Team Training Extreme, or How To Kill Paul In One Easy Lesson

Well, followers of your humble boxer, 'The Comeback Kid', I have some news. The training camp scheduled for next weekend has be postponed until next month due to "scheduling conflicts".
In the meantime, I am still training very hard.
As you know, from a previous post, we have team training with the coach and assistant coach every Saturday from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. During this time, the coaches run through some drills and discuss upcoming matches.

This was a particularly more "difficult" training session than in the past. For one, this was the first time at this gym that I did technical sparring. That is a few months.
At first the coach had me in with little Nichole. Yes, a small girl. Well, you know what I mean. I guess the coach under-estimated me, because she was not challenging enough for me. Being a much shorter height did not help, either.
After a couple of rounds, the coach switched out Nichole with Chris. That's Big, Tall, Strong Chris, who has been boxing steady for quite a while. I felt better sparring with a male, and I don't mind that he has more experience.  That is how you learn.
One of the things I like about boxing, is that it is one of the few sports, where if you make a mistake, you know immediately. You will also not likely make the same mistake twice, because it hurts.
Chris did not fool around, he took this whole sparring thing very seriously. I did as well, and I also realized a mistake I was making. I **discovered** that I keep my lower ribcage open. How do I know this? Chris pointed it out to me. Now, a normal person might clue in after getting hit in the ribs once, twice maximum. Not Paul. Six times! Yes, my ribs were very sore after that beating. You are probably asking, 'Did you learn anything, Paul?' The answer is, I don't know. I will find out the next time I am sparring with Chris. I'm sure he will remind me.
After sparring, we went for our first jogging of the season. It was sunny and warm, and a nice day for outside training. It is important to note that this is after being inside all winter and also I was just coming off of having a cold, with a chest congestion. The assistant coach took us for a run "just around the block". Well, its a huge block. There is a film studio behind the boxing gym, to give you an idea of the size of this "block".

Our jogging route. Just around the block. Yeah, right.

Since I was not used to jogging, and just having a cold, I unfortunately could not make the run. I made it as far as Norseman Street, and felt like I had to 'ralph', so I did what any tough-guy boxer would do. I took a bus back to the gym.
It is not a big deal. I just have to make sure I am getting out jogging more. Now that the warmer weather is here, I should get out every day.
The coach said that once our run was finished, so were we. The assistant coach had a different idea: Three rounds on the bag, and ab work. Thank you for that.
Before leaving, the coach handed me some forms to get my boxing registration. There is a "team fight" coming up. I am not sure what that is. I believe it is some kind of an exhibition match. I would like to be in it. I hope I am ready.
I think my coaches are very impressed with my progress. I like this sport very much, and I try very hard to stay on top of it.
I have also been asked to keep a fitness log showing everything I do, and also noting my weight and resting pulse. The coach will be checking these every week to be sure we staying on our training. Well, they don't have to worry about me.
That's all for this entry. Until next time, please don't touch me in the ribcage.

My next scheduled match: [TBA]

My current division and class: Master's 89 kg

My current record (Kingsway): 0 - 0 - 0  //0

My next scheduled camp: Kingsway Fight Camp, May 14 - 15

Paul "The Comeback Kid"

Training For Training Camp

Yes, it has been a while since entering something here. that is because I have been very busy...training.
I am at one or another gym every day, doing some kind of training. I am preparing myself for the training camp later this month.
My coach at Kingsway wants the team to work on upper-body strengthening. However, we do not want to 'bulk-up'. The idea is to become stronger without moving into a higher weight class. This involves a series of exercises where you would use small dumbbells, and a high number or reps.
There is also one where you throw a medicine ball against the wall and catch it, as if you were throwing a punch. Well, the first time I did this, I did not catch the ball, and instead bent back my fingers...Ow!
There are also, my favorite, push-ups. I love these almost as much as I like having a colonoscopy.  The coach wants us doing three sets of 20 push-ups, at least. Of course, this is on top of the 100 or so we do in or other regular training classes. That's fine. I have to do these as part of training, but I don't have to like it.
My coach also wants me to start sparring again. That's fine, too. Sparring is the best exersice. However, becuase of my work schedule, I can never make it in time for the sparring class. I have been waiting (hinting) that they should do sparring on Saturdays during team training, after all it is team training !
Anyway, I am looking forward to the Camp, as it is very intensive. They even teach you the rules. Wow! Imagine actaully learning the rules of the sport. That comes in handy.
As for my TV series "The Boxer", I got a bit behind, and I will be submitting the preliminary outline shortly.

My next scheduled match: [TBA]

My current division and class: Master's 88 kg

My current record (Kingsway): 0 - 0 - 0  //0

My next scheduled camp: Kingsway Fight Camp, April 16-17

Paul "The Comeback Kid"

(53 / 4) + 712 - (17+ 3) * 18 / 4 = Left Jab

Who would have thought that boxing could be so complicated?
I currently have two coaches, and they are both very good. However, I find that the way the teach is very "technical".
When I first learned how to box, some 15 or so years ago, it was really not that complicated. You just punch really hard and hope to get a knock out.
As I mentioned before, my current coaches hate my style, and want to re-tech me, the "technical" way.
Everything is so formatted. Including distance between the feet, angle of the feet, positioning of the knees, chin and elbows.
"Why are your feet less than 50 cm apart?"
"Your left foot is too straight."
"Your right foot should be at a 40 degree angle."
"Your chin should not be in front of your left knee."
"Your knees are not bent enough."
Wow! Give be a rest. This is supposed to be a sport of physical endurance. I did not know I would need a degree in Mathematics.

Don't get me wrong, I like my coaches. If what they are teaching will make me a better boxer, then I will gladly listen. I am just surprised at how technical this sport has become.
I am happy to say that my new coaches have really helped improve my boxing. With coaching from Kingsway, along with regular training at Bloor Street, I can soon see myself back into regular competition by summer.
I was also looking for a ring name, but I found out that ring names are illegal in amateur boxing. I guess that is out. However, I will still use "The Comeback Kid" in my blog entries, for now anyway.
Update on my TV show "The Boxer": Outline script almost complete. Should be ready to submit to Rogers TV by the end of March.

My next scheduled match: [TBA]

My current division and class: Master's 88 kg

My current record (Kingsway): 0 - 0 - 0  //0

My next scheduled camp: Kingsway Fight Camp, April 16-17

Paul "The Comeback Kid"

Team Training and Conditioning: No Sweat, I Mean, Lots of Sweat!

As part of the Kingsway Team, I am required to attend team training and conditioning every Saturday. We train from 11:00 - 12:30. Training consists of an assesment, basic training, cardio and sparring. 

Kingsway Boxing Club, Ring and Strength Training Area

If you have ever wondered why boxers are in such great shape, here is why:

ASSESSMENT: Shadow boxing in front of the coach, and the coach will grade you and provide feedback.

TRAINING:  Heavy bag work, speed bag, shadow boxing and pad work, 3 rounds of each.

CARDIO/CONDITIONING:  100 Push-ups, 50 Sit-ups, 50 Burpees, 100 Squats, 50 Jumping-Jacks, jogging around the gym for 2 rounds, speed punching with dumbbells for 2 rounds.

SPARRING: 6 rounds of contact sparring.

 Kingsway Boxing Club, Technical and Cardio Training Area

Once all this is done, you are expected to show up for one more conditioning class, which pretty well repeats the above condtioning. Plus, two more days for open training to practice your assessment results.
I remember my first conditioning class at this gym, I was so sore after. However, it has not been so bad lately. A sign that I am getting stronger.
On the road to becoming a World-Class athlete. Well, everyone needs a goal.

My next scheduled match: [TBA]
My current division and class: Master's 88 kg
My current record (Kingsway): 0 - 0 - 0  //0
My next scheduled camp: Kingsway Fight Camp, April 16-17

If you are interested in competition boxing, regardless of your skill or age, contact the Kingsway Boxing Club

Paul "The Comeback Kid"

BREAKING NEWS: We Interrupt This Blog and All Others For An Important Announcement

I have some really good news to share. After months of floating around trying to find a boxing gym willing to take me in and seriously train me, I have finally found one.
This is, of course, very important to me. I went in for regular training at Kingsway, and was invited to the team meeting after.  I have officially become a member of the Kingsway Boxing Club. Does this mean I can start competition again? Yes, eventually. However, the coaches feel that I am not quite ready. It does mean that they will work with me, to get me ready for competition. After so many months of not being taken seriously, poor coaching, and picking up bad habits, I need some brushing up.
Defense, as I mentioned in my last entry, but also footwork. Tim, my previous coach, said that my footwork was good. Well, is that "good" as in, good enough to compete, or "good" as in it needs work? It turns out that it needs work. The coaches at Kingsway noted that when I move, the distance between my feet changes. This is not good. When you move one foot, the other should move the same amount. I have always known this, but over the years have become sloppy, without an outside source to point it out. This has been one of my many frustrations. A good coach is there for his athletes, not only by just showing up, but to provide feedback.
I was also told that there is a Master's division in Ontario. What?  Really? I knew that some U.S. States had one, but not Ontario. Why...did...nobody...tell...me...this...before? See, this is more proof that I was not being taken seriously. Thus, more frustration.
Another thing I was told by Kingsway, is that my wraps were on incorrectly. The way I was shown to do my handwraps, and it was never corrected, would have got me disqualified for competition. The coach looked at my wraps, and said, "That is not amateur". Kind of a funny way of putting it. Anyway, another minor point that none of my other "coaches" bothered to point out.
It looks like, one of the goals of Kingsway is to get me into the Master's division. The next match is March 5, but I may not make that one. However, there is another on April 1. I am certainly going to work hard for that. As long as I have coaches who are willing to help me, I will do my best. I just appreciate somebody wanting to teach me properly.
I have met the team, and they are all a great bunch of people. There is another 40-something boxer on our team, but in a heavier class.
Apparently, the Master's division was created, because more people are getting into boxing later, or staying in it longer. It must be all part of the "fitness craze".  As I keep mentioning, there is nothing wrong with staying young.
One thing though, I now "belong" to the Kingsway Boxing Team. That means that I can no longer train anywhere else. That would be like a Hamilton Tiger-Cat player going to a Toronto Argros training camp. Although that may may be a good thing, because as we all know, the Ti-Cats suck, and can use all the help they can get. However, that is another discussion for another time.
For me, it means no more training with Tim or Junmar. Well, that is not a great loss. I have not been training with Tim for a while, because he was not showing up, and Junmar's classes were too crowded, and he is only teaching boxing for recreation, as he is not certified by Boxing Ontario.
This brings up something else. Odd things are happening at Bloor Street. They have dropped the word "boxing" from their name. They are no longer 'Bloor Boxing and Fitness'. They are now called 'Bloor Street Fitness'. Although they are located on Dundas Street, which has been bothering me for a while, but oh, well. They have really been pushing the fact that they are 24/7. Remember the Bloor Boxing Gym sign they removed? It was replaced by, take a guess...wait for it...A 24/7 sign! Here is a newsflash: Bloor Street Fitness did not invent 24/7. It is not uncommon for fitness centers to be open 24/7, at least not in Toronto.
I have a feeling that they will eventually drop boxing from their program all together. Which is fine, I can't train there anyway, but I can still go there for conditioning.
With all these sudden changes, it means changing my training schedule. Kingsway wants me there three times a week, plus the Team Training on Saturday. There is also a training camp coming up in April.

MY TRAINING SCHEDULE:
SUNDAY  Bloor Fitness, Cardio and strength training only
MONDAY  --- OFF ---
TUESDAY Kingsway Boxing Club, Techncial training and conditioning with coach
WEDNESDAY Kingsway Boxing Club, Open technical training
THURSDAY Kingsway Boxing Club, Technical training and conditioning with coach
FRIDAY Bloor Fitness, Cardio and strength training only
SATURDAY Kingsway Boxing Club, Team training and sparring

I am really looking forward to working with my new coaches.
It looks like Kingsway is going to be my new home for training.

My next scheduled match: [TBA]
My current division and class: Master's 88 kg
My current record (Kingsway): 0 - 0 - 0  //0
My next scheduled camp: Kingsway Fight Camp, April 16-17


Paul "The Comeback Kid"

De-fens...De-fens...De-fens !!!

I talked about having multiple coaches before, and I am beginning to see an advantage. The Bloor Street trainers are great at general training, but I like how Kingsway teaches defense. Apparently, after 15 (or so) years of boxing, I have picked up 15 years of bad habits. Especially defense. I was trained to be an offensive boxer. That means, just throw punches until I hit something. That apparently does not work any more, so I am being re-trained from scratch. The coaches at Kingsway want me to work on defense like crazy.
One of the advantages of having more than one coach is, I can find a style that I like, and work from that. I can even combine the styles of the different coaches to create something completely different.
As we all know, the best defense against a punch is to not be there. Bloor Street teaches that defense is all about "bobbing and weaving". Well, that is great, but it seem like a lot of extra work. Kingsway teaches a very easy form of defense: Shifting you weight between feet. If you shift your weight and your hips, you can dodge an attack quite easily without a lot of effort. The only difficult part about this, is that ones natural instinct is to duck away from the attack. However, in boxing, you duck into the attack. This is what makes this kind of defense confusing.
If you are attacked by a left jab, you shift to your right (opponent's left). Naturally, you will want to shift the other way, away from the punch. However, if you do, you are in perfect alignment with his right cross, not a good place to be. You do the opposite to defend against a right cross. If you lean into his attack, you clear yourself from both of his weapons, and are therefore safe against any attack.
This type of defense will, of course, only work against straight punches. It will not help against hooks and uppercuts. I guess that is in the next lesson.
Now for my rant. This week it is about Boxing Ontario. Yes, that under-regulated, over-controlling government-supported organization that all boxers in Ontario just love to death. Ontario is the only place I know where you need to be "licensed" to be a boxer. I know that I can go to Quebec and most states, get tested by the ringside doctor, and step into the ring. I don't understand why you need to pay a $50 fee and  submit a multitude of forms to Boxing Ontario every year, just to box. It is as if you need permission from the government. What other sport does this? That is why we have coaches. If your coach feels you are ready, he should just be able to register you for a match. I feel that having to pay a $50 fee for an amateur boxer is unreasonable. I am already paying over $200 a month for training, coaching and gym access expenses. Even if they want to say that it pays for the Boxing Ontario staff, well, that doesn't sit with me either. Look at it this way:  How many boxers are in Ontario?, How many staff work at Boxing Ontario?, How much are the staff payed? Now, there is no way this $50 is going to support the staff's wages, is it?
Not only that, but I am not overly happy with some of the Boxing Ontario officials. When I do photography at boxing events, there is this one woman official who always squawks at me. "You are using too much light", "You are too close to the ring"..."You are..." Squawk, Squawk...  I can understand that the officials are there to enforce the rules of boxing. However, there is nothing in the boxing regulations about photography. This woman is just being a pain in the ass. Lady, fuck off and let me do my job. Since when does Boxing Ontario know anything about photography? They barely know boxing.
I'm sorry to be so nasty, but do you understand the reason?
As far as I am concerned, right now, Boxing Ontario is not getting diddly-squat. I will compete outside of Ontario if I need. If it turns out that my coach wants me to compete within Ontario, we will look at it then. Right now, I am concentrating on the Master's in St. Louis, which does not require any license.

Paul "The Comeback Kid"

Bloor Street Renovation Update: Its Red!

Well, Paul's office is done., and the boxing area has been repainted, red!

Putting the finishing touches on the new office

New colour scheme 

I'm seeing a trend here.  Somebody likes red.
Paul's office is now finished, and the plexiglass window is in place.
Other than that, I really don't have much to report. I am still training for the Master's, which will hopefully lead to the Pan-Am Games.
Currently I train at Kingsway Boxing Club on Saturdays and Mondays. I train at Bloor Street on other days. It seems to be going well. I have about 6 months to complete training for the Master's in St. Louis. I am not sure what is happening at Bloor, but I am hoping to get some more coaching at Bloor Street in addition to what I am getting from Kingsway.
As for my TV show, 'The Boxer", I am still working on the initial script. I am hoping to be able to submit it sometime in March.

Paul "The Comeback Kid"