A Grand Familty Day

 

   ENTRY 487 | February 24 /2023

 

A GRAND WEEK OFF

I am still in a bit of pain but noit as bad.

As you may remember from the last entry that I had suffered a cracked rib from a rather rough sparring session which was later irritataed by an incident at work.

I ended up having a little vacation, but not because of the injury. Monday was a holiday in this area. Family Day, and also my workplace shut down this week for some repairs and upgrades, so I ended up getting the entire week off.

My intent was to go to the gym every morning since I had the chance, ut that diudn't happen. I only went twice.

I have to get up at 7:00 to be at the gym for the 9:00 class, and who wnats to get up that early during vacation time?  

I went on Wednesday and Friday. My intenent wa to also go on Thursday, but there was a nasty snowstorm and I didn't feel like trudging through snow up to my ass.

On the way home from Cabbagetown on Wednesday as I was assending the esceplator at the subway station, some woman behind me got upset becuause she couln't get past me. First of all, you are not supposed to pass. You are supposed to stand and let the escealtor take you up. That is, after all, the whole point. Anyway, I was already against the wall so I said to her, 'What would you like me to do? Morph into the wall?' She grunted and squeezed past me just to walk to the bus platform to wait for the bus. I mean, what the hell was the hurry? She had to wait for the bus anyway.

That is what I call stupidity, and as most of you already know, I have a very low tolerence for stupidity.

I mentioned to my wife that maybe we should move to a smalledr community as opposed to a major city. Perhaps there would be less of a chance of stupidness with fewer people.

Caledonia.

My wife was in Hamilton on holiday Monday visiting friends, so I thought that since there was really nothing to do since everything was closed, I made a surprse visit to Hamilton.

We decided to take a drive to Caladonia. A very small community. Small enough that while I was there I had lost cell service. 

We took a hike along the trails that border the Grand River. Along the way we met many freindly people. Everyone took time to say 'Hello'. That certainly wouldn't happen in Toronto or even Hamilton.

Grand River and bridge to Caledonia

It seemed like a very nice community and I didn't run into any stupidity.

Hmmmm...maybe the residents of Caledonia are onto something.

CREED (NOT THE BAND...PLEASE, NOT THE BAND)

I rarely step foot into a movie theatre anymore unless it is to see a boxing movie and that is obviously not ofter, but these is a boxing movie coming soon.

"Creed III" is being released in North Amaerica on March 3. Of course I want to go, but it has been so long since I have been to a theatre. I don't even remember how much a movie ticket costs. I do remember that the popcorn costs more than the ticket.

This one does not have Rocky in it. Rocky has apparently retired, but I think that might affect the film. The character of Rocky generally has a huge impact on the films he is in, but I am willing to give it a try, and I will review it here.

The probem is, I have no movie theatre close to me. The closest is the Queensway which is six kilometres away. Another reason why I don't go to the theatre too oftern but I am willing to go for this.

SPARRING REPORT: WEDNESDAY

Coach Johnny had me do four rounds of sparring on Wednesday because he wanted me to work on some things.

I still wasn't feeling 100% so I requested "light" sparring. I was surprised that my request was granted becasue usually they don't know the meaning of "light", but that's okay becasue either do I sometimes. Its a guy thing. When you get going, the testosterone sets in and that's it. However, It went quite well and I was able to get some things done in the ring. 

Thank you for working with me.

"LET HIS FACE RUN INTO YOUR FIST"

On Friday I did Coach Johnny's class and as with most of his classes I was able to get in  some pad work.

He told me that I should step in with my straight right.  His exect words were, "Let the guy's face run into your fist".

That I can do. I mean, it is not my fault that his face is in the way.

NEXT ENTRY: March 3 /2023

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.) 

STATUS:

INJUREry RECOVERY

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

  

The Brick Is Broken

 

   ENTRY 486 | February 17 /2023

 

BROKEN BRICK

I have been out of commission for the past week due to an injury.

It happened while sparring last week but it got irritated from an accident at work. I now have a constant discomfort, although not very painful unless I move the wrong way, then it becomes excruciating. 

This is just a small update this week since I really didn't do anything.

I only went into the gym once this past week to see how well I could do, but when it came to doing sit-ups, it was a definite "no". I packed it in after that.

I am off work this coming entire week while my workplace does some upgrades, so I have all week to go to the gym. Hopefully, I can do something then, because this past week was a write-off. 

I did squat.

'Ths Brick' is broken but hopefully not for long.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.) 

STATUS:

INJURED

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

  

10-Point Mustn't

  

   ENTRY 485 | February 10 /2023

 

HAS BOXING LOST ITS OBJECTIVE?

Boxing is a sport that does not seem to change very much but has seen a few major changes over the past few years, at least in this part of the world.

I am not a fan of most of them. 

One such change was the introduction of the Master's Division in 2016. It is a completely different set of rules intended for boxers over the age of 35. 

Why?

My very first bout was before the Master's Division was created and I was over 35, and I competed as an Elite boxer, and I was just fine. My second bout was under the Master's Division rules. 

Why?

I don't understand why the Over-35 group needs a different set of rules and why at that "magic age" the rules suddenly change as if you are now an old man incapable of achieving simple tasks.

In addition, there have been other changes in amateur boxing as well that seem to have some meaning but didn't or don't seem to work for their intended reason.

There was a campaign at one time that was intended to keep amateur boxing in line with the professional ranks. There was a fear that boxing would have seen the same fate as wrestling where there had become a wide separation between the freestyle and professional. There had become such a big difference between professional and amateur wrestling to the point that it had become two different sports, and spectators no longer recognized the amateur version as a sport. 

The boxing community feared that the same would happen, so changes were made to the amature version to make it more "recognizable".

Back to wrestling for a bit.

Professional wrestling isn't even a sport. It has become a predictable shitshow, and how about that stupid "WOW"? It is nothing more than a ridiculous T and A show, Where are the Millennials to complain about that?...oh, yeah, right, they are too busy being offended by Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima.

Anyway...I digress...

One of the changes made to amateur boxing that was eventually rescinded was the use of the term "Technical Knock Outr".  It was used to replace the term RSC since professional boxing fans were used to it, but it really doesn't make sense. There is nothing "technical" about a knock-out. It is either a knock-out or it isn't. The term RSC makes more sense and I am happy that they returned to using it. RSC is short for "Referee Stops Contest" and this is really what happens. An RSC is when, well, the referee stops the contest. 

How about that?

Another change that is still in effect and really bothers me was the change from an "objective" to a "subjective" scoring system. 

The system now used in amateur boxing is very similar to the 10-Point Must scoring system used in professional boxing. That means that the winner of the round is given 10 points and the other boxer is awarded either 9 or 8 points depending on how lousy that boxer performed compared to the winner. The three judge's scores are then averaged to decide the winner of that round, and the average from all the rounds will determine the winner of the bout.

The problem with that system is that it is purely based on the judges' opinions. In other words, you can box like shit for the entire round but still win because you looked good.

The original scoring system had the judges use counters similar to the ones shown above.

You can still buy these from Amazon and they are sold in sets of three, specifically for the three boxing scorekeepers, but that no longer happens in Ontario, maybe in other places.

I have a friend who is a bus driver and he uses them to count passengers.

The proper use of them is for counting punches. The scorekeepers would score one point for each clean punch landed within the target area and the opponent had to try to prevent it. Well, guess what? That's an objective!

Every sport has an objective: Cross the goal, put the puck in the net, put the ball in the basket, and the opponent has to stop that from happening. Those are objectives, and you are awarded points for being successful.

Boxing used to be like that. Strike your opponent and he has to stop it. Not anymore. Now it is all about impressing the shit out of the judges, and notice that they are now called "judges" and not "scorekeepers".

One of the coaches from Cabbagetown told me about a situation where a person won a bout by just chasing the opponent around the ring and not really trying to win.

That isn't boxing. Anyone can chase someone around the ring.

They need to bring back the original scoring system. Bring back the clicky counters and use them to score boxing properly, and not to count bus passengers.

WHO ARE YOU TO "JUDGE" ME?

While still on the topic of "judges", I'd like to continue my rant about who is allowed to be a boxing official in Ontario.

Are you aware that you don't need any experience in boxing to be a boxing official in Ontario?

You don't need experience to be a coach, either.

Coaches and officials need to be certified but there are no prerequisites for attending the certification classes. In other words, anyone off the street with $400 can sign up for a coaching or official's certification class through Boxing Ontario.

Everything is about money with them. What about the integrity of the sport?

My idea is Two years of experience as a boxer before you can try out as a coach, and then two years as a coach before you can be an official. That means that anyone who is a boxing official in Ontario will have four years of experience and I have absolutely no problem with that.

Who the F is anyone to judge my performance in the ring who hasn't been in the ring themselves? Especially, since there is no more objective scoring?

F you.

SHOULD THE PAUL BROTHERS BE BANNED FROM THE RING?

Speaking of things that piss me off, Jake and Logan Paul are two things that piss me right off.

Whatever happened to Jake and Logan? I used to get information about them in my news feed all the time.

"Has never won, but is the best YouTube boxer". He isn't good at YouTube, either.

Both of them seem to treat boxing as a joke and I find that to be extremely disrespectful.

I know a lot of boxers, amateur and professional, all who work very hard at a very difficult sport, and the Pauls come along and make a joke out of it.

Has either of them been in the ring with a real boxer? I mean, a real boxer in his prime in a bout that wasn't "fixed"?

Look at this guy. Is he for real?

He looks like a boxer, but he isn't one!

I remember a video that Logan produced where he sparred with a bunch of football players.

First of all, I don't know how he managed that because normally something like that wouldn't be allowed. During the video, he managed to successfully take out all of the football players.

So what?

He should try sparring with some boxers.

How about when Jake threw a right hook while in an Orthodox stance? I don't even know how that is even possible without being off balance. I am still cringing over that.

Both of them do not deserve to be boxers, nor do they deserve to be content creators for any platform.

How about this?

Spar me.

I'm serious. Bring it.

WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY SPARRING REPORT 

Time to stop ranting and move on...

I almost reached my 10 rounds per week sparring goal. I did nine rounds total this week. I do eventually want to get back to 10 rounds or more which will soon be possible as the Cabbagetown regulars are slowly returning.

Wednesday was interesting. Three rounds total.

In the first round, I got tagged really hard in my left ribs by an uppercut, hard enough for me to almost spit out my mouthguard. In the second round, don't I get git again in the exact same spot by the exact same punch.  Yes, most guys would have learned after the first time, but not I. It took two times for me to realize that I need to protect my left side more and that I did for the third round.

My ribs were quite painful for the rest of the day and most of Thursday, but by Friday it wasn't so bad.

Someone wanted to spar on Friday and since I was feeling better I agreed. 

The first five rounds went well, nice and light and easy. I was able to concentrate and work on things. However, part-way through round six, he decided to let go and nail me really hard right in the left ribs...again!

It really freaking hurt, so I spent the rest of the round beating the piss out of him.

CHECK-IN

I showed Coach Marcus my check hook to see if it needed any work, and he was very impressed with it. I guess all that practice paid off.

Do you know what that means? 

I'm going to start using it during sparring.

Check, please.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick"

'The Brick" is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

STATUS:

ACTIVE

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.) 

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

  

Thursday Night's Alright For Fighting

 

   ENTRY 484 | February 3 /2023

 

SHOVEL IT

Coach Johnny was away on Friday morning at the Brampton Cup, so another coach took over his session that morning.

Coach Marcus was in charge of the Friday Morning class and he did a few different things with us.

One was a circuit training with different stations and a different exercise at each one including bag work and pad work.

He also showed us a new offensive technique called a "shovel hook".  It looked more like an uppercut, but the idea is to stick upward and behind your opponent's ribs. That even just sounds painful. I like it.

It gives me something else to practice.

I am still working on the 'left...left...left' and my check hook.

THURSDAY NIGHT SPARRING REPORT 

Thursday I went in for an unusual evening session. Well., it was unusual for me since I usually go to the morning sessions.

Coach Johnny was there, but also Coach Rey and Coach Marcus.

As much as I appreciate what Coach Johnny does, it is nice to sometimes get some experience with other coaches.

I did get to do three rounds of sparring.

There were mostly young guys there. I usually don't like sparring with young guys because they are often unreasonably aggressive. It sometimes makes it difficult to work on things. You don't have to kill each other during sparring. It is only practice.

However, it turned out that these guys were beginners, and it was I who was asked to take it easy.

Oh, alright, I guess I can do that. Geez, take all the fun out of it why don't you?  :) :)

GOOD LUCK AT THE BRAMPTON CUP

Cabbagetown has sent three athletes to the Brampron Cup. 

Good luck to all of the Cabbagetown boxers who are in the Brampton Cup during the weekend of February 3.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick"

'The Brick" is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

STATUS:

ACTIVE

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

CURRENT WEIGHT:

72 kg (160 lbs.)  ↓

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

  

It Was A Cold and Snowy Day In Cabbagetown

  

ENTRY 483  January 27 /2023

WEDNESDAY SPARRING REPORT

Wednesday was the only sparring day I had this week but it was the on;y one I really needed.

I did four rounds with the coach's son. He's 17.  Compared to what I am, about 30 years difference plus the fact that he was likely training for the past few years and I wasn't. Needless to say, he really made me work. I was tired after sparring with him and it has been a long time since I have been tired from doing anything, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

BRAMPTON CUP: NOT A GOOD IDEA

Cabbagetown will be sending three athletes to the Brampron Cup which is being held next weekend.

I think that was a really bad idea. It was not my coach's decision. My coach will not be sending anyone into competition for at least six months. 

I have an idea of which coach did that and it was not a good idea. 

One Master and two Elite boxers from Cabbagetown have been entered. Of course, these are my friends and I wish them all the best, but at the same time, I have to be realistic about it. Almost all boxing gyms in Ontario fully opened last June.  Cabbagetown did not open until January because...Kiwanis Club. That means that the other gyms all have at least a six-month advantage.

My coach has an idea that I agree with. Let us catch up first before sending us into battle.

MY MISTAKE, BUT...

In the last entry, I mentioned that anyone wishing to become a member of the Cabbagetown Boxing Club would not be able to view the facilities because the Kiwanis Club required registration and payment before allowing entry.

Well, that was not quite right. Anyone can call the club first to make arrangements to tour the facility.

I made a mistake and corrected it, so if you are interested in joining the Cabbagetown Boxing Club as a competitive boxer or for recreation, the phone number is posted on the Kiwanis Club website and also on the door at 2 Lancaster Avenue in Toronto.

I will not be publishing the number here because I do not have permission to do so.

However, I am still not happy with the situation. There is still a lot of work to do and it seems like they are not in a hurry to finish.

I am protective of the Cabbagetown Boxing Club for reasons that I have mentioned before, and my concern is that it could be shut down. I like the people there and I appreciate everything the coaches have done for me. 

However, the Cabbagetown Boxing Club is a fairly large facility. It takes up the entire second floor of the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. That is a big space that the Kiwanis Club can use for something other than boxing, especially since they were really not interested in the boxing club in the first place.

For me to get there, I have to take a 189 Stockyards bus to Keele subway station and then the subway across to Castle Frank station, and then a 65 Parliament bus to Winchester Street. That is at least a 45-minute trip and then back again. Although there are boxing gyms in the Junction area, three of them, I like Cabbagetown. 

If I had the money, I would put in an offer to buy it just to keep it open.

Perhaps I am crazy for thinking that way, but I'm sorry, that is how I feel.

A SNOWSTORM COULD'T KEEP ME AWAY...

It was a snowy morning in Cabbagetown...

Friday morning I was expecting to do some more sparring but nobody showed up for sparring. Likely because the previous day we had experienced a major snowstorm, but, so what? I went. I traveled halfway across the city to go!

I did some work with the coach and he introduced some more new stuff to me and we especially worked on defensive moves, 

We worked on the slip, the duck, the block, and my favorite, the slip and jab.

More things to work on while sparring.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick"

'The Brick" is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

STATUS:

ACTIVE

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

CURRENT WEIGHT:

73 kg (162 lbs.) 

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

Back In the Ring For Another Swing

 

ENTRY 482  January 20 /2023

FIRST SPARRING IN THREE YEARS

Friday marked my first time back in the ring since March of 2020.

I did six rounds and I am impressed with that since I haven't done F.A..in almost three years. 

Although I did notice a bit of rust, I certainly didn't forget how to box. It will take a little time to get completely back into it.

I got nailed with an uppercut to the liver. That hurt a bit. I felt it for quite a while after but, such is sparring. It is a combat sport, so it is to be expected.

LEFT...LEFT...LEFT???

I did some pad work with the coach on Wednesday and Friday.

He introduced me to something different. Left jab, left uppercut, left hook. Wait...three lefts in a row? Did I understand that correctly? 

Yes. I did. It is an interesting combination and I am beginning to like it. I think it is something that an opponent wouldn't expect so I am going to be practicing it more.

I have also been practicing a check hook.

I started working with it on the bag but I found that I was taking too many steps. I should be just a hook and pivot. When I tried it shadow boxing I found it easier for some reason.

Look out for the left. It won't be long before I start trying it while sparring.

NO BRAMPTON CUP

Someone asked me if I was going to be in the Brampton Cup this year which is in February.

My answer was a clear 'no'. For one, I have been away from boxing for too long and I am not ready. Also, tournaments are hard for me to do because I work weekends and I have to take an entire weekend off to go, However, the Brampton Cup is the only tournament I have not been in, so I wouldn't mind trying one, but just not this one. Perhaps next year.

THE 'CREW' IS TRICKLING BACK

It is nice to see the original 'Cabbagetown Crew' slowly returning.

It is really nice to see people again.

However,m I don't forsee Cabbagetown getting any new people anytime soon and it has to do with how they (the Kiwanis Club) is operating the gym. 

They don't allow anyone in unless you have already registered and paid. The problem with that is, that is not how boxing works. Competitive boxers want to go in an inspect the facilities and meet the coaches. They are not going to sign-up and pay for a program without knowing absolutely nothing about the gym or the coaches. It just doesn't work that way.

As I have said before the Kiwanis Club has no idea about boxing and I think teh Cabbagetown Boxing Club is going to suffer in the long run.

For those of you who haven't yet clued into the fact that I don't like the fact that the Kiwanis Club took over the Cabbagetown Boxing Club, well, just so you know, I don't like the fact that the Kiwanis Club took over the Cabbagetown Boxing Club.

I still feel that something isn't quite right about it.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick"

'The Brick" is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

STATUS:

ACTIVE

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

CURRENT WEIGHT:

73 kg (162 lbs.) 

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA

Back To 'Town

ENTRY 481  January 13 /2023

PANDEMIC CRASH

Wow. Hey. There you are. It has been a very long time but I'm back!

Whilst most people claimed to have experienced weight gain during the pandemic for whatever reason, I experienced a massive weight loss.

I began working at Amazon Fulfillment in Brampton in late 2020. I work in packing. I process, prepare, and package customers' orders. I am the last one to touch your order before it goes on the truck.

If you receive an order in a blue and white bubble pack or a white poly bag from YYZ4 (bottom-left of the shipping label), it may have been packed by me. You're welcome.

That work is surprisingly active. As per my fitness tracker, I burn close to 3000 calories per shift. As a result, over the past two years, I had dropped 20 pounds.

My last weigh-in before the gym closed in March of 2020, I was 179 lbs. This past summer, I bottomed out at 159 lbs., but have since gained a bit. I am now holding steady at 162 lbs. I am not sure where the added weight went. It certainly didn't go to my butt or gut. My wife said that had become more muscular, but I don't see it. 

It went somewhere and as long as it went to all the right places, I am happy with it.. 

WELCOME TO THE CABBAGETOWN BOXING CLUB AND YOUTH CENTRE OF THE KIWANIS CLUB OF GREATER TORONTO?

It has been almost three years since I have set foot inside a boxing gym. For one big obvious reason and a much smaller not-so-obvious reason.

The Cabbagetown Boxing Club spent the better part of a year doing a remodeling job. 

When I went in for the first time back in September I was expecting a transformation. However, as in most cases of "expectation vs. reality", the reality was disappointing. There was no change but for the fact thet it was cleaner and less cluttered.Otherwise, I noticed very little difference.

I was then asked to return two weeks later for a medical exam as is normal for boxers in Ontario and that gave me a glimmer of hope that my second home would once again welcome me.

However, that was not the case.

For three months I waited for a sign of hope. I didn't train at another facility. I just patiently waited. 

During that time I learned that the Cabbagetown Youth Centre along with the attached boxing gym was being taken over by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Toronto.

At first, it did not bother me all that much. Then, at the beginning of January, I was told that the gym would be re-opening on January 9, with instructions on how to "register". 

The registration process was far from easy and there were many questions during the registration process that I did not feel comfortable answering.

It also looks like they are trying to "format". They have a schedule posted and you have to register for each activity. It used to be that you could just do whatever and whenever. There was always a schedule of sorts but you could just jump into any class and just pay for that one class. There was none of this pre-registration garbage. That is all Kiwanis Club nonsense. I want to be spontaneous. How the hell am I supposed to know what I want to do a week from now? I barely know what I feel like doing an hour from now. Another problem with "formatted" classes is that the "format" may not be convenient for me because believe it if not. I have a life outside of the boxing gym. Specifically, I work. If I go to my employer and say 'I can't work on Thursdays because it is sparring day', I don't think that would go over very well.

I won't even go into how long it took me to make an online payment. I am a person who has trouble adding bus fares to a prepaid fare cand, and they want me to do that?

Anyway, after navigating the unnecessarily complicated new website and finally figuring out how to make a payment, I was finally ready to re-attend the Cabbagetown Boxing Club.

I had to go through some red tape to join the Kiwanis Club just to return to a boxing gym that I had already been attending for two years prior.

Also, they keep all of the doors now locked. It used to be that you could just walk in and train but not anymore. You always used to have to wait for the boxing gym to open but you could wait in the lobby of the youth center. Now you have to wait outside on the cold. I find that to be very impersonal. Everyone there knows me. Unless something happened that they now need to keep the doors locked, but I don't think that is the case. I believe that it is just more Kiwanis Club nonsense.

Overall, I don't like it. I just have a "bad feeling".

Don't get me wrong. The Kiwanis Club is an excellent organization. It is just that boxing is not their "thing".

I've worked with Kiwanis before when I worked in Broadcasting. I produced a TV program for them so I sort of know how they operate. Their focus is youth-oriented activities and boxing is not one of those activities.

I heard through the grapevine that originally, the Kiwanis Club did not want the boxing club. They only wanted the youth center but because the boxing gym is attached they took it anyway.

Since they don't really want the boxing club why don't they just let it operate independently while still under the Kiwanis Club umbrella? I don't see why it was necessary to swallow it and include it as part of all of its other youth activities. 

However, I am willing to give it a chance. I will go back for a month to see how it works out and how I feel and to see how many of the original members return.

There is a reason why I travel halfway across the city from the Junction to Cabbagetown just to train at a boxing gym. It certainly isn't because I like riding the TTC.

I like the coaches. Although, I was told that I wouldn't be entitled to coaching unless I paid extra for it. Well, I mean, I am registered with Boxing Ontario as a competitive boxer, so no coaching wouldn't be helpful to me but I'm still giving it a chance. I have been loyal to the Cabbagetown Boxing Club and I don't want to abandon it based on "hear-say".

                        

Regardless of whether I have paid for coaching or not, I am eventually going to ask to compete. Not a lot, but I specifically have the Cabbagetown Festival on my Bucket List. 

Every year during the festival in September, the boxing club hosts a boxing event. 

In my opinion, all Cabbagetown boxers should be represented in that event.

Although, I am not sure if they are going to do that anymore. Is the Kiwanis Club giving them enough money for that? It is very costly for a club to put on a show. They have to pay for the referees and officials and everything else. It isn't exactly free. 

Technically, Johnny is the head coach and I consider him to be "my" coach.  He worked very hard with me when I first started at Cabbagetown to get me to lose all of my bad habits and thus turn me into a 10-times better boxer.

That is how I became loyal to Cabbagetown and I really don't want to leave just because the Kiwanis Club or whoever wants to turn it into a "formatted" corporate nightmare. 

By the time Cabbagetown (Kiwanis) wants me to pay for everything I really need to be a competitive boxer, their fees are in-line with the "for-profit" gyms but Cabbagetown is not a "for-profit" gym it is a non-profit organization and thus should keep their fees at a more affordable level.

The average monthly fee for boxing in Toronto is $150, and yes, there are a few that are higher. I have seen up to $200.

I am putting the Cabbagetown Boxing Club on a one-month probation.

I TRIED SULLY'S

Last week I attended a session at Sully's Boxing Gym.

Sully's is a well-known gym in the Toronto area and one that I have not yet attended.

               

Sully's had moved from Dupont Street to Dundas Street and I believe their former location was larger.

Now, they are in the basement of a paint store and I was expecting a dark, dingy basement but I was wrong. It was actually quite nice albeit tiny. It is about the same size as Stockyards Boxing Gym and one of the reasons I left Stockyards was the size.

I like a lot of rooms when I train and Sully's was crowded.

It was that and the fact that their sparring times didn't match my availability.

Otherwise, it is a very nice facility. I didn't expect them to have showers but they have really nice ones. Giant shower heads in the ceiling that rain on you. Really nice.

Although, they don't have stationary bikes and I like to warm up and cool down on a bike.

Sully's is still on my list as an alternative, I also have a few others.

A friend of mine holds memberships at both Sully's and Cabbagetown. That is fine if you want to pay %250 a month for boxing. I'd like to put that money towards something else. Food and rent come to mind.

Sully's Boxing Gym costs $130 a month ($10 more than Cabbagetown).

FIRST WEEK BACK AT CABBAGETOWN

My very first day back was Thursday and at first, I was the only one there. After 20 minutes someone else finally showed up but for the rest of the session, it was just the two of us.

On Friday morning I returned and still, there were very few people and no sparring. I remember every Friday morning we would have a sparring session. 

What happened to that?

I did Coach Johnny's class and I am a bit rusty. I need to get back into "boxing shape". Being "in shape" and being in "boxing shape" are two different things.

I was thinking of trying one more time this week on Saturday morning but I should take it easy going back into it. I am pretty tired from today's session.

Otherwise, I could try the evening session even though I am not registered for evenings I might go anyway. Regardless of what I am registered for, i am paying to use the gym and I will use it when it is convenient for me.

That would really piss me right off if I travel all that way and then I am denied entry. It is not as if I would be trying to get in while they are closed. It will be a ligitinate session and I am registered for open sparring and training.

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Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter (@paulbrickboxer)  and Mastodon (Paul'TheBrick'boxer), and view my adventures on YouTube at "Another Brick In the Sprawl"

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ABOUT 'The Brick"

'The Brick" is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

STATUS:

ACTIVE

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

CURRENT WEIGHT:

73 kg (162 lbs.) ↓

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA