Hello!!
Things are finally coming together for me. For some time now, I've been training myself out of my basement. And though fully equipped with bags and other necessary tools, some things have been definitely missing.
I do my roadwork & bag-work. I shadow box and jump rope. But I haven't been able to spar (since I belonged to my last gym). And in my eyes, sparring is probably the most necessary part of training. That's the problem with guys who train themselves and think they're ready to fight. They're not. I've seen a few of them throw themselves into Golden Glove tourneys, and they not just lose, but get stopped. Just pummelled on the ropes because they had no clue what it was like inside a ring. They weren't comfortable or adapted to facing a live opponent as opposed to a stuffed leather bag.
Fate is a funny thing. Twice this week, good fortune found me.
First, some freinds of the family stopped by while I was training in the basement. The guy (avoiding the gabbing women) followed the sound of the rythm bag to the basement. It turns out he was an amateur fighter for a long time, and he comes from a family of fighters. He offered to train me (not serious training, just weekend sessions where he'll help me out with form and technique that he had learned). Also, after explaining my situation to him (about the absence of sparring) he offered to spar with me. Great! He's roughly forty years old, but a body-builder, who also happens to weigh 240 pounds! He's a giant. I'm 135, he will destroy me. But I figure if I can take some shots from a heavy-weight, I'll have no problem absorbing whatever a featherweight can dish out! Ha!
Second: A guy who works in the office with me, comes up to me yesterday morning and says, "Hey, I overheard you talking boxing." I tell him it's the only sport I like, that I'm training, and that I'm looking for a trainer/gym. He tells me he was actually a pro (he fought in Mexico before moving to the states and having a family). He's friends with a local promoter (8 Count Productions) who also owns the Jabb boxing gym (one of the only gyms I know of in Chicago that trains pros). So this guy said that he'd put a good word in for me at the gym (and he already managed to comp me tickets to a fight next week!). Also, [the guy I work with] is currently training a kid whose 18 years old and who is also 135 pounds. Sounds like a perfect coincidence, and one that might work out very well for me. This guy [at work] is close to 160 and because he's training this kid by himself, he's also the chief sparring partner. A role that I would love to take over. And, of course, pick up whatever he's willing to teach me.
So in one week: Two sparring partners, a gym, and tickets to a fight all fell in my lap. Not to mention people that I can talk boxing with. Unreal. It feels like Christmas. And I've put in one of my best weeks of training ever.
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V. cool!
Things falling together like that is great. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to take things to the next level. I've never sparred semi/full contact before, so I'm really interested to hear how it goes. Are you going to join the boxing gym?
Yikes...
Okay...
Probably had my worst weekend of training ever. Hit the bar a little harder than I probably should have (Friday); Got schooled at poker and drank a little more than I probably should have (Saturday); and because of it I was like the walking dead for three days. Lets just say I wasn't out running...
My experience with sparring has been limited at best. It was at that shitty gym I was talking about before (where the coach didn't do anything), and the two guys who I'd spar with were as inexperienced as I was. And the coach being the jerk that he was, didn't really give us any instruction, so it was kind of an excercise in futiliy. Pretty much, if you've ever put gloves on with a freind and battered each other around your backyard, that was my experience with sparring. Not exactly boxing, you know what I mean?
I'm really interested to spar with that 240 pounder. Holy shit! He's gonna destroy me! He's one of the guys I was playing poker with. I know I'm gonna be a lot faster than he is, but it's gonna be like gettin hit by a train when I get caught. And I will get caught. One way or another, it'll be fun...
Since everything I've heard about that Jabb gym makes me think that they really do train, if not elite fighters, then at least professional/expereinced fighters, I think I'd be best served to pick something up from the two guys who are willing to help me; get some good experience sparring, and then throw myself to the wolves at the pro-gym. It just seems like a logical progression to me.
I'll let you know what happens with it...but you're right, regardless of how I go about things now, it is a great opportunity.
Cheers!
Seems like the good
240...
If you're a good judge of character I'd set some ground rules first. Trust is an important part of martial arts, often confused with 'respect'. I think you'll give him and your self a suprise when 'you get it on'! lol.
If he's a friend of the family I wouldn't want to get too competitive - but - I'm sure the old dogs got some tricks though, and you'll probably only learn them first hand. I admire your attitude, up for a bit of a scrap!
Has he had much sparring practice recently? Where you doing it?
I've got a theory that the better a fighter is, the less he has to prove. At the jab gymn you may find someone who'll take you under their wing. Heart and talent go a long way...
Calzaghe fight, the most self conscious display I ever saw! He's been starved of recognition in this country and he's got to get his head straight.
Incidently, I went running this morning with the dog for the first time in years. Didn't like it
True...
Man, are you right! I used to go out and drink and it didn't matter. Now, I know its gonna mean I miss a day of training (or three in this past weekend's case). Now the guilt/regret is even worse than the hang over :D
I'd like to think I'm a good judge of character, but you're right, ground rules are a must; given the size difference. My experience with sparring leads me to this belief: (especially if you know the person) you both start out throwing lighter punches, just making contact, and moving. As you get a little fatigued you have to put a little more effort into your punches and consequently will connect harder. Once you get hit a harder shot, you'll return in kind, and so will the other guy, until it has escalated into true sparring. In other words, a friendly, though controlled, fight.
I'm sure he's got some tricks, too. He hasn't sparred in a long time. But he gets into plenty of scraps in bars. My only worry on his part is control, whether or not he can punch without putting everything behind it (especially since his most recent experiences with fighting have been in street fights). Not only is he a friend of the family, he's also in his forties. Surprisingly, I'm actually worried about hurting him. He's in really good shape and all, but I'd hate to really bang up his ribs (because I know a majority of the work I have to do is going to be on the inside) or anything. It doesn't matter (too much) if I get dinged up, I'm in it to become a boxer, he's just trying to help me out.
We haven't gotten together to spar yet. But we're considering his basement, or maybe a local park. We won't have a ring, but I've had a few ideas about how to make due.
Yeah...and trust me, against me they wouldn't have that much to prove. But you're right, if my luck holds out, someone'll help me through it, give me a hand and show me the ropes.
He has been starved of recognition, is right! Title holder for 19 defenses, champion for about ten years, and I promise you a lot of people have never even heard his name. He's obviously a talented guy, especially after watching him embarass Jeff Lacy (god I loved that). He wants to fight Hopkins...but the real fight has to be with Kessler.
I don't trust people who actually like running. At best, i don't mind it. And that's on a good day. On a regular day, its like major dental surgery, minus the novacaine. And running with dogs is the worse, cause they can go forever. You'll be panting and wheezing, collapsed on the ground, and they'll be bouncing around you ready to run another two miles.
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