An "Interesting" Start to the Year

Well, I have to say, so far it has been an interesting start to the training year.
Let me go through a quick recap of the last week.
Let's see, I was nailed on the jaw during sparring, and "nailed on the jaw" in the Martial Arts Forum.
This past week was not a good one for The Brick.

During sparring on Thursday,  I was nailed with an overhand right square on the jaw. It really hurt! I had a bit of a headache after.
He caught me off-guard after popping me in the ribs with a left hook. This guys is a pretty-good boxer. I had be sparring beginners up to then, and I was getting a bit lazy. I forgot to "reset" when this guy came up.
Yes, once again guys are forgetting the meaning of "light sparring". Also, he was wearing the wrong gloves. He was wearing 12 oz gloves, instead of sparring gloves.
Sometimes getting nailed is a good way to learn. I don't mind that, but this goes back to a previous post, where I mentioned about people using the correct equipment.
I did get a good bell-ringing though. Note to self: Protect the jaw.....Note to self: Protect the jaw.....Another note to self: Protect the jaw at all times.
I will certainly remember that for the next session.

On Sunday at Richard's class, I was sparring a beginner female, since nobody else showed up.
First of all, we believe in going a bit light on beginners. The reason is that if you stick someone in the ring the first time, and that person is bombarded with a punches, and maybe get hurt, it may turn the person off from the sport. We believe that starting easy on beginners to get them used to the sport. Makes sense.
As for being a female, well you all know my feelings about that. However, she chose that sport. If the coach wants me to train with her, I will do it. We are all there for a purpose, and we should all be helping each other.
I would rather not spar a girl. Honestly, if I can avoid it, I will. However, if the coach or any of my other teammates needs help with training, I will gladly jump in. My personal opinions are not going to get in the way of training.
I made one small mistake about this, though. I posted about it in the Martial Arts Planet forum. All I am going to say is that the bell ringing I received at sparring, does not even come close to the one I received through that thread. I'd rather take one on the chin anytime, than having to deal with a bunch of annoying bleeding-heart ultra-Liberals. You know what? I have an opinion. It does not affect my training or my team or coaches, so take your attitudes to North Korea or China. I'm sure you will be more than welcome there.
Another note to self: Don't mention that on the forum....Don't mention that on the forum....


Now you have made me angry. Thank you for that.
On that note. Good bye. That's all until next week.

Paul "The Brick" Brec
Stockyards Boxing Team, Masters Novice Division, Heavyweight (92 kg)

New Year, New Schedule, New Hope

Hey everyone! I hope you have all had a great holiday season.
Welcome to 2012. The last year on the Mayan calendar.
Since this is supposed to be "Last Year", maybe it will be a "Good Year" for me...and I am not talking tires.

I have decided, all I want to do is step into the ring and compete at Master's level for a year. That's all. Give me one year just to say , "I did it." Then I can stick out my tongue at all the disbelievers.
After that, my plans are to continue in boxing as a photographer, and I want to get my Official's certification, so I can be a referee.
I will, of course, continue to train and spar, and do some recreational boxing.

Speaking of training, I have not been to Richard's gym during the holidays because it was closed most of the time, but I did do regular training at Bloor, including the sparring classes.
There was officially no sparring class this past Thursday. Blood had cancelled all classes last week for the holidays. However, the entire class showed up anyway, except the instructor.
We went ahead with class. Although we are not supposed to spar without an instructor, we were just doing some soft practice. It was all of the regular guys from class. I don't think anyone will complain about that. What is the point of taking a class, if you can not practice what you have learned?

I will be returning to Stockyards Gym today, as they are back on regular schedule. 
I met Coach Richard at the supermarket yesterday. He said that he will be holding another boxing show in February, but none this month. I will post more about it once it has been announced.
He has also said that he is going to get someone else to do the video recording of the matches, but he wants me to work with them.
Oh, OK. I thought I had the exclusive right to video for Stockyards. If I am working with someone else, I do not have control over what happens to the videos. That means they will not be on YouTube. I had big plans for the next series of vids. They were going to be in 3D.
Oh, well. That is what he wants.


Due to the possibility of crappy weather, my Winter Schedule will include more "at home" options for training. Also, because there is an indoor pool at my apartment building, "Water exercises" will also be added. This includes swimming and other exercises that can be done in the pool. Not synchronized swimming. Don't even joke about that!
My coach has approved this, and recommends swimming as a form of training for boxers.
This new schedule will give me more flexibility in allowing for poor weather, and will allow me to train daily.
I have also removed 'classes' from this semester, as these are more geared to aerobics than to boxing.  I will cover conditioning during the open training sessions.
This schedule will be in effect until Easter weekend.

SUNDAY: Open training at Bloor (90 minutes)
MONDAY: Water exercises at home (60 minutes)
TUESDAY: Open training at Bloor or Stockyards or at home (Alternating and weather dependent) (90 minutes)
WEDNESDAY: Open training at Bloor or Stockyards or at home (Alternating and weather dependent) ( 90 minutes)
THURSDAY: Technical boxing/Sparring with Instructor Kobe at Bloor (90 minutes)
FRIDAY: Water exercises at home (60 minutes)
SATURDAY: Technical boxing/Sparring with Coach Richard at Stockyards (60 minutes)


Paul "The Brick' Brec,
Stockyards Boxing Team, Masters Novice Division, Heavyweight (92 kg)