Big Talk From 400 km Away

 

    ENTRY 538| MARCH 30/2024

WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK;  15 ROUNDS

FOCUS:  MULTIPLE JAB/PUSHBACK

I originally wasn't going to do an entry this week being that it is a holiday weekend, but...here is one anyway...

This week I was able to get in 15 rounds including on my birthday Friday.

That coach wanted me to focus on using my jab as a way to force my opponent back to the ropes.

The technique works quite well and seemed to work better while I was in the Southpaw stance,

I am still training at least 90 minutes per session four times a week and I have a feeling that Cabbagetown Boxing Club is planning something.  I don't know when but I am staying in my game to be ready. As the coach has said, "Always be ready".

BIG TALK

I have been having some joker from Ottawa trash-talking me through social media.

I realize this is a "thing" in combat sports, but it is usually at the professional level intended to gain exposure and a larger audience interest. This case is none of that.

He told me that he wanted to meet me in the ring but Boxing Ontario wouldn't sanction it and that we good news for me...

...the fuck?

Big talk from 400 km away.

I have absolutely no problem at all traveling to Ottawa to kick some butt.

I have spoken with a Boxing Ontario official and considering the circumstances in this case, officials are allowed to override the rules.

Getting Boxing Ontario to sanction a bout is the easy part. Getting my coach to travel to Ottawa just for one bout is the difficult part.

By the way this guy trains at the Beaver Boxing Club/ I will let you figure out why it is called Beaver.

(Oooo...!)

NEXT ENTRY: April 6 /2024 

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer, training since 1982.

Political lean: None. (middle)

Personality Type (Myers-Briggs): INTJ

Education: College Diploma (Applied Arts)

Lives in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada  (The Junction/Stockyards Village)

Born in: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Entertainment Likes: Rock music and psychological drama films

Favorite books: Fahrenheit 451, The Catcher In the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Of Mice and Men, 1984

BOXING STATS

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

77 kg (173 lbs.)  

 STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

Southpaw (right lead)

TRAINING STATUS:

ACTIVE

TRAINING SCHEDULE:

Mon: 0930-1100

Tue 1700-1900

Thu 1700-1900

Sat 1100-1230

COMPETITION STATUS:

ACTIVE

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

Working the Offense

  

    ENTRY 537| MARCH 23/2024

WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK;  13 ROUNDS

FOCUS:  OFFENSE

Nothing special happened this week so I only have a sparring report.

This week the coach wanted me to work with helping some of the other boxers with defence. That means that my main focus this week was offense. 

The coach wants me to work on jabbing more by keeping my opponent away and forcing him to the ropes.I have also been working on this technique while shadowboxing.

That is all I have this week except that next Friday is not only Good Friday but it is also my birthday.  If the gym is open I might go in for my "Birthday Beating". A Cabbagetown tradition. 

I might also do a special blog entry. I am not yet sure but check here and social media for updates.

NEXT ENTRY: March 30 /2024 

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer, training since 1982.

Political lean: None. (middle)

Personality Type (Myers-Briggs): INTJ

Education: College Diploma (Applied Arts)

Lives in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada  (The Junction/Stockyards Village)

Born in: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Entertainment Likes: Rock music and psychological drama films

Favorite books: Fahrenheit 451, The Catcher In the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Of Mice and Men, 1984

BOXING STATS

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

77 kg (173 lbs.)  

 STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

Southpaw (right lead)

TRAINING STATUS:

ACTIVE

TRAINING SCHEDULE:

Mon: 0930-1100

Tue 1700-1900

Thu 1700-1900

Sat 1100-1230

COMPETITION STATUS:

ACTIVE

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

Checking the Hook (Again

 

    ENTRY 536| MARCH 16/2024

WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK;  15 ROUNDS

FOCUS:  GENERAL TECHNIQUES 

15 rounds this week with some very close observation by the coach.

This week the coach wanted us to focus on specific techniques, such as using only the left, working on the inside, and working off the ropes.

Open sparring is great but it is helpful occasionally to incorporate some drills.

CHECKING THE HOOK (AGAIN)

 have been practicing the check hook again. 

There is a coach at Cabbagetown that really likes it and so do I, but I don't like using it when my opponent is standing in an Orthodox stance. The problem is that the technique requires you to pivot to your opponent's right, so what is to stop him from flicking out a right cross while you are pivoting right into it?

I think I am going to ask that coach more about it. I really want to use it more in the rig. 

It is easy to practice on the bag when you don't have a Right coming at you.

NEXT ENTRY: March 23 /2024 

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer, training since 1982.

Political lean: None. (middle)

Personality Type (Myers-Briggs): INTJ

Education: College Diploma (Applied Arts)

Lives in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada  (The Junction/Stockyards Village)

Born in: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Entertainment Likes: Rock music and psychological drama films

Favorite books: Fahrenheit 451, The Catcher In the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Of Mice and Men, 1984

BOXING STATS

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

76 kg (170 lbs.)  

 STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

Southpaw (right lead)

TRAINING STATUS:

ACTIVE

TRAINING SCHEDULE:

Mon: 0900-1100

Tue 1730-1900

Thu 1730-1900

Sat 1100-1300

COMPETITION STATUS:

ACTIVE

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

"Open House" -and- If Mike Tyson Can Do It...

 

    ENTRY 534| MARCH 9/2024

"OPEN HOUSE" 

The Cabbagetown Boxing Club had its "Member Appreciation" on Thursday, and I have to say that as a member i didn't feel appreciated.

I was asked to attend to participate in the boxing demonstration, but once I was there I was snubbed along with several others. Apparently, the demonstration coach only asked his "favorites" to participate.

They wouldn't even let me help with the setup. I arrived early to help only to be told "Don't touch anything".

Basucally, I did diddly, so why did they ask me to be there? Sure, I got in a bit of training, but that isn't the point.

Can you understand why that would be frustrating?

I think it will be a while before I do another one of those.

WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK;  7 ROUNDS

FOCUS:  CHANGING STANCE

I was able to do seven rounds on Tuesday with the expectation of doing a bit on Thursday during the demonstration, but you already know how that turned out.

However, seven rounds in one session is really good and I was able to work on the switch between Orthodox and Southpaw stances. It. seems to work well for me and my coach loves it.

IF MIKE TYSON CAN...

Big news in the boxing community right now is Mike Tyson's comeback versus Jake Paul.

My regulars will already know how I feel about Jake Paul. 

You also know that it is my feeling that Mike Tyson is one of the best boxers of all time and that it was him that got me interested in the sport in the first place.

Some have been saying that Mike is too old to be a boxer and you all definitely know how I feel about that so don't go there. As a matter of fact, Mike Tyson and I are the same age.

I have seen him train. He is still fast and can still kick butt. 

I have also seen Jake Paul train. He is not taking it very seriously, but he never has. He thinks boxing is a big joke. He's the joke

This is going to be on Netflix and although I am a Netflix subscriber, I don't think there is any point in watching, I think we already know the outcome. What do you think will happen when you match one of the world's biggest boxers with one of the world's biggest fools?

NEXT ENTRY: March 15 /2024 

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer, training since 1982.

Political lean: None. (middle)

Personality Type (Myers-Briggs): INTJ

Education: College Diploma (Applied Arts)

Lives in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada  (The Junction/Stockyards Village)

Born in: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Entertainment Likes: Rock music and psychological drama films

Favorite books: Fahrenheit 451, The Catcher In the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Of Mice and Men, 1984

BOXING STATS

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

76 kg (170 lbs.)  

 STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

Southpaw (right lead)

TRAINING STATUS:

ACTIVE

TRAINING SCHEDULE:

Mon: 0900-1100

Tue 1730-1900

Thu 1730-1900

Sat 1100-1300

COMPETITION STATUS:

ACTIVE

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

Sparring Report For the Last Week of February -and- Open House

 

    ENTRY 533| MARCH 2 /2024

WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK; 10 ROUNDS

FOCUS: SOUTHPAW STANCE AND CHANGING STANCE

There was nothing new in training this past week. 

During sparring I continued to practice Southpaw and changing between stances. It is easy to do while shadow boxing but much more difficult while sparring.

That being said, if you would like to see a sparring and training demonstration, including myself and other Cabbagetown boxers, drop by our Open House on March 7 at 6PM.

There will be music, peaches, and of course, demonstrations.

Cabbagetown Boxing Club is located at 2 Lancaster Ave. second floor. 

Parliament Street at Winchester St.

NEXT ENTRY: March 9 /2024 

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer, training since 1982.

Political lean: None. (middle)

Personality Type (Myers-Briggs): INTJ

Education: College Diploma (Applied Arts)

Lives in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada  (The Junction/Stockyards Village)

Born in: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Entertainment Likes: Rock music and psychological drama films

Favorite books: Fahrenheit 451, The Catcher In the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Of Mice and Men, 1984

BOXING STATS

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

76 kg (170 lbs.)  

 STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

Southpaw (right lead)

TRAINING STATUS:

ACTIVE

TRAINING SCHEDULE:

Mon: 0900-1100

Tue 1730-1900

Thu 1730-1900

Sat 1100-1300

COMPETITION STATUS:

ACTIVE

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn