Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself

The text of this essay come to me from a young boxer with whom I correspond on a sporadic basis via e-mail.   He is a novice boxer who enjoys the website. He wishes to remain anonymous, even though I only know him by a screen name and prefer to keep it that way. So, please do not email me to request or reveal the identity of this youngster. I have slightly edited the text to conform to my editorial practices and style.   The images that appear on this page are provided to me by the author, modified by me for artistic purposes.  This composition contains quotes from coaches whose identities will not be revealed. It's not that I really believe they would object to being identified by  name, but I do not as a practice reveal the surname of people who I write about and I will go a bit further to mask the identity of people with whom I do not have direct contact.  Still, if you have anything you wish to add to this column, I will be pleased to submit it to him ofr his consideration. He promises to update it from time to time.
During a real rough time in American history the president said "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." When I first heard this in class, I thought, "that really described my experience in boxing." In the first two fights that I have had with the boxing club, I had to get over the fear that gripped me. It didn’t make me freeze, but it made me pause. Its kind of weird because when I spar with my friends at the club its more fun, the coach tells us to put the headgear and 16-ounce gloves and we get in the ring. Nothing to it. But in competition, when I box as a 150 pound light-middleweight against someone for three, two-minute rounds, wearing ten ounce gloves, I know its serious and that’s when the feeling starts. It doesn’t last too long but it sure in noticeable. Its called the "butterflies" but it feels more like a tiger is using my guts for a scratching post and three hundred pound demon is kneeling on my chest. When I play other team sports like water polo or get radical when I snowboard, I don’t get this feeling either. Why does it only happen when I box an unknown and why does it go away as soon as the bell rings?

 
One coach that I asked said that it was a reaction to the unknown. He explained that the reaction that I get is called the "flight or fight" response, an automatic response to danger left over from our evolution. It was nature’s way of preparing us to confront the danger or get out of its way. If we didn’t have it, we probably wouldn’t be around—we’d be a snack for some animal.

 

 Author throws a flurry of punches. (c) 2000. All rights reserved.
That would explain why I get it when I’m boxing with someone that I don’t know. I know the guys I train with. We work out after school and hang together after the lesson is over. We hit hard when we spar but no one gets hurt except for maybe a bloody nose. It should be the same in a real boxing match, but the feeling is strong and sometimes starts long before the fight. No one really talks about it, but you can see it. Guys that normally won’t shut up get real quiet and some guys that are real shy talk a lot. My coach said different people cope in different ways and that some guys actually get so sick that they freeze up and can’t box. They get over it, get use to it, or get out of it. He thinks that it is a combination of facing an unknown opponent and having people we know watch us. We are afraid of looking cool in front of our friends and family who come to the tournament. Once the round starts, we are too busy to notice the feeling. As we get confidence the feeling is not as noticeable. One coach wrote me that

"nervousness in a boxer is natural - indeed healthy. I am always concerned when one of my boxers does not seem nervous before a contest. Without the "butterflies" the adrenaline will not be running, and adrenaline is the body's way of preparing for fight/flight. On the other hand, excessive nervousness can be debilitating and in my experience those who suffer from it do not perform as well as they can in the ring, and most of them hang up the gloves after a contest or two as they find the stress too much. Some of those who suffer in this way are very talented boxers and dedicated in their training - it is just taking that further step into competition that seems to defeat them. They will spar all day in the gym, they will even become excellent coaches, but remain unfulfilled as competitors."

He offered some good advice.   It's funny.  It sounds like the advice I got from other coaches.  These guys must have a network of their own.

If your nervousness is excessive (stopping you sleeping etc.) I would say this is natural for your first fight or two but that it should get better after that - until you get into championships or other bouts which are of greater significance than routine club contests when you should be prepared to go through it all again! The nervousness will never go away, but it should become less "painful" and intrusive. If not, talk it over with your coach. Over-nervousness can detract from your enjoyment of the sport and your willingness to keep putting yourself through it. Boxing is such a satisfying and fulfilling activity it is a shame to spoil it, and it would be important to try to work out (with your coach and family) the best way of handling unhelpful or intolerable nervousness.

 
Author boxes in the corner. Copyright (c) 2000. All rights reserved. Maybe I think too much, or not enough, about this stuff. My coach tells me to take it in stride. It must have worked. If my first two contests were "practice" the third match a few weeks ago was the "real thing."  But, sometime between the second and third bout the tiger must have been declawed and the demon went on crash diet to cut weight because the butterflies were not half as bad as they were before and vaporized at the sound of the bell. My opponent was good, he fought a good fight, but I was better. At the end of the third round, I knew I had won. Maybe I am finally becoming a boxer.  

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