Extremely interesting interview with Manny Steward

[captainanddew]

I'll listen to the interview in a bit. Thanks for posting.

Until then, I have just one thing to say, "OH MY GOD!!" That pure burst of emotion from him during Berto-Ortiz will be one of the few things I remember 40 years from now when I'm old and losing my marbles.

[frasd]

I'm sure Scrap has similar opinions on this if he is still around.

[marbleheadmaui]

Stuff like this is GREAT! Thanks!

I loved Manny's commentary on the pads. They've been around a long time, but they were always used as a specific teaching tool to demonstrate a specific situation. Beyond that, they are fun, but they really are of questionable value. it doesn't teach power or accuracy. About the only advantage is it allows someone to move. But there are better ways to even do that. It's called light sparring. Pads really do contribute to amateurism in terms of style. But they really are fun.

The scary part about Manny's commentary on the lack of teachers/trainers is there seems to be no solution. Who are Manny's and Freddy's and Nacho's apprentices? Manny is trying with his seminars, but one has to learn day after day over a period of years. Who is doing that? Somebody I hope.

Manny's insights on the import of strentgh and conditioning coaches also rings true. At our local club we constantly have to remind the kids they aren't weightlifters or plyometric champions they are boxers. They get caught up in conditioning rather than boxing. Our head guy says that for every minute spent on conditioning he wants five minutes spent on boxing skills, sparring, bagwork, shadow boxing etc.

God bless this kid doing the interview. He's agog because he has no clue about the things Manny is showing him and they really are boxing 101.

Thanks again for finding this. Great stuff.