Hi everyone, i'm new here so this is my first post. I've been training shotokan karate for about 2 and a half years now. My Sensei focuses primarily on building our technique with constant repetition of punch/kick combinations, all kata based. We spar everyday but without punches to the face, only the head under circumstances, and during drills. I love Karate, i've studied it since I was a kid, but even after years of practice I can't seem to get the rhythm down when sparring other styles. I train bjj as well and I go to this mma club at my college where people tend to spar really intensely. The other day I was at that club and decided to try sparring with this boxer I met. I've never done boxing before, and I have to admit I felt lost in there. The gloves were gigantic compared to what we use at my dojo so that threw me off a bit. He started doing the typical bob and weave tactic moving his head left and right and throwing wild hooks over the top which were pretty easy to predict and move away from, but then I landed a quick shot to his nose not even too hard and he got a bit crazy head hunting the rest of the time. I kept trying to parry and counterstrike like I normally do but with those big gloves on it just wasn't working. I got my face beat up. Now, had we allowed kicks it might have been a different story because the majority of my combinations tend to start or end with kicks which i've gotten quite good at landing. Basically i'm wondering though, for the next time I end up in this situation.. should I just stick to my footwork and timing to avoid getting decked in the face? Or would it be better to bob and weave like a boxer in that instance? Keep in mind i'm talking about sparring with punches only. We practice some head movement at my dojo, but nothing like what i've seen boxers do. I'll probably never do that again but it was kind of fun so you never know. How were you taught at your dojo? Do other karate styles have this type of head movement?
