How To Be A NICE Bully In Sparring ft. Icy Mike and more....
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- It's fun to toss sparring partners around. To get in their face and make the round extra tough for them. But there's a jerk way to do it and a nice way. Today I share with you my go to rules, with video footage example, of how I am a nice bully when sparring with people of lesser skill level.
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I learned a lot from this session and it was a lot of fun!
Well you do have a LOT to learn for someone who "teaches"
@@davidjones8043 not all teachers are former world champs
@Hue Wong ok nerds
@Hue Wong Mike lacks experience? you are such a internet keyboard warrior
Wait, you dont know everything?!
If you're sparring someone smaller, less experienced, of lower skill level you can still be a little bit mean. Just make sure they are still having fun and you don't injure them.
Well said. I was at a certain seminar where a certain UA-cam famous instructor laid into a teenager who was going a little too hard because they didn't know what they didn't know. The UA-camr hit kid with a 5 piece combo. His defense was gone by 2nd shot, and the final hard hook almost took kids head off. Kid sat down off the matts sobbing. Same thing could have been accomplished without the head trauma.
This is pure gold. Thank you very much!!!
As a lifelong martial artist, I can say that your recent videos are some of the most helpful, down to earth, motivating videos I have ever seen. You get it, and it shows. Thanks for posting!
@Looks Theory 2.0 Watch muay thai clinch sparring. Also, Wing Chun has some pretty good controlled elbows.
Sir, a video on shadow boxing in the ring?
There is something so stereotypically Canadian about a professional fighter telling people to be a nice bully. Great video as always, loved the collaborations, and best of luck in your next fight!
Haha. Oooh Canadians❤ You'll never hear "sorry" more than in this country.
@@GabrielVargaOfficial I see your Canada and raise you uk😂
@@GabrielVargaOfficial Sometimes, if someone is really nice, I'll ask, "Are you Canadian?" Like, I really assume they might just be Canadian.
@@GabrielVargaOfficialin the UK they use it a lot! Haha.
Was an awesome time, Champ! I did indeed have a great experience and learned a ton! Thanks again!!
More people need to watch this video, too many people get caught up with their ego, especially pro and amateur fighters... they can't stand getting touched up lightly and start trying to hit you hard, so then the only option is to make them respect you. It looks like it would be a pleasure to spar with you, Gabriel.
This is so good. Adjusting your level to just above theirs to develop them, and not swamp them in the gap between your highest skill set and theirs. And making them want to come back, while still getting your own training in. Wonderful.
I watched all the sparring footage ay ICY Mike you're just outclassing everyone in kickboxing, in a technical way and using little power and no violence - we can see why you're a pro fighter world champion
This is the most Canadian thing ever! Love the video. This is the kind of stuff that needs to be taught more.
So I often act like a "nice" bully in the gym cause I'm decently skilled. Funny enough often people come to sparr with me because they know Im gonna "bully" them but also let them work their combinations and have fun
Exactly. They get to work too.
And you get extra practice on your defense when you let them fire away on you.
They're leveling up off you lol
@@strangeone7198 Its good to see my teammates leveling up, besides I do like to fight with that foward pressure style, my favourite fighter is marat gregorian.
@@insan3hvhpromotingcheats206 it really does feel good to see your team get better and better.
Love this 🙂 I'm pretty much the least-skilled at my gym among people who do sparring, and I enjoy being on the other side of all the "nice bully"-stuff.
Thank you for mentioning this. My Kyokushin karate and Dutch kickboxing instructors were extremely good at controlled sparring. It's a different feeling getting your ass kicked and only being sore because of the conditioning. Beautiful feeling! This type of educated controlled pressure will make others thankful and help them up their game quickly and safely.
I wish so many people I've trained with in the past and who I train with now could watch this video. It's one thing if we're the same general weight and height and we're matching blow for blow, power for power, techinque for technique, but when you've got 20 to 25 pounds on me, it is just straight up rude. I tend to play defensively in the beginning with partners I'm unfamiliar with to feel out their power and aggression. I find that I implement these same strategies when I spar with less experienced partners but didn't quite define exactly what it is that I'm doing so thank you for breaking it down!
your channel is one of the best martial arts channels on youtube. always great insight and advice. controlled sparring that makes someone uncomfortable is a skill very few people have.
Thanks, man. This is the most caring fight video I've ever seen. I'm 34 and am really just starting. I don't have time to be the best, but to help make those around me better? I can do that. Thank you.
I’m constantly thinking about this, thank you Gabriel 🙏 I’m going to implement some of these tonight
Such golden advice. Tat's giving back with knowledge, for sure. clap clap clap
It's nice that you shatteted icy mikes spirit with a smile
This is a priceless video. Thank you for putting this content out for us to level up together as a community!
I love your approach to sparring Gabriel.
Amazing video. This should be part of the netiquette for all of us. Thanks for this!
I had no idea Gabriel did classes at all, let alone kid’s classes. I would’ve absolutely adored learning from this guy when I was little, rather than goin to a Tae Kwon Do place that said Karate on the building.
Great video Gabriel🙏
I don't know if you are a father, Mr Varga, but you are basically describing being a dad :)
With beginners (that kind of know how to control themselves) I like to use a high risk style, because if I get hit it's their own achievement, not just me "gifting" them a hit. But I can train fancy/quirky techniques and my reflexes.
BTW I am still waiting for that pancake recipe.
You definitely are the nicest bully that I've seen.
Wonderful topic coach Varga. Thank you!!
Gabe is a quintessential Canadian. Even his bullying is nice. 😀❤
Stupid strreotype
@@nvanguy6868 Stereotype, sure. But why stupid? Did a Canadian person hurt you? Awww... 😂
Great idea for an episode!
Gabriel, any video of IcyMike getting the beat down gets the LIKE from me ;9
Great points and tips for sparring (training/bullying)! I try and use all of this at the gym I attend since it can be against younger and smaller opponents.
You Vs Wonderboy for the NMF belt!
Lol 😂
Great advice, great video - respect!
this is quality of life stuff
Awesome vid as usual!
Gotta say, I loved seeing that takedown from a Karate bunkai we usually do where you drop low moving forward with your leg behind theirs and push with the front arm :D
I was expecting Icy Mike bullying Gabriel. 😁
I'd argue that there's a flipside to this, which I'd call the mean nice guy. Someone who's obviously better than you and is holding back so much that it just feels condescending. Finding the sweet spot between the two is really hard sometimes
Here begins my journey to become a better boxer.
The lvl of skill that you gotta have to ponder this argument is very high lvl.
Thank you , I’m such a nice guy i hold myself back
I love that we both have this mindset champ just im at a massively lower level then you.
That's awesome, just get them out of their comfort zone, without completely demoralizing them. That in itself is a skill.
Such a great guy! :D Nice guide to being a bully!
Awesome ! I learn a lot from this clip. Then I realize… oh I’m the one who always got bullied 😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks its good to know. Even if i am 155 lbs surprizingly there are some guys smaller than me and its very helpfull to know how to not hurt them
Great Stuff! I love it.
I love this. Thank you!
As a guy who was generally bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced than my training partners, this is on the money, and applies as much on the ground as it does standing up.
Pressure people but make it fun.
This video could not come at a better time for me! I've been trying to find that balance of intensity lately and stop being "too nice".
This is awesome.
Fantastic.
TJ Dillashaw dislikes this video.
Great content Gabe. As always.
Im a pretty low level fighter... but there are LOWER levels ;) When I face noobs I have two things I try to do.
1. Like you, I spam an attack. My only decent attack is my jab. And most begginers, shorter people and/or women have real trouble with it. It doesnt hurt them. And I can even say to them "I will ONLY jab. You gotta handle it. You can do it"
And then I just jab. But this gives them a shot at reading it and adjusting. And it doesnt hurt them.
My other thing is that I try to use new technique while grappling and useing very little force. And even when standing I try to go to low % techniques. The ones I cant realy hit in sparring yet. I Have fond memories of doing (light) axe kicks in my karate days, on newer people.
When we spar, I usually go for the jab, followed by a same-side hook as my go-to 'bully' move. Everyone usually seems to expect a regular one-two. To be fair, though, we don't spar that often (I do krav maga, so it's often just techniques and stress drills) and none of us are particularly skilled at fighting. I mainly stick to my lead hand because I'm afraid I might hit too hard with my dominant hand, except against guys who I KNOW to be stronger than me...and even then I use it very sparingly. I'm not there to hurt people and it's really hard for me to gauge how hard I hit. For all I know I hit like a pool noodle, but I'm one of the bigger guys in the group, so better to be safe, I think.
You look like an awesome sparring partner
I do all this in sparring, it makes everyone's day better. I especially like to try and walk down the heavyweights mind you im a 145 lbs. Touch touch touch constantly.
I like that u mentioned the sweep. Some people go too hard on it. Once someone catched my kick and sweeped me so hard i got the wind knocked out of me. It feels horrible cuz u can’t breathe for like 20 seconds.
Now I don't have to feel like a jerk when I bully the kids at my gym 👍
Definitely a great Gauge to spar with someone like Varga! record it and it could give you years of stuff to work on!
Funnily enough, just last night I was sparring with a new guy. He came in blasting shots so I started teeping to keep him at a distance. I must’ve pissed him off with a head kick I landed because he started clinching and trying to throw me. Dude also head butted me randomly in the clinch as well.
I was under the impression that we were doing kickboxing with no knees, but I guess not.
Nice
Just because of the class I'm in a decent amount of my sparring partners are younger, so I don't want to be too mean. And they are way less experienced then me so I have to find a way to help them plus working on my own stuff.
My Coaches used to do this all the time to me, and now with some experience I do this to some of the other guys. Don’t be fooled I still get schooled by some of my coaches but sparring has become way more competitive yet fun.
I love your videos and I m really looking forward to Karate Combat later this month! How would you spar against someone like yourself and how does someone fall safely in sparring? (I fell recently and I ve torn muscle in my shoulder which has knocked my confidence).
I have used the Spamming method a lot. If we don't have anyone actively coaching, I'll give them tips myself until they learn how to address whatever I'm hitting them with. 👍
Now i want to spar against you 🤩😂
a gentle troll of some youtube personalities :)
Yesterday a "gym bully" who's eager to jump on the ring managed to injury me, trowing a full force low kick on the knee during what was meant to be a light sparring (luckily we had shin pads on)
ps the algorithm works in mysterious ways 🤣
It would be interesting to see you spar Jeff Chan
How to trick someone into liking abuse.
how to: play with your food, civilised
Im Early today.
Love it. No growth without adversity. No enjoyment with humiliation and injury. Great balance!
in regards to that "light sweep" point, i still hate the guy who consistently dropped me on the back of my head during practice and that was over a decade ago.
screw you, Bharat, could've at least helped me up while I was seeing stars after you made my head bounce off the mat.
You are nice man and a lot of people are not.
7:30
I like this
Gabe should open up a gym, in central Alabama
It's great to get your ass kicked and leave the gym exhausted but with no headaches. And to be honest, I prefer to spar with people that I know I have cero chance of "winning" but they're nice bullies rather than people I know I'm better than them but every punch they throw goes hard. I wish there was more people like you guys out there but is seems like in my city if you don't leave the gym injured you haven't trained well.
Or as Icy Mike would say 'an ice bully
Great, now Captain America cant walk anymore.. who is going to save us now?
I wanna see you and Wonderboy spar
*SuperLek needs to stop sweeping newbies and turning them upside down or flat on their faces. LoL!*
I am referencing the Yokkao USA Tour.
Meh.. they get what they ask for
Canadian bullying
Great video!
Sadly not the one for me :(
As a 6'4 215 pound newbie in sparring I struggle so much with trying too learn and hold back.
Heaviest guy at my gym is 165
Ask whoever you're sparring with to go slower with you. If you go slow it's much easier to have control. You're still applying principles and technique. Just remember that while it's good to push yourself, your goal isn't to "win." Go slow and let them get you when they get you and just try to focus on what you know and where you can improve.
There's also the type; "Go light! Go light!" And then they hit you with full power. "That's me going light man! That's my power when I go light." Dafuq
👍
Who was your most challenging opponent out off them
👍🤘
usually a fighter ends his career around 40 right? what can a fighter do to keep earning money after that? i wanna be a pro but i dont know what to do after that
Sell burguer
Become a trainer or commentator. Or sell fitness DVDs
Boas, ca na tuga seres lutador profissional e muito dificil quase todos tem segundos trabalhos. A meu ver a tua melhor opcao seria depois dares treinos ou pt's. Ja que o desporto esta a crescer e tens sempre muita procura por parte de malta casual para fazer isso
Open a school. Or keep fighting underground at age 53 like me.
Well coaching would be one thing if you wanna stay involved in the sport
But IMO you should open some other kind of business where you can just hire others and just manage it for a while.
Food businesses tend to do well depending on the area.
You could buy a car or cars and lease them for app cabs drivers. That way you get your money but also help someone else. Although keep in mind the income takes a while to pile up
Why are Gabriel's shin pads mismatched tho? lol
What to do if a sparring partner has a higher skill and is a bad bully? I mean when talking didn't help.
Maybe don't spar with them
@@PHIplaytesting Yep, just refuse to spar can be a solution. But it's a small gym, only 3-6 people training, so not to many to choose from. I just don't want to look like I'm a coward or something but at the same time don't wanna get hurt.
@@emblink27 You only have one brain bro and it doesn't heal. There's no shame admitting that somebody is higher skill and you don't want to get injured.
what's your favourite type of cheese
Normally I use a lot of contractacks with partners who is very low level and I test with techniques that normally I don't use, I don't have any necessity for to be a bully, bully is for weak minds
I actually find smaller people can go to hard on bigger guys. I have sparred some smaller guys and they seem to think that because I'm bigger they can use me as a punch bag.
Be an ice bully?
Is that what you call it when you bully Icy Mike?
I think i might have the opposite problem. I hurt someone pretty bad in sparring once so I've made sure to hold back as much as possible and stop to check if they're ok and ask if I'm going to hard. Should i be more aggressive with pushing people?
Maybe ask some people at your gym who watch you/spar with you. Since they know you they can give you their opinion on if you're going too hard or if you can go harder.
I think that your attitude is correct. If somebody wants to prepare for a fight, they will ask you to go hard or they will find somebody to spar hard to get experience, don't worry about it ;)
What do you think about the rushing technique Lomachenko used to beat Ortiz? Once he felt him out he started spamming straight punches to close the distance. Ortiz was also spamming punches to pressure Lomachenko, he was the bigger taller fighter.
Second 😂
2:30 99% of people I've met that do that can't actually do that, they only get away with it due to light sparring, I think it's a bad hit, most dudes aren't as tough as you.
First
Honestly I hate to break it to you but this is just being a bully. You're 6x world champ. No one even wants you to hit them look at the first guy!
TL;DR Just get better at fighting, forehead.