Joe Byrd's Boxing Academy

[Chris Nagel]

The bad news about the sparring is that it's going to be a while before I'll be able to spar again. Mr. Byrd says that you need your amateur book, which looks like a boxing passport to be able to spar. He says it's because if there is an inspector that comes by and finds out that we are unlicensed or if our licences are expired, we can get banned and Joe would get suspended. Jackson has no license to begin with, and I need the forms so that I can renew mine.

Normally Mrs. Byrd handles the boxing licenses along with much of the business aspects of running the gym. She has been unwell as of late and I have not seen her in the last couple of weeks, but I heard that we should be seeing again her soon. She's a lovely person, full of encouragement and kindness, and more of a pillar than a fixture at Mr. Byrd's gym.

At least on the bright side, that gives me time to prepare for sparring, and seeing where I am at there is a lot for me to work on. So whenever my book is ready, you'll see a much better version of me in the ring.

As for some training advice from Joe, one thing he suggests is to run wind sprints. His version is to sprint 50 yards, and then jog backwards with your arms raised in a ear-muffs position. I don't know if there is more to this, but that's what I've been told when two occasions and when I asked about it recently. I've read about other versions, but main point is thinking about what your roadwork is intended to accomplish. Different kinds of alternating running/sprinting, or interval running (ie. running with a resting interval) is to condition you perform better under the rigors of boxing (ie. the lulls in action, the quick responses, and the rapid exchanges). This is different than the simple jogging/running for long distance, which can be good for cutting weight, and will-power.

Joe's other suggestion is to exercise at the gym using work shoes/boots. The reasoning behind this is to become accustomed to the heavier weight while trying to move quickly so when you change into your boxing shoes you'll feel lighter and move quicker and more confidently. The work shoes are durable, and you can save your boxing shoes from wear and tear. Anyway, I have a pair that I saved in case I needed it for construction or tire changing. I've been using it the last couple of days and it does make things a little more difficult, especially when I am doing stomach exercises with my legs raised.

[Chris Nagel]

Last Friday, Joe Jr. and Brandon were talking shop and I had the pleasure of eavesdropping.

Joe Jr. was an ex-fighter like-father-like-son, and began talking about himself squaring up starting after his shoulder injuries. He now has pins in both of his shoulders. He then stands nearly side-ways and says I used to fight like this and then half-raises his left arm showing the rising-jab he used to posses. After throwing a rising-jab, he'd hook off of it.

Getting to the good part, Joe used to used to have Houdini-like flexibility in his shoulders which allowed him to land punches from strange angles. His specialty-punch was like a pitcher's throw that started low and behind his body, and turned into an overhand right that they wouldn't see coming. It was his 'Sneaker-punch'. After his shoulders gave out, his punching power wasn't to same, and he lost his trump-card.

[Andre]

Body weight behind it, but out of line slightly and unlocked, so tonnes of stress on the joint eh?

[Chris Nagel]

Update:



Yesterday, it was just me warming up alone with the Byrd brothers Ron and Joe Jr. watching. Sadly, the gym's been nearly empty these days. The good news is that I renewed my boxing license online, and in accordance to USA Boxing law, I'm now allowed to step in the ring! So now I'm able to spar, the bad news is that there are no sparring partners. Well, there is Brandon- however Mr. Byrd expressed that he didn't want a heavyweight sparring with a middleweight (myself) especially since we are both amateurs. Safety concerns aside, he believes that sparring a heavyweight will give me bad habits.

Brandon comes in late, after I've almost finished the warm-up and he notices that Mr. Byrd isn't there. Although Mr. Byrd wouldn't like us spar, we know that Joe Jr. won't object. Brandon is itching spar since he hasn't sparred since June. So when the cat's away, the mice glove up and spar!



Brandon's fresher than me, but I'm warmed up. The first round we were just supposed to jab. I felt intimidated, jumping in to jab most of the time. My hopping jab became easy to spot, so Joe begins timing me with his hook. I see this so I move my hand from chin toward my cheek, but I'm still eating punches coming in.

From the second round on things get shittier for me. I get tired, begin jabbing less and Brandon is getting confident. Brandon is throwing right hands, which surprises me since I thought we agreed on jabs only. Ronnie standing ringside tells me to stay on him, and to keep throwing. Staying close to Brandon doesn't work at all for me. I'm not aware of his punches when I'm next to him, and I close my eyes under the barrage of punches. Brandon says, "I know you're faster than that", but it's hard to keep up when you're tired.

I guess that two rounds proved to be enough, but I agree to go one more. Brandon takes it easier on me, and I do what I can. Afterward, we go a couple rounds on the bags, our floor-work and then call it day. As we head to our cars Brandon says, "Let's spar anytime". I reply, "Sure, anytime."