A Grand Familty Day

 

   ENTRY 487 | February 24 /2023

 

A GRAND WEEK OFF

I am still in a bit of pain but noit as bad.

As you may remember from the last entry that I had suffered a cracked rib from a rather rough sparring session which was later irritataed by an incident at work.

I ended up having a little vacation, but not because of the injury. Monday was a holiday in this area. Family Day, and also my workplace shut down this week for some repairs and upgrades, so I ended up getting the entire week off.

My intent was to go to the gym every morning since I had the chance, ut that diudn't happen. I only went twice.

I have to get up at 7:00 to be at the gym for the 9:00 class, and who wnats to get up that early during vacation time?  

I went on Wednesday and Friday. My intenent wa to also go on Thursday, but there was a nasty snowstorm and I didn't feel like trudging through snow up to my ass.

On the way home from Cabbagetown on Wednesday as I was assending the esceplator at the subway station, some woman behind me got upset becuause she couln't get past me. First of all, you are not supposed to pass. You are supposed to stand and let the escealtor take you up. That is, after all, the whole point. Anyway, I was already against the wall so I said to her, 'What would you like me to do? Morph into the wall?' She grunted and squeezed past me just to walk to the bus platform to wait for the bus. I mean, what the hell was the hurry? She had to wait for the bus anyway.

That is what I call stupidity, and as most of you already know, I have a very low tolerence for stupidity.

I mentioned to my wife that maybe we should move to a smalledr community as opposed to a major city. Perhaps there would be less of a chance of stupidness with fewer people.

Caledonia.

My wife was in Hamilton on holiday Monday visiting friends, so I thought that since there was really nothing to do since everything was closed, I made a surprse visit to Hamilton.

We decided to take a drive to Caladonia. A very small community. Small enough that while I was there I had lost cell service. 

We took a hike along the trails that border the Grand River. Along the way we met many freindly people. Everyone took time to say 'Hello'. That certainly wouldn't happen in Toronto or even Hamilton.

Grand River and bridge to Caledonia

It seemed like a very nice community and I didn't run into any stupidity.

Hmmmm...maybe the residents of Caledonia are onto something.

CREED (NOT THE BAND...PLEASE, NOT THE BAND)

I rarely step foot into a movie theatre anymore unless it is to see a boxing movie and that is obviously not ofter, but these is a boxing movie coming soon.

"Creed III" is being released in North Amaerica on March 3. Of course I want to go, but it has been so long since I have been to a theatre. I don't even remember how much a movie ticket costs. I do remember that the popcorn costs more than the ticket.

This one does not have Rocky in it. Rocky has apparently retired, but I think that might affect the film. The character of Rocky generally has a huge impact on the films he is in, but I am willing to give it a try, and I will review it here.

The probem is, I have no movie theatre close to me. The closest is the Queensway which is six kilometres away. Another reason why I don't go to the theatre too oftern but I am willing to go for this.

SPARRING REPORT: WEDNESDAY

Coach Johnny had me do four rounds of sparring on Wednesday because he wanted me to work on some things.

I still wasn't feeling 100% so I requested "light" sparring. I was surprised that my request was granted becasue usually they don't know the meaning of "light", but that's okay becasue either do I sometimes. Its a guy thing. When you get going, the testosterone sets in and that's it. However, It went quite well and I was able to get some things done in the ring. 

Thank you for working with me.

"LET HIS FACE RUN INTO YOUR FIST"

On Friday I did Coach Johnny's class and as with most of his classes I was able to get in  some pad work.

He told me that I should step in with my straight right.  His exect words were, "Let the guy's face run into your fist".

That I can do. I mean, it is not my fault that his face is in the way.

NEXT ENTRY: March 3 /2023

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.) 

STATUS:

INJUREry RECOVERY

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

  

The Brick Is Broken

 

   ENTRY 486 | February 17 /2023

 

BROKEN BRICK

I have been out of commission for the past week due to an injury.

It happened while sparring last week but it got irritated from an accident at work. I now have a constant discomfort, although not very painful unless I move the wrong way, then it becomes excruciating. 

This is just a small update this week since I really didn't do anything.

I only went into the gym once this past week to see how well I could do, but when it came to doing sit-ups, it was a definite "no". I packed it in after that.

I am off work this coming entire week while my workplace does some upgrades, so I have all week to go to the gym. Hopefully, I can do something then, because this past week was a write-off. 

I did squat.

'Ths Brick' is broken but hopefully not for long.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.) 

STATUS:

INJURED

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

  

10-Point Mustn't

  

   ENTRY 485 | February 10 /2023

 

HAS BOXING LOST ITS OBJECTIVE?

Boxing is a sport that does not seem to change very much but has seen a few major changes over the past few years, at least in this part of the world.

I am not a fan of most of them. 

One such change was the introduction of the Master's Division in 2016. It is a completely different set of rules intended for boxers over the age of 35. 

Why?

My very first bout was before the Master's Division was created and I was over 35, and I competed as an Elite boxer, and I was just fine. My second bout was under the Master's Division rules. 

Why?

I don't understand why the Over-35 group needs a different set of rules and why at that "magic age" the rules suddenly change as if you are now an old man incapable of achieving simple tasks.

In addition, there have been other changes in amateur boxing as well that seem to have some meaning but didn't or don't seem to work for their intended reason.

There was a campaign at one time that was intended to keep amateur boxing in line with the professional ranks. There was a fear that boxing would have seen the same fate as wrestling where there had become a wide separation between the freestyle and professional. There had become such a big difference between professional and amateur wrestling to the point that it had become two different sports, and spectators no longer recognized the amateur version as a sport. 

The boxing community feared that the same would happen, so changes were made to the amature version to make it more "recognizable".

Back to wrestling for a bit.

Professional wrestling isn't even a sport. It has become a predictable shitshow, and how about that stupid "WOW"? It is nothing more than a ridiculous T and A show, Where are the Millennials to complain about that?...oh, yeah, right, they are too busy being offended by Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima.

Anyway...I digress...

One of the changes made to amateur boxing that was eventually rescinded was the use of the term "Technical Knock Outr".  It was used to replace the term RSC since professional boxing fans were used to it, but it really doesn't make sense. There is nothing "technical" about a knock-out. It is either a knock-out or it isn't. The term RSC makes more sense and I am happy that they returned to using it. RSC is short for "Referee Stops Contest" and this is really what happens. An RSC is when, well, the referee stops the contest. 

How about that?

Another change that is still in effect and really bothers me was the change from an "objective" to a "subjective" scoring system. 

The system now used in amateur boxing is very similar to the 10-Point Must scoring system used in professional boxing. That means that the winner of the round is given 10 points and the other boxer is awarded either 9 or 8 points depending on how lousy that boxer performed compared to the winner. The three judge's scores are then averaged to decide the winner of that round, and the average from all the rounds will determine the winner of the bout.

The problem with that system is that it is purely based on the judges' opinions. In other words, you can box like shit for the entire round but still win because you looked good.

The original scoring system had the judges use counters similar to the ones shown above.

You can still buy these from Amazon and they are sold in sets of three, specifically for the three boxing scorekeepers, but that no longer happens in Ontario, maybe in other places.

I have a friend who is a bus driver and he uses them to count passengers.

The proper use of them is for counting punches. The scorekeepers would score one point for each clean punch landed within the target area and the opponent had to try to prevent it. Well, guess what? That's an objective!

Every sport has an objective: Cross the goal, put the puck in the net, put the ball in the basket, and the opponent has to stop that from happening. Those are objectives, and you are awarded points for being successful.

Boxing used to be like that. Strike your opponent and he has to stop it. Not anymore. Now it is all about impressing the shit out of the judges, and notice that they are now called "judges" and not "scorekeepers".

One of the coaches from Cabbagetown told me about a situation where a person won a bout by just chasing the opponent around the ring and not really trying to win.

That isn't boxing. Anyone can chase someone around the ring.

They need to bring back the original scoring system. Bring back the clicky counters and use them to score boxing properly, and not to count bus passengers.

WHO ARE YOU TO "JUDGE" ME?

While still on the topic of "judges", I'd like to continue my rant about who is allowed to be a boxing official in Ontario.

Are you aware that you don't need any experience in boxing to be a boxing official in Ontario?

You don't need experience to be a coach, either.

Coaches and officials need to be certified but there are no prerequisites for attending the certification classes. In other words, anyone off the street with $400 can sign up for a coaching or official's certification class through Boxing Ontario.

Everything is about money with them. What about the integrity of the sport?

My idea is Two years of experience as a boxer before you can try out as a coach, and then two years as a coach before you can be an official. That means that anyone who is a boxing official in Ontario will have four years of experience and I have absolutely no problem with that.

Who the F is anyone to judge my performance in the ring who hasn't been in the ring themselves? Especially, since there is no more objective scoring?

F you.

SHOULD THE PAUL BROTHERS BE BANNED FROM THE RING?

Speaking of things that piss me off, Jake and Logan Paul are two things that piss me right off.

Whatever happened to Jake and Logan? I used to get information about them in my news feed all the time.

"Has never won, but is the best YouTube boxer". He isn't good at YouTube, either.

Both of them seem to treat boxing as a joke and I find that to be extremely disrespectful.

I know a lot of boxers, amateur and professional, all who work very hard at a very difficult sport, and the Pauls come along and make a joke out of it.

Has either of them been in the ring with a real boxer? I mean, a real boxer in his prime in a bout that wasn't "fixed"?

Look at this guy. Is he for real?

He looks like a boxer, but he isn't one!

I remember a video that Logan produced where he sparred with a bunch of football players.

First of all, I don't know how he managed that because normally something like that wouldn't be allowed. During the video, he managed to successfully take out all of the football players.

So what?

He should try sparring with some boxers.

How about when Jake threw a right hook while in an Orthodox stance? I don't even know how that is even possible without being off balance. I am still cringing over that.

Both of them do not deserve to be boxers, nor do they deserve to be content creators for any platform.

How about this?

Spar me.

I'm serious. Bring it.

WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY SPARRING REPORT 

Time to stop ranting and move on...

I almost reached my 10 rounds per week sparring goal. I did nine rounds total this week. I do eventually want to get back to 10 rounds or more which will soon be possible as the Cabbagetown regulars are slowly returning.

Wednesday was interesting. Three rounds total.

In the first round, I got tagged really hard in my left ribs by an uppercut, hard enough for me to almost spit out my mouthguard. In the second round, don't I get git again in the exact same spot by the exact same punch.  Yes, most guys would have learned after the first time, but not I. It took two times for me to realize that I need to protect my left side more and that I did for the third round.

My ribs were quite painful for the rest of the day and most of Thursday, but by Friday it wasn't so bad.

Someone wanted to spar on Friday and since I was feeling better I agreed. 

The first five rounds went well, nice and light and easy. I was able to concentrate and work on things. However, part-way through round six, he decided to let go and nail me really hard right in the left ribs...again!

It really freaking hurt, so I spent the rest of the round beating the piss out of him.

CHECK-IN

I showed Coach Marcus my check hook to see if it needed any work, and he was very impressed with it. I guess all that practice paid off.

Do you know what that means? 

I'm going to start using it during sparring.

Check, please.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick"

'The Brick" is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

STATUS:

ACTIVE

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.) 

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

  

Thursday Night's Alright For Fighting

 

   ENTRY 484 | February 3 /2023

 

SHOVEL IT

Coach Johnny was away on Friday morning at the Brampton Cup, so another coach took over his session that morning.

Coach Marcus was in charge of the Friday Morning class and he did a few different things with us.

One was a circuit training with different stations and a different exercise at each one including bag work and pad work.

He also showed us a new offensive technique called a "shovel hook".  It looked more like an uppercut, but the idea is to stick upward and behind your opponent's ribs. That even just sounds painful. I like it.

It gives me something else to practice.

I am still working on the 'left...left...left' and my check hook.

THURSDAY NIGHT SPARRING REPORT 

Thursday I went in for an unusual evening session. Well., it was unusual for me since I usually go to the morning sessions.

Coach Johnny was there, but also Coach Rey and Coach Marcus.

As much as I appreciate what Coach Johnny does, it is nice to sometimes get some experience with other coaches.

I did get to do three rounds of sparring.

There were mostly young guys there. I usually don't like sparring with young guys because they are often unreasonably aggressive. It sometimes makes it difficult to work on things. You don't have to kill each other during sparring. It is only practice.

However, it turned out that these guys were beginners, and it was I who was asked to take it easy.

Oh, alright, I guess I can do that. Geez, take all the fun out of it why don't you?  :) :)

GOOD LUCK AT THE BRAMPTON CUP

Cabbagetown has sent three athletes to the Brampron Cup. 

Good luck to all of the Cabbagetown boxers who are in the Brampton Cup during the weekend of February 3.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick"

'The Brick" is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

STATUS:

ACTIVE

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.)  ↓

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA