym, let’s all pray to God that he isn’t also the One Who Knows Not His Own Strength.

(8) The Mentor

The Mentor is invaluable. This person is much more than a sparring partner because he or she has taken you under their wing and taught you much of what you know. For that reason, you owe them a great deal.

You respect this person a great deal because they invest time and effort when sparring with you, even though their skill level is much higher than yours. They see potential in you, and that gives you the motivation and encouragement to reach the next level in your training.

(9) The Mentee

Training isn’t just about self-improvement; it’s also about paying it forward. Just as many of your sparring partners have helped you learn and improve, you will have the opportunity to take newbies under your wing and pass on the skills and insights you’ve been picking up.

The Mentee is the sparring partner who looks to and appreciates your advice. The truth is, taking time to share your knowledge doesn’t only help them; it has huge benefits for you as well. Often one of the best ways to solidify what you yourself have learned is to teach it to someone else.

(10) The Asshole

The Asshole knows their own strength alright, and they enjoy using it. The Asshole in the ring is the one you dread being paired up with because they hit you harder than anybody else and they can do some actual damage. Plus, you know they know what they’re doing.

sparring partners

They know how to target your weak spots and is full of bravado when he or she beats you. Secretly, though, this guy or girl is one of your all-time favorite sparring partners because no one challenges you to step up your game quite as much as they do.

When all is said and done, some of your best friends will be those you made in the ring. Even if some of them don’t seem very friendly at first, or at all, they are probably the ones who will help you the most. Such is the nature of the boxing and martial arts community.

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