Golden Gloves Announced ~ Golden Gloves Training

    ENTRY 439

GOLDEN GLOVES COMING SOON BUT NOT IN TORONTO


Boxing Ontario has just announced the Golden Gloves will be held during the first weekend of December.
However, for every year previously it has been held in Toronto, but not this year.

Here is a hint: Honeymoon Suite.

Yes. This year the Golden Gloves is being held at the Scotiabank Convention Centre on Stanley Street in Niagara Falls.

The thing is that almost everyone who will be competing in the Golden Gloves will have to stay in Niagara Falls.

The good news is that hotels in Niagara Falls are very inexpensive this time of year. I have seen as low as $50 per night.
However, I don't think the hotels know that their city is going to be hosting the Golden Gloves this year...yet.
All the athletes converging onto Niagara Falls for one weekend is going to create one hell of a demand for rooms. That is going to cause rates to go up. Possibly double. 
My suggestion to anyone planning on going to the Golden Gloves is to reserve your room NOW, because once the hotels discover what will be going on that weekend, that's all she wrote. You can always cancel if you don't go. 

I have decided to wait and see if anyone else registers in my division before I register.

Boxing Ontario still owes me $40 from the Silver Gloves. I think it will be a while before I see that.


GOLDEN GLOVES TRAINING STARTS NEXT WEEK

Training starts next week for the Golden Gloves tournament. I have to prepare just in case.
I will be going back to six times per week and longer sessions of 90 minutes or more.


DID THE STAIRS

I did do those stairs a couple of times while I was in Hamilton.
Not that difficult, but it should not be for me anyway.


TRAINING SCHEDULE

Currently training 5 days a week:

MONDAY: Swimming and running/sprints, 45 min @ University of Toronto Athletics 
TUESDAY: Technical Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
WEDNESDAY: Core and Weight Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club 
THURSDAY: Technical Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
FRIDAY: Sparring, 6 - 8 rounds @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
SATURDAY: Rest day
SUNDAY: Rest day


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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

No Silver Gloves For You Young Man!

    ENTRY 438

NO SILVER GLOVES FOR YOU, YOUNG MAN!


As it has turned out, nobody else in my category registered for the Silver Gloves this year.
That means that I will not be going. At least not as a competitor.
Therefore, my wife and I will be going away instead. I may as well since I have already booked off from work. We will be visiting friends in Hamilton. Not much of a vacation but at least it is time away from hell, I mean work.

I hope that also means getting the registration fee back. I need it to put towards the Golden Gloves registration.

One thing I find interesting about this whole thing, remember the 'cheater' from the Bronze Gloves?  I didn't see him registered for the Silver Gloves. Ian Smith from Combative.

The things that make you go 'Hmmmmmmm'…!



REASON WHY CABBAGETOWN HAS THE BEST COACHES

I wanted to discuss this before but that was when I didn't want to reveal my boxing gym, so I couldn't. 
Now, I can talk about why the coaches at Cabbagetown Boxing Club are better than any others.

Volunteers.

The coaches at Cabbagetown are volunteers.
That means that they must really like coaching...and that means they put a lot of effort into it.
As an example, it costs almost $200 per month to train at Xtreme Couture so one would think that they have excellent coaches. Actually, the coaches are terrible. 
The reason is that they are getting paid to be coaches, so just like anyone else at work, they do the absolute bare minimum required.

I can go on about this, but it would take another two entries and will likely bore you.
...so let's move on...

It costs only $40 to train at Cabbagetown because the coaches are not paid.
It is interesting that the least expensive boxing gym has the best coaching.

Like I said in a previous entry, the Cabbagetown coaches found flaws in my technique that no other coach could find, or maybe they did but just didn't care.
My guess is the latter.


AWAY NEXT WEEK

During the week of October 14 to 18, I will be away with my wife in Hamilton to visit some friends.
That means no blog entry and no gym. I have already told coach Johnny that I will not be in next week.
I will, however, be climbing these stairs in lieu of training at the gym:

The trees are hiding most of them, but the stairs go as high as the treetops.
These put the "Rocky" Philadelphia Museum of Arts stairs to shame.

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Currently training 5 days a week, upon returning from vacation:

MONDAY: Swimming and running/sprints, 45 min @ University of Toronto Athletics 
TUESDAY: Technical Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
WEDNESDAY: Core and Weight Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club 
THURSDAY: Technical Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
FRIDAY: Sparring, 6 - 8 rounds @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
SATURDAY: Rest day
SUNDAY: Rest day


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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

Silver Gloves Registration=Done ~ Music Is My Inspiration

    ENTRY 437

IT IS DONE: SILVER GLOVES REGISTRATION 

The only problem is...there are no other names!

Actually, a couple more have appeared since publishing this blog, but neither in my weight category.

Although Silver Gloves training will continue until mid- next week as per the schedule below. 



MUSIC THAT INSPIRES ME

Music is a form of art. Well, some of it is. Some may argue that modern music is no longer an art but just all about money.
That may be true. However, there are a few that come through as being exceptionally artistic. 
Some music makes you think. That is art.
Following is a list of the top five music that makes me think about myself and my life and the mistakes I have made and what inspires me to move on and do better.

These are different from songs I use for training. My training music playlist is purely used to inspire me to train better as opposed to just pondering about life.

DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' (JOURNEY)
This is a staple inspirational song, but over-used which is why it is only number five on this list. Although still not bad.
"Don't stop believing,"

LOSE YOURSELF (EMINEM)
Although I am not a fan of this particular type of music, I do like this song because of the meaning behind it.
The most powerful line is the very last:
"You can do anything you set your mind to, man."

REACH (SURVIVOR)
Most people remember this band for their huge hit "Eye of the Tiger", but they have many more gems such as this one.
"You have to reach to meet your dreams."

SOMEBODY'S OUT THERE (TRIUMPH)
This Canadian band from Mississauga made it to this list as my second-most inspirational song by asking the question:
"Are we victims of circumstance when destinies collide?"






SOLSBURY HILL (PETER GABRIEL)
This is the one piece of music that really makes me sit back and think about the mistakes I have made in my life especially during my boxing career. Having to make a decision and finding out it is the wrong one and then trying to correct it.
"Open doors would soon be shut---although my life was in a rut---which connection I should cut"
Powerful. For me.




Check out my training music HERE. (Spotify playlist)


TRAINING SCHEDULE

Currently training 6 days a week until October 8 (Silver Gloves Training Camp)

MONDAY: Swimming, 30 min @ University of Toronto Athletics 
TUESDAY: Technical Training, 90 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
WEDNESDAY: Core and Weight Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club 
THURSDAY: Technical Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
FRIDAY: Sparring, 6 - 10 rounds @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
SATURDAY: Running/Sprints, 20 mins @ University of Toronto Athletics
SUNDAY: Rest day


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RAdiO C| 65 is currently broadcasting a few hours a day.
Select the link to the right to listen.
Usually, the stream is live in the evenings on Wednesday and Thursday and sometimes overnights (Eastern time).

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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

The Streets of San Francisco

    ENTRY 436

THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO

With coach Johnny away in San Francisco for the week, I have been left on my own to train.

Not a big deal. I have done that before many times.

Right now I am training six days a week instead of the usual five due to the Silver Gloves.
There is still nobody in my category but there might be by the cut-off date, October 5.

The coach will be back next week so I will be sure to get a lot of pad work in with him.

I am still doing my regular weight training, sit-ups, and push-ups.
Maybe I should try these Rocky push-ups.

Seriously.
I'm going to try them.


TRAINING SCHEDULE

Currently training 6 days a week until October 8 (Silver Gloves Training Camp)

MONDAY: Swimming, 30 min @ University of Toronto Athletics 
TUESDAY: Technical Training, 90 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
WEDNESDAY: Core and Weight Training,  60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club 
THURSDAY: Technical Training, 60 min @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
FRIDAY: Sparring, 6 - 10 rounds @ Cabbagetown Boxing Club
SATURDAY: Running/Sprints, 20 mins @ University of Toronto Athletics
SUNDAY: Rest day



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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

The Coach Has Left Me...

    ENTRY 435

THE COACH HAS LEFT ME

Once again my coach has abandoned me.

...but only for a week because he is on vacation.

I am not sure why he is going away so close to a major tournament, but he is allowed to take a break, I guess.

Leading up to the Silver Gloves, I will continue to work on my techniques and continue to work on strength training and endurance.

As I have mentioned in previous entries, the coaches at Cabbagetown have been good to me. They have found and corrected a lot of bad habits I have had in a very short amount of time and are constantly giving me tips and new ideas and things to try.

Also as I have said before, I don't discuss my training techniques on this blog anymore.
However, whoever my opponents will be at the Silver Gloves and beyond, they will see a new and improved "Brick".
Hopefully, I can impress the judges enough to get a few wins going forward.

As of now, there is nobody in my division registered for the Gloves, but it is still early and could change at any time.

That is all for this entry. 
I must train...'Tournament be here before you know it.'



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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

Road To the Silver Gloves ~ Low Cost Medicals For Boxers

    ENTRY 434

ROAD TO THE SILVER GLOVES

I asked my coach on Tuesday if I should register for the Silver Gloves. His answer was, 'I don't see why not'.
Okay, so I'm registering but that does not mean that I will have an opponent.
However, if I don't register I definitely will not have an opponent.
Any Masters Novice out there in the 78 - 81 kg range?


COACH IS VERY HAPPY

I did target pads with the coach on Thursday and sparring on Friday.
The coach told me that he was very happy with my performance. 
In the meantime, the training coach put me on a weight-training program with the idea to increase muscle mass in my upper body and legs so I can have greater endurance in the ring.
It must be working because I have been sore all over for the past two weeks.

The things I do for this sport.


THIS SPORT IS GETTING EXPENSIVE, OR IS IT?

On Thursday, I had my physician complete my clearance for boxing.

They changed the form this year. It used to be covered as part of my standard yearly check-up and I just had to pay $25 for filling the form.
However, with the new testing procedure, my physician billed me for a full (non-routine) medical exam.
These types of exams are not covered by provincial health care, so it cost me $100.

Not one day later I found out that there is a way for boxers to get their exams completed for just $15.
Yes. The very next day. 
Such is my life.
...and people wonder why I am frequently in a bad mood.


LOW-COST MEDICAL EXAM FOR BOXERS NOW AVAILABLE

Kingsway Boxing Club on Jutland Road is hosting a session for boxers to have their medical exams done for a very reasonable price.
You must register and send your Boxing Ontario medical clearance form with the top part completed to the Kingsway Boxing Club in advance. 

For instructions and to register visit THIS LINK. 


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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

Skipping September ~ SOCAN'T

    ENTRY 433

NO BOUT ON SEPTEMBER 8, BUT SILVER GLOVES ARE COMING

They could not find anyone for me to fight for this weekend's Cabbagetown Festival. At least nobody in my weight division replied. 
What is it? Now that I have become a more than a decent boxer, nobody wants to face me?

Well, I still have a bit of work.
The trainer has put me on a program to increase endurance. 
Endurance is important in boxing. You could have the best technique, but if you get tired during the round the judges will notice that and will score against you.

I don't mind waiting and working on endurance.
I finally have coaches and trainers that care, and they put a lot of work into helping me become a better athlete. 
I am at the point now where I want to compete to win and not just to compete for the purpose of competing.

I am going to work on being ready for the Silver Gloves in October.

Going forward, my focus will be on building strength by following the trainer's advice. 

Whoever meets me in the ring next will be facing a new and improved 'Brick'.

For anyone interested, the Cabbagetown Festival is a free outdoor festival being held this weekend, September 8 and 9. There will be boxing at the Cabbagetown Boxing Club on Saturday at 2 PM.


SOCAN'T: RAdiO C\ 65 JOINS SOCAN AHEAD OF REGULATION CHANGES

RAdiO C\ 65 is currently out of service as we move and upgrade our servers.
However, we have also become a member of SOCAN.
For those who don`t know, SOCAN is an organization that distributes royalty and copyright fees to musicians and music producers.
Broadcasters have had to pay fees to SOCAN for many years, but internet streaming services were legally exempt in Canada as they were not considered to be public performances.
However, starting next year, internet stations will no longer be exempt.
That means that even for a non-commercial station like RAdiO C\ 65 will have to pay for a music license.

I don`t like the idea that a station that makes no money should have to pay for music, but such is the law. Fortunately, the fees are not very high, as they are calculated with a formula based on the station`s revenue and the station`s operating costs.

RAdiO C\ 65 will be back in about two weeks, once server testing has been completed. 
The new server will have the capacity to handle more simultaneous listeners and a bitrate of 320 kbps. 

A better RAdiO C\ 65 is coming soon.

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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec