Sparring - do you wear a headguard?

[m1kee50]

I spar twice a week, usually four two-minute rounds each time. I use a gumshield but no-one in the gym uses a headguard. I don't feel like I'm getting my head knocked off when I take a shot, it's me, my uncle and two of my mates so it's a very friendly spar with no bad intentions, but I just wondered if I am making a mug of myself in the long-term? My uncle has had over 100 fights Kickboxing and Unlicensed boxing, so I feel that if he thought I should be wearing one he would have told me, and if he doesn't feel the need to wear one, should I?

[Dioufy]

fornicating hate headguards, but not as much as I hate gumshields.

Grrrrr.

Wear both though, silly not to.

[Panzerfaust]

I did usually not spar with headgear, wich was a real dumb thing when i fought amateur and would come in to a competition not being used to wearing headgear

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Depends on the gym - the gym where I boxed I never used them whereas the other gym where I trained it was compulsory. I wouldn't use them unless I was made to though.

[John Galt]

It's best if at least one person sparring wears a headgear. If not, there is too much chance of a butt causing a cut. The person wearing the headgear has to give up some vision but getting cut is worse.

[Joe King]

Even the pros use it. When I sparred we all used it. I can see in rare cases of an amateur turning pro of not using it to get used to taking punches without it.

[dberry]

I won't wear a head guard, they are counter productive, I do some kind of sparing a couple of times a week usually, and refuse to wear them. They increase your head (sparring partner's target) size, decrease your field of vision, allowing more shots to get through, they turn what would have been a glancing blow of leather on greasy skin to become a torsional rotating blow of leather gripping on leather and make virtually no difference to damage to the brain caused by the punches.
I'm not making this up, I read this in a study that the Australian Medical Association done in the early nineties.
Personally I find they make me some what claustrophobic and give a false sense of security.

[Panzerfaust]

I won't wear a head guard, they are counter productive, I do some kind of sparing a couple of times a week usually, and refuse to wear them. They increase your head (sparring partner's target) size, decrease your field of vision, allowing more shots to get through, they turn what would have been a glancing blow of leather on greasy skin to become a torsional rotating blow of leather gripping on leather and make virtually no difference to damage to the brain caused by the punches.
I'm not making this up, I read this in a study that the Australian Medical Association done in the early nineties.
Personally I find they make me some what claustrophobic and give a false sense of security.

Good input

[punchy1]

If you are getting ready for a fight, they make sense! Protects against cuts and head clashes for sure (no always, but they do protect your face moreso then not wearing one!) Of course they inhibit vision, but you have to take the good with the bad!

[Joe Boxer]

I have bad hands, so I'd always ask my sparring partner to wear headgear. It was just a little bit of padding on the sides of the head, but it seemed to help.

[Raff The Frenchman]

as a MMA fighter, I don't wear a headguard since we often switch rules between rounds. tho we try to take it easy and not throw with full power

[dberry]

I have bad hands, so I'd always ask my sparring partner to wear headgear. It was just a little bit of padding on the sides of the head, but it seemed to help.

So your sparring partner's head gear was to for extra protection for your hands, I can see a benefit in that.

[dberry]

If you are getting ready for a fight, they make sense! Protects against cuts and head clashes for sure (no always, but they do protect your face moreso then not wearing one!) Of course they inhibit vision, but you have to take the good with the bad!

Correct, punchy, that's what they actually do offer some protection against, cuts and head clashes, cuts seem to be predominantly caused from head clashes. I find if one person wears the head gear it offers both fighters adequate protection, I choose not to be the one wearing it. Headgear is also a must for amateurs when sparring as it helps to imitate fight conditions and gets them used to what they have to wear to fight.

[Puncher7]

even if your partner is wearing a headgear. If you aren't wearing a headgear you may still be cut by elbows, punches, etc. I don't see why anyone who is serious about boxing would not want to wear a headgear.

[dberry]

even if your partner is wearing a headgear. If you aren't wearing a headgear you may still be cut by elbows, punches, etc. I don't see why anyone who is serious about boxing would not want to wear a headgear.

I won't wear a head guard, they are counter productive, I do some kind of sparing a couple of times a week usually, and refuse to wear them. They increase your head (sparring partner's target) size, decrease your field of vision, allowing more shots to get through, they turn what would have been a glancing blow of leather on greasy skin to become a torsional rotating blow of leather gripping on leather and make virtually no difference to damage to the brain caused by the punches.
I'm not making this up, I read this in a study that the Australian Medical Association done in the early nineties.
Personally I find they make me some what claustrophobic and give a false sense of security.

i don't think you read my earlier post before asking that question.

[Puncher7]

all you have to do is put vaseline on before you put headgear on and put vaseline on headgear as well. Also it should be common practice in every boxing gym to grease up the sparring gloves before sparring as well. If you are training seriously for boxing, You must spar hard when preparing for a fight. headgear is a must. bottom line. Sounds to me like you need to work more on your defense and/or a better fitting headgear.
However, If you are not training to be a serious competitive fighter, and do not mind getting cut/lumps/swollen face, etc. then I guess go for it buddy

[Seppala]

Easy sparring - no (at least not always). Hard sparring - yes.

[cletomex]

Easy sparring - no (at least not always). Hard sparring - yes.

how does easy sparring prepare you for anything??

[Joe Boxer]

Easy sparring - no (at least not always). Hard sparring - yes.

how does easy sparring prepare you for anything??

For me there are about three different levels of sparring, and they all have benefits:
1. Light: vs. a lower weight/lower experience guy. He can tee off as hard as he wants, whereas I'll be working on defense, footwork, jabs and body shots. I learned how to roll with punches by letting little guys and novices throw shots at me with impunity. And if they hit me, I didn't give them "payback" (or else I'd probably lose him as a sparring partner).

2. Regular Sparring: vs. similar level guy. Fun! My favorite. Think of sparring your buddy. Someone takes a hard lick, you ask "you ok?", and take it easy for a bit until he gets his head back on straight. This sparring lets you work on your offence (more than the light sparring does) and helps you to develop your skills.

3. Hard sparring/gym wars: Not too fun, but necessary. Against a same-level or, more-experienced guy. Trying to hurt the other guy HARD to the body, and really ring the other guy's bell. You have to be in tip-top shape for this. It'll test every aspect of your boxing ability, your endurance, your punch endurance, and your nerves. This sparring can be tougher than sanctioned fights sometimes.

Anyway, my point is that I think that even light sparring is good for active fighters.

[Seppala]

Easy sparring - no (at least not always). Hard sparring - yes.

how does easy sparring prepare you for anything??

For me there are about three different levels of sparring, and they all have benefits:
1. Light: vs. a lower weight/lower experience guy. He can tee off as hard as he wants, whereas I'll be working on defense, footwork, jabs and body shots. I learned how to roll with punches by letting little guys and novices throw shots at me with impunity. And if they hit me, I didn't give them "payback" (or else I'd probably lose him as a sparring partner).

Exactly. I take it easy when I´m training someone with much less experience / ability.

[dberry]

Ed Hardy sucks, it's for Bogans/Chavs, piss off.