Just for a bit of fitness - Im gonna try doing some boxing classes before work. Gets me in town before the traffic and will be a hell of a lot more aerobic oriented. Christmas is coming up and I will probably get turkey poisoning again so best start working it off now

It will be a while before doing any sparring of any description, but Im wondering if anyones had a go at this. How do you override the kicking instinct? Im sure theyd love it if I put the boot in

Back in the 80's I was between styles, so I thought about giving boxing a go, I stuck at it for a year or so.

I didn't find any difficulty in changing my mindset, but that may have been because of the overpowering smell of linament...

I found my footwork, cardio and hand work all improved dramatically, though the hardest part to get used to (other than the endless skipping) was the 3 minute rounds. Even when we were just warming up or doing general fitness work, we were governed by the 3 minutes on, one minute off.

Back then my most dominant MA was Jiu Jitsu, so I didn't suffer with the urge to kick when the going got tough, I just suffered with the urge to drop someone over the hip

I'm sure you'll find it fun as well as beneficial.

Boxing Matt? Excellent! Welcome to the broken-nose brigade

The Baptism of Fire
Woke up at 5.15 which was a major achievement in itself.

Walked up the stairs and got introduced to shaven-headed-tattooed-funny-bearded trainer as 'new student matt'. Trainer grins evilly and says "Bewdy" :gulp:
A bit of one on one where he teaches me to punch, and immediately picks up my perennial fault that my guard is WAY too open. Im not sure but I think he threatened to tape my hands to my head.
Start off with two laps around Northbridge, then on to some bag work.
Punching a bag is FUN. It really emphasises a good and bad technique like nothing else. It only takes a wrist twinge to make sure you hit it properly next time. Its also very very knackering.

The rest of the time is a blurr of different exercises and me lamenting the Guinness I had last night. Everything in three minute time frames. More situps and pushups and other nasssssty stuff than Ive ever done before, a bit of one on one with focus mitts, and plenty of bag work.

Took a peek at 'The Ring' on the way out. Hmmm........ maybe one day.

Gonna be sore tomorrow - If I dont make the seminar Rocket its coz Im paralysed

Oh yeah - they even played "Eye of the Tiger"

Go for it, Matty



You could be the next Mundine!

We have had a boxing guy come down to our dojo a few times to take my students through some pad drills, it was awesome. I am a huge boxing fan and am spewing that I didnt take it up when I was a kid, I have just about every Ali fight on video and I watch them religously.

I have since become quite good friends with this trainer and am thinking about doing a class a week with him to improve my fitness and foot and hand speed, it is great for that. We have had him come down to some of the Tino Hanshi seminars to do a bit at the end, he has some great self defence drills also and runs a great class.

rocket

Update:
Sparring boxing style is a bit of a shock to the system. Firstly theres no need to look for an attack coming from anywhere except the arms. Whilst this may at first seem to be easier it means that the distance between you is a lot less making reaction times lower. Blocking seems almost nonexistant with footwork and dodging being the preferred avoidance. Fitness? Wow! Still a long way to go there.

Still not full on yet, which I guess is the right way being a total noob. Dont think I'd like to have a serious round or two with some of those 17 year olds...

Matt,

How do they teach you footwork?

What format does the session take?

Sounds like fun!

A Question.
Why does there seem to be no formal blocking techniques in Boxing yet there is in Karate?
Is it because the Boxer is taught to keep the distance between him and his opponent as close as possible to render these techniques unecessary?
Is therefore Karate a "distance sport"? as taught in some modern styles?

From my (extremely limited) exposure to it much greater emphasis is placed on evasion (ducking, stepping back/side out of the way) and keeping a guard around your head. Taking a blow is expected rather than avoided at all costs, the object is to minimise its effect.

matt im glade you are enjoying the boxing..... i did boxersize for a wile before i joind karate and still find it hard to get out of the old habbit of boxing stance when it comes to doing kumite....lol but the boxing habbits come in handy when in tournaments as iv been tolds loads of time that i have a very fast punch and dess tell them that i used to do boxing .....
mind i met my match yesterday in class 1 of our new students who has just got his yellow belt is an ex bouncer and ex boxer and i had to do kumite with him as we where evenly matched in height..... i must admite i was well put through my paces he just came at me in full boxing mode i was just glade i could block his punches or id have had a bruse or 2 today....lol

maz......
newcastle...uk