I'm training, and want to introduce myself and say thank you...

[gyrokai]

... For all the advice, when I read your guys' & gals' posts here. I know the knowledgable here, want to know details, so here it is...

I am 25 years old. I'm 5'10" and 161 lbs now. My reach is longer than my bud's, who's reach is long himself. My shoulders are a tad wide for my size too. I want to lose 10 lbs, to be at my best weight. I do have a small gut, but you can't tell because I look in better shape than the average American. I look like I should weigh in the 150's or lower, there is no way I am going to fight around the middleweight division! My body frame has been compared to Erik Morales! heheh

I currently live in Arizona. I go to college and don't plan on becoming a pro boxer. I haven't fought in the amateurs at all yet. I haven't sparred either. I read, talk, and think boxing plenty. I have a friend who's practically training me, who has the skill to compete and spar with Olympians. I don't drink or smoke... yep, I'm constantly the designated driver when I go out. I once read a really good boxing book that said, don't even think about stepping in the ring to spar, until you have had at least 6 months of preparation in the gym. I believe that. I have about 3 months of on and off experience in the gym. I'm a cautious type. Patience over risk, is my mantra. This is me, I'm not saying everybody should do that.

In the amateurs the ratio of brawlers to boxers is, 50 to 1. We have a lot of Mexicans around here, so you have to handle devastating hooks for six minutes! It's a crazy pace, where only the strong survive and win!

Right now, my number one priority is my cardio/stamina. I won't fight until I know my cardio is at a superior level. I used to be a runner when I was 18-19, a good one. I had to quit, because I didn't have a car, the smog, I lived in a huge city, I had to work, study, but most of all... I kind've starved back then. Even today, I believe my throat was damaged from the smog. So, I won't box until I have my "18 year old stamina" or surpass that. Another reason I won't spar or box yet, because school is my number one priority. So if I enter the ring, I don't want to get hit or hurt unnecessarily. I'm in no hurry. I don't want to fight, if I don't have boxing as a huge priority in my life. I know the risks involved, if not trained properly. Even if I don't end up fighting, I'm learning so much in the gym. I will prove myself when the time is right for me.

I have had talks with other boxers who say I should spar right away. Saying that it will tell if you are a "fighter" at heart. I don't believe that, but I can still understand why they do that. If a person doesn't have the heart, he or she should never fight. True, very true. If I don't have what it takes, I will stop myself, at my own pace. Not get beat down in the gym over and over, because I was ill-prepared. I will come in the ring in superior shape, THEN get beat down! lol

I can work out for 2 hours straight or more, without breaking to talk to fellow gym mates. So, I am disciplined. Also lifting weights, I'm starting to gain some good muscle for once.

I'm a beginner, so I'm concentrating on footwork, defense, speed, and technique. <--- will prepare me for those amateur Hooker/Brawlers here in Arizona. This includes shadowboxing and practicing back, forward, left, right side step motion repetitively.

Since I can finally afford to eat well, my current schedule is:
Monday 1:00 hour cardio
Tuesday 2:30 weights, jump rope, shadowboxing
Wednesday 1:00 hour cardio
Thursday 2:30 weights, jump rope, shadowboxing
Friday 1:00 hour cardio

...and every third weekend, I go on a monster run/hike. (I can only do this alone, for reasons too long to explain. I used to go to a gym, where I learned much. Now I have my boxing bud, who helps guide me)
Keep in mind, the reason my schedule may not be as busy as yours, it's because I have other priorties in life, as of now. This should change in the future and hopefully I can get a full training workout in a week, every week.

I'm working on Jump Ropes a lot here. As of now, I work on that, more than any equipment type workout. I think the jump rope is more important than the speed bag. Casual people always think that if your good at the speed bag, your a good boxer. heh

My favorite training workout is the double end bag!!! I love that bag! I have natural speed and accuracy, so the double end bag makes me look better than what I really am.

I can work the heavybag for over 6 three minute rounds. I love it! I sweat and feel tired, but great. The heavybag is what made my biceps and forearms enlarge. I made my first pair of gloves flatten within 2 months, from hitting the bag too much.

The boxer workout is the best! I read about how some boxers loathe training, I think this training has helped me as a person. Because of my runner background, I am able to push myself past others, when the going gets tough and fatigue sets in. When I used to go to our boxing gym, I loved it when I worked out more than anybody there! I can be competitive at times.

If I had it my way, I'd fight next year. haha By then, hopefully I can have a better and more consistent training regime. I know that many of you think I'm a wimp for delaying it that long, but I don't care. As long as I'm still training, learning, and getting in better physical shape.

Apologize at how disorganized this blog is. I also have a lot of smilies in there too. But if you knew me, you'd realize I'm a happy person. My smile still isn't as good as Ouma's.


I love replies, so go ahead and talk away, I will listen.

[AdamGB]

Welcome to the boards, CC

You sure your boxer mate knows his stuff? I know quite alot but I wouldn't coach a lad who was serious about being a competative boxer just yet... whats his background?...

[Bomp]

Hi, good reading your post. Nice to know someone's in a similar position to me. I'm 23 and have been a big fan of boxing for as long as I can remember, but only in the last few months decided to giv it a go. I'm a student at the moment so I have a fair amount of time to spend on my training, however I only have acces to a boxing gym twice week at the moment, rest of the days I work on stamina and strength on the road and in the regular gym.
I have also yet to spar, but I'm looking forward to as soon as possible, not for the sake of a brawl, but I think I will improve better by getting a feel of an opponents movements in front rather than just working on the bags as im doing at the moment.

I've been reading this forum for some time now, though I haven't posted many myself. Just like to say I've benifited from peoples knowledge of the game, especially alexw and adamgb.
cheers

[alex w]

hello son, welcome to the forum.
i like your story mate, you can write... you might be needed around (but by the number of posts you got, you might already write for us).

what your doing seems sound, and even though its not my way i respect the patience and preperation. i personally edned up sparring on my frist ever session, but i can see the benifits of waiting for a bit before you spar, youll get more out of it.

if you got any questions mate, ill tyr and answer them for you... i got alot of fight expereince and i fight in the division you want to be in...

[Poom]

Welcome + good luck your almost exactly the same height and weight as me strangely enough,

Its ok to spar early i think, just as long as its boxing not brawling.. I sparred early in one of my first weeks against a 15 stone body builder guy who was just starting to box like me, and he went wild and gave a black eye , totally unnecesary and you dont want that

[gyrokai]

Welcome to the boards, CC

You sure your boxer mate knows his stuff? I know quite alot but I wouldn't coach a lad who was serious about being a competative boxer just yet... whats his background?...

Thanks man. And 'cc' to you guys too.
Yeah, he has 5 years of amateur experience. He’s not the one pressuring me to spar. Others have. He’s the one who said, I should work on cardio like a mofo, since first time amateur fights have to do with conditioning more than skill. He’s not seriously training me, but giving me sound advice now and then.

Hi, good reading your post. Nice to know someone's in a similar position to me. I'm 23 and have been a big fan of boxing for as long as I can remember, but only in the last few months decided to giv it a go. I'm a student at the moment so I have a fair amount of time to spend on my training, however I only have acces to a boxing gym twice week at the moment, rest of the days I work on stamina and strength on the road and in the regular gym.
I have also yet to spar, but I'm looking forward to as soon as possible, not for the sake of a brawl, but I think I will improve better by getting a feel of an opponents movements in front rather than just working on the bags as im doing at the moment.

I've been reading this forum for some time now, though I haven't posted many myself. Just like to say I've benifited from peoples knowledge of the game, especially alexw and adamgb.
cheers

I’m sure you’ll get very much better from sparring. I will willingly delay my learning experience though. And it’s good for fans like us to learn boxing. Yeah, these guys know their stuff.

hello son, welcome to the forum.
i like your story mate, you can write... you might be needed around (but by the number of posts you got, you might already write for us).

what your doing seems sound, and even though its not my way i respect the patience and preperation. i personally edned up sparring on my frist ever session, but i can see the benifits of waiting for a bit before you spar, youll get more out of it.

if you got any questions mate, ill tyr and answer them for you... i got alot of fight expereince and i fight in the division you want to be in...

Thank you. Writing for you guys is an honor that I don't think I can keep. I don't know how the hell I got this many posts either. The division your in, I'm assuming it's a tough and fast paced division. I already have questions lining up. I think I may put them in another thread.

Welcome + good luck your almost exactly the same height and weight as me strangely enough,

Its ok to spar early i think, just as long as its boxing not brawling.. I sparred early in one of my first weeks against a 15 stone body builder guy who was just starting to box like me, and he went wild and gave a black eye , totally unnecesary and you dont want that

Thanks. Strange to know of someone with my weird shape and size, heh. Yes, I'd love my first sparring experience to be a boxing lesson. Not on me, but a lesson where I can learn and without the 100% all out haymakers.

[greynotsoold]

I'm curious, gyrokai, as to where in Arizona you live, and which gym you work out at? I live in Phoenix and have worked at a couple of gyms as a trainer. There are places where you'll find good sparring with people of the appropriate skill level, and that type of activity will be beneficial: in other places you'll find guys that will deliberately throw you to the wolves for whatever reason it is that makes them do such things.
As to when to spar... I'm of the mind that if you come to the gym every day and work to the point where you do 2rds of jumping rope, two of sit-ups, 3 on the heavy bag, and three on the double end bag or speed bag, you are good to get in and spar. It should be against some one at the same level as yourself and you should do one, maybe two rounds. That time trying to land a good punch on a real person will radical;ly change your approach to hitting the heavy bag; you'll place your feet differently, punch with more snap, and understand range much better. A week later try sparring again, again with aer of your level, and spar that way- a similarly skilled boxer, 2 maybe three rounds- three or four times.
About this time you'll both be much better at hitting and should not spar one another again; its time to spar a much better and more experienced boxer. Hopefully he won't be the kind that tears up beginners for his ego's sake; instead you want guy who is in there working on his defense and will let you punch (but punch back enough to keep you honest and to let you know when you made a mistake) but will give you good work: a round of him moving, then press you for a round, etc...If you pay attention here you can learn a lot from him.
To me the obsession with "cardio", training like a beast to spar for six minutes misses the point. Same with the way that most boxers hit the heavy bag. I'm of the belief that not nearly enough time is given to teaching defensive skills and that is sinful because no matter how good your cardio may be, when you get in the ring and your opponent is throwing lots of punches (as first time boxers usually do- its a nervous thing) and you don't have tools to defend youself with you'll get tired and the fun will go out of it and it will take on the tones of fighting for your life. I would suggest that as you learn/master each punch you also master the basic defenses against that blow (for example, catching and parrying the jab, shoulder blocking the right, etc...). Also, it is time well spent to work a couple rounds here and there with another new guy in which you use only jabs as it works your punch, footwork, defense, and you have to be tricky to hit a guy that knows what is coming.
Finally as you are introduced to morwe and more defensive skills, and taught more about footwork, these things should be features of all your work in the gym. When hitting the heavy bag work your footwork to position yourself for specific combinations, practice the feint, slip or whatever it is that will create the opening throw the punches then get out of range, or change your angle whatever. Remember that if you punch and then stand there you'll do it in the ring and you'll get hit for your trouble. It is very important to practice your defense as you practice punching to train your muscles.

[gyrokai]

I'm curious, gyrokai, as to where in Arizona you live, and which gym you work out at? I live in Phoenix and have worked at a couple of gyms as a trainer. There are places where you'll find good sparring with people of the appropriate skill level, and that type of activity will be beneficial: in other places you'll find guys that will deliberately throw you to the wolves for whatever reason it is that makes them do such things.
As to when to spar... I'm of the mind that if you come to the gym every day and work to the point where you do 2rds of jumping rope, two of sit-ups, 3 on the heavy bag, and three on the double end bag or speed bag, you are good to get in and spar. It should be against some one at the same level as yourself and you should do one, maybe two rounds. That time trying to land a good punch on a real person will radical;ly change your approach to hitting the heavy bag; you'll place your feet differently, punch with more snap, and understand range much better. A week later try sparring again, again with aer of your level, and spar that way- a similarly skilled boxer, 2 maybe three rounds- three or four times.
About this time you'll both be much better at hitting and should not spar one another again; its time to spar a much better and more experienced boxer. Hopefully he won't be the kind that tears up beginners for his ego's sake; instead you want guy who is in there working on his defense and will let you punch (but punch back enough to keep you honest and to let you know when you made a mistake) but will give you good work: a round of him moving, then press you for a round, etc...If you pay attention here you can learn a lot from him.
To me the obsession with "cardio", training like a beast to spar for six minutes misses the point. Same with the way that most boxers hit the heavy bag. I'm of the belief that not nearly enough time is given to teaching defensive skills and that is sinful because no matter how good your cardio may be, when you get in the ring and your opponent is throwing lots of punches (as first time boxers usually do- its a nervous thing) and you don't have tools to defend youself with you'll get tired and the fun will go out of it and it will take on the tones of fighting for your life. I would suggest that as you learn/master each punch you also master the basic defenses against that blow (for example, catching and parrying the jab, shoulder blocking the right, etc...). Also, it is time well spent to work a couple rounds here and there with another new guy in which you use only jabs as it works your punch, footwork, defense, and you have to be tricky to hit a guy that knows what is coming.
Finally as you are introduced to morwe and more defensive skills, and taught more about footwork, these things should be features of all your work in the gym. When hitting the heavy bag work your footwork to position yourself for specific combinations, practice the feint, slip or whatever it is that will create the opening throw the punches then get out of range, or change your angle whatever. Remember that if you punch and then stand there you'll do it in the ring and you'll get hit for your trouble. It is very important to practice your defense as you practice punching to train your muscles.

You sound like a trainer who cares. The gym I used to go to was the Flagstaff gym. I'm better off training by myself though. I don't want to say anything bad about any gym, so lets just say I decided to not train there anymore. But the guys who train there are good people.

Phoenix trainer, eh? I went to watch the Golden Gloves Tournament down in Phoenix, not so long ago. By bud fought in that tournament. If I ever go to Phoenix and train for a day or more, maybe I can give visit your gym. And perhaps spar on my level.