THE "F-WORD" RUINED TRADITIONAL BOXING GYMS
Earlier in the week, I was talking to an MMA guy from X-Couture who used to be a boxer.
The reason he used to be a boxer is that he said that he was having a lot of problems getting decent coaching at other gyms.
Wait.
That sounds very familiar.
This guy was 34 years old, so still not quite a Master.
That is interesting.
That means that this problem with the bullshit coaching is not isolated to me, or even to Masters.
This led me to thinking that there must be something else that is causing Crappycoachingitis
It really didn't take long to figure it out.
It is the 'F-word'.
Fitness.
Traditional boxing clubs are slowly being replaced or taken over by fitness classes.
This happened at Bloor Street Fitness. Originally it was Bloor Street Boxing. Once 'Fitness' was introduced, the boxing program went right downhill to where it became practically non-existent.
Then it happened again at Stockyards.
Originally it was called Stockyards Boxing Gym. Then slowly they began to focus more on fitness classes and less on competitive boxing. Then they changed the name to Stockyards Boxing and Fitness.
There is that damn F-word again. As soon as that word appears the trouble begins.
It seems that there is more money in it for the gyms for fitness than for competitive boxing programs.
Stockyards even went as far as to squeeze the boxers out when a fitness class was on.
Xtreme Couture is different in that they can offer both equally.
They have people who specialize in fitness and ones who specialize in combat sports.
That way which ever the members choose, they can get proper training.
Therefore, if you want good coaching for boxing, you need to find a place that is specifically a boxing gym or a place like X-Couture and hope that the F-word does not one day appear on their sign.
Although, X-Couture does have the evil F-word in small print on their sign, it will always be a combat sports gym.
Even then, it does not guarantee good coaching.
Kingsway Boxing Club is specifically a boxing gym and their coaching was terrible when I was there. I mean, throwing all of your boxers into the ring and shouting out a drill to work on and then fucking off for the rest of the session never to be seen again is not the way to coach future champions.
Anyway. The point is you really can't tell what kind of coaching you are going to get until you try it. Unfortunately, most places do not allow you to 'try'. If they do, it is only for one session which is not long enough to judge the level of coaching.
That being said, since it is the beginning of the year, it is almost time for another "Guide To Boxing Gyms In Toronto".
I am currently working on the next guide, and it will be ready soon.
Look for it here.
CONTINUING STORY: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ONTARIO BOXING ASSOCIATION AND HAMILTON BOXING CLUB?
I have once again heard of the fate of the Ontario Boxing Association but still can not confirm it.
However, while doing some research I found some very interesting pieces of information.
Sherry Boone who was running the OBA, used to own a boxing gym on Lundy's Lane in Niagara Falls. Her son, Brodie, was the coach.
At that time her gym was under Boxing Ontario sanction.
Based on information I found from the Niagara Falls Public Library, an undated article mentioned that Sherry Boone was banned from Boxing Ontario for being disruptive and abusive.
I have to say I am not at all surprised by this since meeting her, I have witnessed her being quite abusive to people.
That explains a lot.
If she was booted from Boxing Ontario, then that explains her setting up the Ontario Boxing Association under the World Boxing Council. Her son was then able to open the Hamilton Boxing Club on Upper Centennial Parkway under the "new" OBA.
However, although I have not been able to confirm if the OBA has shuttered since as the time of writing this entry they still have a web site and Facebook page.
However, this is not true for the Hamilton Boxing Club. It too had both a web site and a Facebook page. Now, neither exist. If you do a search for 'Hamilton Boxing Club', the link takes you to a Go Daddy parked page.
The Facebook page has just disappeared into Facebook heaven.
This is an interesting indication of what has happened.
If the OBA did shut down, it would mean that the Hamilton Boxing Club can no longer exist unless it switches to Boxing Ontario. However, with Sherry being banned it is unlikely that her son would decide to sanction under Boxing Ontario.
It is all coming together now.
...and as I mentioned in a previous entry, I am not surprised.
Hamilton Boxing Club
BACK TO HELL
In the last entry I mentioned that the idiots at Bell cut all of my services due to their own error.
Finally, after six days without any TV, internet, or phone services, everything is now back on.
In the meantime, I dropped my mobile phone onto the concrete floor at the gym and smashed the shit out of the screen.
That was the one that I had bought from Amazon after my original Samdung S6 Edge charging/data port had failed and they refused to fix it.
Two smartphones over two years.
That has forced me to get another, but I wanted a really good one.
The one I originally wanted was out of stock everywhere for a very long time and then when it finally came back it was really expensive.
The Google Pixel 2 XL. $1350 or $425 on a 2-year agreement.
I don't think so.
I decided to go with the LG G6.
It had specs close to that of the Pixel 2, but not as expensive.
$1000, but I got it for $50 because I painfully and reluctantly agreed to stay with Hell for another two years.
 |
| LG G6\ |
I have to say it is not a bad smartphone.
I have not fully explored it yet, but it has an amazing camera with two lenses. Close-up and wide-angle. I have never seen that on a smartphone.
I also bought a rugged case for it. To prevent the screen smashing from happening again.
Word of caution: Don't buy accessories from Bell.
They wanted $55 for a decent case.
I got a good case with a screen protector and a belt clip for $23 from Amazon.
Amazing isn't it?
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--Paul 'The Brick', 2017 Golden Gloves Silver Medalist
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