"Weighting" the Gyms, Which Is the Best ?

Things have been a bit slow on the boxing front. Stockyards has just re-opened, and I have been doing some regular training at Bloor.
I sometimes get people asking me about finding a place to train, and how to find a good boxing gym.
I would like to take this opportunity to talk about boxing gyms, and gyms in general. I have tried a few in the Toronto area, and would like to present this "Consumer Report On Toronto Gyms".
Some of these are boxing gyms, some are regular gyms but have boxing facilities. Ratings will be out of 10. Only gyms that I have attended will be rated.
None of the gyms rated received a 10 / 10, but a couple came close.
Without further interruption, here it is:

Goodlife Fitness, fitness center with boxing equipment at some locations.  RATING:  3 / 10
A very "typical" chain fitness center. Impersonal and a bit on the expensive side. In addition to the high monthly fees, they always try to sell you personal training, which nobody really needs. Personal training for six months costs about $5000, and they seem to think it is no big deal. Oh, $5000, just like that. Yeah, I have that right here in my wallet.
They were also very reluctant to cancel membership after the contract period. They kept billing me for a month after, and then claimed to have not received the cancellation request. They also did not refund me for the month they were supposed to have cancelled.
OVERALL: NOT RECOMMENDED

Premier Fitness, fitness center with boxing equipment at some locations. RATING: 4 / 10
Very similar to Goodlife, except that I did not have so many problems with cancelling the membership
They also want to sell you a rediculously-priced personal training packages. Also, the boxing facilities cost extra, which they don't tell you up-front.
Update: Premier Fitness went bankrupt, and most locations have closed, while other locations were taken over by other companies.
OVERALL: NOW CLOSED

Extreme Couture, MMA gym with boxing. RATING: 6 / 10
I took a couple of trial classes here. I have to say it is nothing special. There is not really anything bad about it. It is a fine-quality gym, just don't get suckered into the "Couture" name. Although this gym offers boxing, they are not certified for competition. They offer classes and recreational boxing only.
OVERALL: NOTHING SPECIAL

Kingsway Boxing Club, Competition boxing club with fitness facilities with two locations. RATING: 0 / 10
I have to say this is the absolute worst boxing facility I have ever set foot in. In the eight months I was there none of the "coaches" were able to deliver what they promised. They put up a nice fake front, and pretend to care, but when you want to question them about something, they get upset. Also, the training is very negative.When you don't learn as fast as they want, or don't understand something, the "coaches" would reply with a sarcastic response. Also, the fees are very high for what they have to offer. The most expensive boxing gym in Toronto. It is clear they care only about money, and not about the quality of coaching.
OVERALL: STAY AWAY, FAR AWAY! 

Lansdowne Boxing Gym, Competition boxing club. Now defunct. RATING: 7 / 10
This was a good gym, but has since closed.
OVERALL: IT IS CLOSED, GOOD LUCK

Bloor Street Fitness,  (UPDATED) Fitness center with boxing facilities and a ring. RATING: 5 / 10
I have to say this is one of the better fitness centers in Toronto.  There is 24/7 key-card access. I also like how they often encourage feedback from the members, and will usually try what is suggested. The boxing facility was dying, and I suggested they revive it. They did. They now even offer supervised soft sparring classes. The only negative thing is some of the other members are not the greatest people in the world to exercise with. This seems to be a big problem at this location. It is not the fault of management, but it can in some cases reduce the enjoyment of the facilities. However, the great staff and the rest of the members outbalance the idiots.
OVERALL: NOT RECOMMENDED See new review here:  NEW REVIEW

Stockyards Boxing Gym, (UPDATED) Competition boxing facility. RATING: 9 / 10
This facility is also called Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, but they specialize in boxing.  The coach is a former professional boxer whose opponents list includes Hector "Macho" Camacho. The facility here is new, and the coaching is great. You can tell that the coaches and trainers really enjoy teaching. They are patient and understanding, and if you show your seriousness about the sport, they will do their best to help you. The only thing that keeps this gym from getting a "10", is the lack of a shower facility. I don't know how they overlooked this. You sweat...you shower...it is a very simple concept. I have a work-around. I bring my own. It is amazing what a spray bottle can do. Anyway, if they install a shower, this gym would be a perfect "10".
OVERALL: RECOMMENDED See new review here:  NEW REVIEW

That is all for now.  If you are interested in further information about any of these gyms, let me know.

Paul "The Brick" Brec

Another Sparring Class at Bloor, This One Hurt!

Another Thursday has gone by, and thus, another evening of "soft" sparring.
I think guys need to learn the meaning of *soft* sparring. That is "soft", 'light", "don't hit as hard as you normally would" sparring.
I wouldn't mind so much, except that because this is supposed to be S..O..F..T sparring, we are not wearing full protective gear.
In addition to the guys who normally attend, there was a "new" guy. Well, not new to boxing, but new to Bloor Gym. He had just moved here from Vancouver. That in itself brings up two questions: Why would anyone want to move from Vancouver to Toronto?, and, I didn't know they had any boxing in Vancouver. I thought all they did there was smoke joints?
Anyway, his name is Luke. Easy to remember. I just have to go into Nerd Mode and think of Luke Skywalker.
This Luke guy, I have to say is a pretty damn good boxer for someone who has only been in it for a few months. I though I was a pretty good boxer, but Luke taught me otherwise. Its amazing how when you think you are good at a sport and then someone else comes along and hands your ass to you on a silver platter.
The Force is strong with Luke when he is in the ring. I was just basic target practice for him. He nailed me so many times, and really hard too! I really like how the instructor was yelling instructions to me from ringside. "Go, Paul. Go after him. He isn't going to hurt you. This is just practice!" Yeah, right. You are outside the ropes, where it is safe. Would you like to come in here and try this?
Luke got me good above the eye. There is a bump there now, and is hurting. My nose is a bit sore too. Oh, well, sometimes those things happen in sports. It looks like I actually did something. Sometime I feel that people don't believe me when I tell them I am a boxer, because I never "look" it. Well, now I do. Happy?
Going forward, I think I am going to start wearing my sparring gear for "Soft Sparring Night".
At the same session, there was another guy who attends regularly. I'm sorry, I have forgotten his name. Anyway, I was able to get him against the ropes. I could not believe he let me score 18 points on him! He did not try to pivot out, defend or anything. I am not exactly sure what happened, but I was nice and eventually let him out. However, if that had been a "for real" match, there would have been no way I would have let him go. 
Well, that is all for this week's sparring report.
I will be back at Stockyards on Tuesday. I am in the process of creating my fall boxing schedule.I was waiting for Stockyards to re-open, so I can decide how to spit my training. Stockyards has the huge advantage of having a good coach, but they do not have showers. However, Bloor has showers and sparring classes, but is not certified for competition boxing. 
Coach Rick is my official coach, so the best thing to do will be to discuss it with him. I will get his advice on this, and see how often he thinks I should train with him, and the rest of the time go to Bloor.
Richard is cool about things like that, I'm sure we will be able to come to a comfortable compromise.
Once my schedule is confirmed, I will post it here.
Also, don't forget about "Fight Night 2" at Stockyards Boxing Gym, starting at 7:30 PM on October 21. I hope to see you there.

Paul "The Brick" Brec

"So You Think You Can Box?"

I am waiting very patiently for Stockyards to re-open. Five days. In the meantime, I am still training at Bloor Street Fitness. There has been a lot a sparring going on at Bloor. For a place that is not supposed to be offering sparring, they are having it about every two days. There is no sparring at Stockyards, and until there is, I will do my sparring at Bloor.
Speaking of sparring, there is this one really big guy who likes sparring. The problem is, big guys do not seem to understand the concept of ""soft"" sparring. It is like trying to tap lightly with a sledgehammer. Really, this guy hits hard. Although, he thinks he is soft sparring. I would really hate to get hit by him if we were hard sparring. Yikes!
Another thing that I am doing now, is swimming. In addition to my regular training, I am using the pool in my building three times a week. Swimming is good for boxers. Speaking of, there was a guy in the pool last night, doing some funky boxing moves. Yeah, right. I said aloud, "Pretending to be a boxer?" He ignored me and continued to splash around like an idiot. Seriously, he was splashing the ceiling! Then he had this ball, and for some reason he was whipping it around the pool, and bouncing it off the edges. Yeah, we get it, you are a real man. Thank you for letting us know. Now, how about cooling it a bit so other people can enjoy the pool?  Idiot.
I feel like I could start a new reality show, "So You Think You Can Box?"
I would also like to note that Stockyards will be hosting another boxing event on Friday, October 21. The first bout is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM. Please contact the club after October 3 for more info.
I will be video recoding all of the matches, and DVD and Blu-ray copies will be available. However, I will not be able to post all of them to the Internet. Please contact the club or myself for info on getting hard media copies of any of the bouts.
D-I-T-O Productions is a non-profit organization, and we supply copies of the boxing to the involved boxers and clubs at cost (duplication costs and cost of media). $4 for a standard-definition DVD, and $9 for a high-definition Blu-ray. You can have as many of the bouts as you want. If what you want can fit on one disc, you pay for only one disc. Contact me for more info.

Paul "The Brick" Brec

Stockyards Boxing Gym

Stockyards Is Closed, More Sparring At Bloor

Well, since Stockyards is closed until the end of the month, it means more training at Bloor.
At least the coach at Stockyards does not think he owns me, like at that other boxing club. Kingsway expected me to train exclusively with them, and I was actually told that I could not train anywhere else. Well, excuse me, if I want to train at two different gyms, that is my right.
Coach Richard made it very clear that as long as I am training, he does not care where I do it. That is a great attitude. He trusts that his boxers are going to train, and do not need to be baby-sat. I appreciate that very much.
Last Saturday, there was live boxing hosted by Stockyards, and unfortunately, our boxers did not win. However, yesterday in Kitchener, one of our boxers won against a boxer from Kingsway. Yeah, that is very funny. A boxer from a brand new club kicked some Kingsway butt! Once again, Paul is proven right about the crappy Kingsway coaching.
Anyway, enough complaining about Kingsway, moving on to Bloor.
Bloor now has a sparring class! Yeah. Thursdays at 8:30 PM, they have soft sparring supervised by an experienced boxer. Although Bloor is not certified by Boxing Ontario, I am told that they are "not supposed" to conduct sparring classes. In my opinion, if Bloor wants to conduct sparring, let them. Everyone keeps telling me. "Boor is not sanctioned for sparring. What if something happens? You are not insured..." Blah, blah, blah." First of all, whether they are certified or not is really not my problem. Secondly, sports injuries are covered by the Ontario Health Plan. Therefore, I really don't understand the need for "insurance" from Boxing Ontario, except that it is a way for Boxing Ontario to make money. There are advantages to being certified, which I hope Bloor will eventually do. For now, the Thursday sparring is fine.
In addition, I am still training as best I can, as per Richard's training regiment. Except, I had the flu last week, and didn't do as much as I should. However, I toughed it out, and still did some training. I am trying to prove to Coach Richard that I have what it takes to be a boxer again. I want on his team, damnit. If I have to kill my self to do it, I will! I will be the world's first dead boxer. Hmmmm, that opens up a whole new world of nicknames.
Seriously, with all sports, you are still expected to train even if you are sick. After all, exercise is the best medicine.
This past Thursday at Bloor, I was sparring mostly new guys. I don't like it, because I don't learn much, but I look at it as I am helping them learn.
One guy for some reason, would only hit me in the shoulders, and another elbowed me in the arm. I am still sore there. What the hell was he doing? He swung his arms down to defend a body attack, and got me on the arm as I was punching. That is actually a foul. He would have been called for that if there had been a referee present.
Anyway, I don't know what is happening at Stockyards until they re-open. Richard did want me to get my Boxing Ontario certification in October. He also wanted to start some sparring classes. He wants to get more guys in before he can start that. So, come on guys, join Stockyards. I need some more beginners to beat up. Just don't elbow me!

Paul "The Brick" Brec

To Shower, Or Not To Shower?? That Is The Question

Things were looking quite well at Stockyards at the beginning, but now things are beginning to stall. This is in no way Richard's fault. I feel bad, because Richard Souce and Junmar Emon are both really good friends of mine, and are great teachers. I like training at Stockyards, but there are some underlying issues that are frustrating me, and may also be annoying other members as well.
We have to keep in mind that Richard's Landlord is the City of Toronto. That should tell you something right there. I have never trusted the City.  In my opinion, City Hall is a building full of idiots.
Do any of you remember the story about when I first started my production company, D-I-T-O Productions? Let me fill you in, quickly. I was working on an experimental production when I was just going around and video recording different parts of the city. I decided to put it together as a "Toronto Tourism" video. Just for the heck of it. Well, the Toronto Tourism office somehow found out about it, and sent me a letter telling me that I was not allowed to produce a Toronto Tourism video, because it was their job. Seriously.
Ever since then, I keep my interaction with City Hall to a bare minimum, if any.
Well, this week we were informed that Stockyards Boxing will be closed until October 3, because the City promised to let Elections Ontario use our room for advanced polls. They seemed to have "forgot" to inform Richard of this ahead of time. Forgot? That is kind of a major oversight isn't it? I mean, an election is not exactly something you forget. Especially, since the candidates keep reminding us.
This is exactly something I would expect from the City.  We need to build a giant Dunce Cap and put it on the roof of City Hall.
Also, they kind of lied to me about being able to use the showers. Everybody has their "thing". Well, my "thing" is cleanliness. If I had the time, I would shower 25 times a day. I especially like to shower after exercising.
When I first joined Stockyards, I was told that I could use the showers in the change rooms or the Referee's Room. Now, when I try to use a shower, the arena staff complain. I had one yesterday actually chase me through the entire building to keep me from using a shower, and he was yelling at me. Seriously? Are you for real? Its just a shower, damnit.  I'm sorry I ruined your day.
Last Saturday, they let Richard use two whole change rooms and shower facilities for the boxers to use during his live boxing show, for over three hours. At the same time, they won't let me use one shower for a couple of minutes. What's wrong with that picture?
Richard wants to put on these shows once a month. Does he really think they are going to cooperate with him every month? I give it one more month, maximum. Really. That is my maximum expectation of the City of Toronto.
Most of you may know that I have a pretty good Bullshit Detector, and it is going off right now.  I have not mentioned it to Richard, because with all due respect, it is really none of my business. His relationship with his Landlord is his business.
My Bullshit Detector is not always right, and I hope that is the case here. I would really hate to see something happen to Richard and his new business. However, feel that Richard is about to turn onto Bullshit Boulevard, and it is a one-way street with no exit.

Paul "The Brick" Brec

Stockyards Boxing Gym

Response To Report On Boxing As A Violent Sport

The issue of violence in sports seems to be surfacing again. This seems to happen about once every couple of years. As always, boxing is at the top of the list of "violent sports". Oh, goody.
Here are a few questions:
What determines a "violent" sport?
What separates boxing from every other martial art, and hockey, and football, and rugby?
MMA was illegal in the province of Ontario until just this year for that very reason.
Let's first look at the object of boxing. The object of boxing is to score points by striking your opponent in designated target areas while wearing appropriate protective gear, after months of specialized training, while avoiding getting hit yourself.
Hmmmm, OK.
What is the object of MMA? Do whatever you can to disable your opponent, using whatever means possible, while wearing little or no protective gear.
Hmmmm, OK.
What is the object of hockey? Put the puck in the net, right? Where in the rules does it say anything about fighting, and hard body-checking?
Hmmmm...
What about football and rugby? Guys smash the crap out of each other in order to take control of a ball.
Hmmmm...
Right, so boxing is violent.
I have been involved with boxing in many different forms. I have been in the ring, I have taught it, photographed it, I have seen it all. In all the years I have been involved with the sport, I have never experienced a serious injury.
As a matter-of-fact, statistics show boxing to be the safest of all contact sports.
I wish these people who complained about these sports would actually come out to see what it is all about, instead of standing on the sidelines shooting off the mouth.
Do you have any idea what boxing coaches do to protect their athletes? Why do you think boxers are in such good shape? Every part of a boxer's training is to protect him from injury. Not just from getting hit, but because boxing involves such a lot of physical activity in such a short amount of time, other injuries can occur also.
It is just a sport. Boxers don't go around and punch everything that walks. Of course, we will defend ourselves if needed, like anyone else. However, we are not mean, tough guys. OK, maybe you have to be tough to withstand this sport, but that is all part of it. That is what makes this great sport so unique. You have to be a special person to want to be a boxer.
Enough of this talk about violence in sports. Sports are a way to relieve stress, and anyone involved in such sports are well aware of what is going on, and are properly trained to handle it.
Now shut the *F* up before I knock you out!

My two cents.

Paul "The Brick" Brec
Boxer, Stockyards Boxing Club

Junmar's Class Yesterday, Pain Today !

Well, yesterday was the official opening on the new Stockyards Boxing and Fitness. Junmar Emon held his first conditioning class, which I attended. Oh, yes. Junmar's famous conditioning classes. I remember those. I used to call them Junmar's Kill Paul classes. That hasn't changed.
What I found truly amazing, Richard pulled me out of Junmar's class to work with me in the ring!
He did padwork with me, which is something Kingsway never did. Richard is also a very positive coach. He encourages people to excel at the sport. I found the "coaches" at Kingsway to be rather negative. If you make a mistake there, you were greeted with a sarcastic comment. Its no surprise the Kingway boxing team is not doing well. How can someone learn in such a negative environment?
Sorry, I hate to be complaining about Kingsway so much, but I want don't want to see other people fall into that same crap.
I am paying less than what I payed at Kingsway, and all classes are included. What is great is that after class, Richard took me aside and told me everything that was expected of me, if I want to compete.
He wants me to be able to keep up with Junmar's class. Right now, there is a bit of a struggle with that. Also, he wants me to do:  75 push-ups a day, 75 squats a day, and 200 sit-ups a day. He also wants me to run the track across the street from my apartment three times a week. 
From what I am getting, it appears that Kingsway was only concerned about the money, and did not really care about the quality of coaching. I was very impressed that Richard Souce took time out to train me. Now that is a coach! It is clear that he enjoys coaching, and is not blinded by the almighty dollar sign. Not that a good coach does not deserve to be payed, but you don't rip off people.

"Bag Bay" at Stockyards Boxing and Fitness

Oh, and I found the showers. They are located in the change rooms that the hockey players use. It was kind of funny, here I am in my boxing gear walking into a room full of hockey players. "Oh, hi there. I'm just coming in to take a shower..." [Hee hee hee]
The showers were very cold. I could not figure out how to get hot water in there. Then again there probably is no hot water. This is a City of Toronto owned building. Yeah, the best thing after extreme exercise is a nice ice cold shower. Why not?
Anyway, in addition to the daily training Richard wants me to do, I will be going to Stockyards at least three times a week. He also wants me to do my own training in-between. This is it. I hope he understand that just because I am not going to HIS gym, does not mean I am not training. I also have a membership at Bloor Street Fitness, and I would still like to take advantage of that. This was something else about Kingsway, they were always complaining that I was only going three times a week. Well, yeah, but I was also going to Bloor. They knew that. I am not six years old. I don't need my hand held all the time. Richard told me what he wants me to do, which is more than Kingway ever did. I will train as Richard suggests, but it just may not always be at Stockyards. Some of the stuff I can even do at home.
To conclude today's entry, I was very happy with the staff at Stockyards. I recommend anyone who wants to pursue boxing for fitness or competition, drop by  215 Ryding Avenue. Near St. Clair and Runnymede. Take the 71 or 79 bus from Runnymede station. Visit the website below for more info.

Paul "The Brick" Brec

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness