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Friday, May 31, 2024

'The Brick' Is Tournament Bound!

 

    ENTRY 540| MAY 31/2024


CHANGES TO TRAINING FOR UPCOMING TOURNAMENT

You will have noticed that there was no entry fir a while.
I was taking a break and also I didn't have much to report, until now.

I have been registered to compete in the Boomerz Boxing Novive Tournament, being held this August in London, ON.



Although it is more than two months away, it really isn't a long time, and I still have a lot to work on.
I am not going to walk away from this tournament with anything other than Gold.

Together, my coach and I are going to be concentrating on some specifics and I am going to attend the morning sessions as often as I can since there are more people in my classification at that time.
I cannot get decent sparring on the evening sessions since the young guys, full of testosterone, only want to kill.  They don't seem to understand the concept of good technical boxing.
"Killing" doesn't always seem to work in the Masters division. I want to focus on impressing the judges with good-quality boxing.

I have a strategy that I want to use, but I can't reveal it, of course, but it is a good one.
 I think. I hope.







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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 1030-1200
Thu 1030-1200
Fri 093000-1100

COMPETITION STATUS:
ACTIVE

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:
BOOMERZ NOVICE TOURNAMENT
Aug, 23,24,25

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:
Cabbagetown Boxing Club
Toronto

COACH:
Johnny Kalbhenn


Sunday, April 7, 2024

Boxing On the Screen--Part One

 

    SPECIAL ENTRY | APRIL 7/2024


BOXING ON THE SCREEN--PART ONE


This is a project I have been working on for a while.
IO am presenting this time part one because there will for sure be more to this.

It has for a long while a pet peeve of mine how older TV and films depicted the sport of boxing. In most cases, it was quite inaccurate. As if they couldn't consult with someone to make an attempt at accuracy. I realize most of them are fictional stories, but they should have at least tried for some accuracy.

In this first special feature, I will discuss episodes from three well-known sitcoms from the past.


"FAME" (1984) S3:E5 "Knockout"



As part of this overall unfunny and underdramatic series about the students of a performing arts school, this episode features one of the main characters, Christopher, who decided to take a "break" from performing and return to the Sweet Science.

There is very little information about this episode but upon being able to watch it again I remember how terrible it was.




It was obvious that neither actor knew quat about how to box, but one line in the script sent up a flag for me.
When Christopher was talking to the other students about their upcoming performance versus his upcoming "performance he said, "What I am doing is not a show. There is a bloody guy on the canvas who isn't going anywhere for quite a while,"
That is rarely true in boxing, especially at the amateur level. Whoever wrote that into the script was making a rather poor attempt of making an underdramatic show more dramatic by adding a ridiculous;ine.
As it turned out, we don't get to even see the ending of the bout, nor much of the middle, or the beginning.  All the audience sees is a grand total of about a minute of two actors pretending to bo and doing a terrible;e job at it.






"LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY " (1977) S3:E2 "Tag Team Wrestling"

 

As per the title this episode was mainly about wrestling but there was a boxing aspect.
The character Carmine was apparently a Golden Gloves champion so that was used some times in the series.
Although, as expected the actor really wasn't a champion of anything,  although I was surprised to see that he did have a bit of boxing skill.





That being said, in addition to the entire boxing sequence being rather silly ('70s sitcom style), there was once major flaw. 
The ring they used was both for a professional wrestling match and a boxing bout. That would never happen since they are two entirely different rings.
Both the surfaces are different as well as the rope tension.
Therefore you can not use the same ring for both.


"THE FACTS OF LIFE" (1982) S4:E9 "Academy II"



This was a rather odd episode in the series as it was one of very few that did not take place at the girls' school.
It turns out that this was the second attempt at a series spin-off called "The Academy", thus the title. This episode was later renamed "The Big Fight".
This one took place at a boy's military academy where Natalie's boyfriend, Alfred, attends. Odd also since Natalie didn't have any known boyfriend up to this point.
The academy was having a boxing tournament and Natalie wanted to attend so she could write an article about it.



As we soon learn though, Alfred has his work cut out for him since his opponent turns out to be a "tough guy" with boxing experience as a  --you guessed it-- a Golden Gloves champion.



A Golden Gloves champion with an obviously poor defense. I' 'm not sure how he made it all the way through the tournament lie that.





During the introduction to the bout the "referee" explained the rules, but of course one thing he said was completely and totally wrong.
He said that a knockdown would result in a standing 8 count. That is of course incorrect and doesn't even sound right. How can there be a stand-8 council after a knockdown? In amateur boxing, a knockdown will result in an RSC. A boxer will not be allowed to continue. A standing 8 is issued by the referee for other reasons where the bout can continue.
The oddest part is that the bout did end by knockdown so that inaccurate line didn't even have anything to do with the story.
Another mistake was that the ring surface was made up of exercise mats. That would never be allowed. The ring surface must be a non-slip, smooth surface which exercise mats are not.

Despite the inaccuracies, that was a "not bad" episode of this series compared to the rest, and I don't know why "The Academy" was never produced into its own series.







NEXT ENTRY: April 13 /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


Saturday, April 6, 2024

Report For the First Week of April

 

    ENTRY 539| APRIL 6/2024


WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK;  10 ROUNDS
FOCUS:  FOOTWORK

This week I did a total of 10 rounds of good sparring with the coach wanting me to concentrate on moving around the ring.
It went well.
During Tuesday's session, I struck my sparing partner in the liver. Yes. A nice liver shot. He didn't like that, I made the mistake of trying to do it again but as I was on my way in he nailed me in the forehead with a nice stiff jab that threw my head back.
Okay. Lucky punch. That's all.


SPECIAL ENTRY TOMORROW

I will have a special blog tomorrow. It will be part one of a series about how poorly boxing is portrayed in movies and TV.





NEXT ENTRY: April 7 /2024  (SPECIAL)

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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


Saturday, March 30, 2024

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


Saturday, March 23, 2024

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


Saturday, March 16, 2024

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



Saturday, March 9, 2024

"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