ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Saturday, February 17, 2024

Southpaw???

 

    ENTRY 532| FEBRUARY 17 /2024


SOUTHPAW???

Earlier in the week I had the joy of sparring a Southpaw.
For those who don't know, the Southpaw stance is when you stand with your right foot forward and you generally lead with your right, as opposed to the Orthodox stance which is the opposite.
Having an opponent who is in a Southpaw stance and you are in an Orthodox stance makes things very difficult, awkward, and sloppy.
I asked the coach what I could do and he said to try switch in Southpaw. I practiced it fow a while and it really did;t take long for me to cath on.
Then it was time to try it while sparring...


WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK; 14 ROUNDS
FOCUS: SOUTHPAW STANCE


During sparring this week I did exactly what the coach suggested and I switched to a Southpaw stance.
It worked quite well, until I decided to switch back to Orthodax. hen I did, my right guard dropped and I got smacked right in the kisser with a straight left.
Note to self" Don't get punched on the mouth.
Okay, so I made a mistake. It was my first time sparring in Southpaw's stance. I know what I need to work on.





NEXT ENTRY: February 24 /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, February 10, 2024

A Banner Day For 'The Brick' -and- "The Incident"

 

    ENTRY 531| FEBRUARY 10 /2024


A BANNER FREAKING DAY FOR 'THE BRICK'

Tuesday was an exciting day.
It started out fairly normal, but that all changed when I left for the boxing gym at 4:15.
ned about making it to the next bus.I was very early so I was relaxed about making it to the next bus.
I have to cross the street to get to the bus stop and there is this stupid pushbutton crosswalk that I hate because it takes about two minutes for the pedestrian signal to come on. I have complained to the city about it but they don't care because it has nothing to do with money.
Anyway, I am waiting to cross and I see a bus coming, but in this case, I don't care. 
Well, this one and only time, the light changed for me right away and the bus has to stop, so I made it to that bus.
On the way to the subway station, there was hardly any traffic in a city with the worst traffic in North America. I made it to the station in record time, and instead of waiting the usual 3-4 minutes for a subway, there was one entering the station as I arrived at the platform.
Then there was an incident on the subway, prompting a service suspension at Castle FDrank. That is my stop, so it didn't affect me.
I had to take another bus, the 65 Parliament. There was one just pulling in, but these buses usually wait there for about five minutes. Again, I was very early so I didn't care. I boarded the bus expecting to wait, but it didn't. It departed immediately after loading passengers.
In all, I managed to make it from the Stockyards to Cabbegtown in 35 minutes. It usually takes an hour.
That was a "never happen again" event.

"THE INCIDENT"



I was there.
It happened on the way to boxing on Tuesday.

It kind of reminded me of the film "The Incident" (967), which also occurred on a subway, but not to the same extent.

What happened was that some crazy guy boarded at Sherbourne station and began yelling and treating other passengers. He was very aggressive. It didn't bother me, and I found it very odd that he had absolutely nothing to see to me.
He bothered someone and somebody pressed the Emergeny button forcing the vehicle out of service at Castle Frank which was my stop, so it didn't affect me. 
The thing that really pisses me off is how people these days have no respect for other people. This is a common problem in Toronto especially on the subway. Every day there is a service stoppage due to a "security incident" or an "emergency alarm" It is caused by people who think the rules don't apply to them and that they can do anything they want with full disregard for everyone else.
That delay was five minutes long. People have places to go and some may have missed their connecting buses.
Our society is going to shit. 
Grow up.

WEEKLY SPARRING REPORT

THIS WEEK; 15 ROUNDS
FOCUS: FOOTWORK AND BODY DEFENSE

Welcome to the new weekly sparring report.

This week I did 5 rounds on each day, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

The coach wanted me to work on footwork and I also wanted to improve my body defense.
The coach told my sparring partners who were all mostly younger, to move around a lot and he wanted me to cut off the ring.
That is a lot of work. Especially since these guys are smaller than I am, and smaller generally means faster.
I think I did fairly well. The coach was happy.

Then there was this guy who was fairly new to boxing, but not that new. I'd say he's been training with us for about six months...
I sparred with him last week during two sessions, and well, I popped him in the nose with a jab and he started bleeding. He dropped his guard again, so I popped him a second time.
That was apparently not enough for him because he came back for a second session, and did the same again, so I popped him again, and he once again began to bleed. 
When is he going to learn?

I told my wife and she asked me if I felt bad about it, and to be honest, I didn't.
It is a combat sport and it could have easily been the other way. Although, I really get struck in the nose because I don;t allow it. Still, it is how you learn. You get hit. It hurts. You bleed. You learn to not let it happen. That is a combat sport. 
Learn to defend yourself. That is the idea.





NEXT ENTRY: February 17 /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)

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, February 3, 2024

The Brampton Cup

    ENTRY 530| FEBRUARY 3 /2024


 THE BRAMPTON CUP


It is happening right now. The Brampton Cup is currently happening without me, and many others.
I don't like to keep dwelling on this but it does piss me right off. 
Those who have never been an athlete may not understand and those who are/were athletes do understand the frustration of this.  You work so hard and sacrifice so much for your sport to go out there and give it your all only to discover that you can't for some stupid reason. 

It has not stopped me. I am still training hard and I am going to get past this. All I can do is keep working and get even better for the next one.
Although I have yet to find out when is the next tournament, I am also hoping for a local show. 
It has now been over five years since I have been in the ring for competition...
...it's time.






NEXT ENTRY: February 10 /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)

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, January 27, 2024

If Yo0u Can't Take A Punch...

 

    ENTRY 529| JANUARY 27 /2024


 ...YOU SHOULDN'T BE A BOXER


Words of wisdom from my coach.
He said that during a sparring session last week.
That statement can't be more true.
He said it after my sparring partner landed a good uppercut to my body and a let out a rather interesting heaving sound. However, it didn't phase me. I just kept right on going.  
Getting struck is fine for me. If it did I wouldn't be involved in a combat sport, just as the coach said. That all-important phrase: "If you can't take a punch, you shouldn't be a boxer". 
He is absolutely right, but after he said I wasn't doing sit-ups. I do. Every day even when I am not at the gym. When I do them at the gym, I purposely do them right in from of the coach. 
He knows I work hard. He just likes to bust my ass, and I really don't mind that he does that. He does it because he cares about his athletes and only wants the best for them.
I appreciate and respect my coach a lot and as I keep mentioning here, he has done a lot for me and I work very hard in return.

I really want to compete again sometime this year. 
As I had mentioned in a previous post, my next bout will be my last in the Novice Division. After that, a whole new chapter in my boing life will open.
Therefore, I am continuing to work very hard and follow the coach's instructions.
I continue to train four time per week of at least 90 minutes each time although I now have no chance of going to the Brampton Cup, I hope something else comes along.
You know that I won't come right out and ask. I will just give subtle hints.

Like this one.





NEXT ENTRY: January 27 /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)

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, January 20, 2024

"The Rope"

 

    ENTRY 528| JANUARY 20 /2024


 INTRODUCING: THE ROPE

The coach had me do a bit of sparring this week and pad work.
I like doing the target pad work with the coach but the gym recently acquired 'the rope'.
Some of you may already know what that is. The heavy exercise rope.
For those who don't, let me explain quickly. It is a large heavy rope with grips on both ends that you hold and while leaning back with legs slightly bent, you make waves in the rope by flinging your arms...how else?
This is great for strengthening the upper body, particularly the biceps. 
A lot of people don't like this exercise but I enjoy it. I generally do three 60-second rounds of it throughout each training session.

That is another exercise added to my training. 

In all I generally spend about 90 minutes four times per week at the boxing gym and that is a good amount for a competitive boxer.
Now all I need is some competition.






NEXT ENTRY: January 27 /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)

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, January 13, 2024

The New Sparring Partner: Younger and Smaller, but Can Really Swat Hard!

 

    ENTRY 527| JANUARY 13 /2024


 THAT SMALLER GUY HITS REALLY FREAKING HARD

Now that my chances of going to the Brampton Cup have dwindled to practically nothing, I can now look forward to preparing for the next event, whatever that may be.

My coach and I are still working on a ramped-up training model which includes regular sparring.
With that, the coach has found me a new guy to work with. Although he is half my age and a lot smaller, I was sure[raised how hard he can hit. It threw me off a bit the first time, but I am now used to it, and it appears that we work great with each other. The coach is pleased with the outcome and we are both learning and improving our boxing skills.
We generally work Tuesday and Thursday evenings by doing 3 x 3 rounds each session. 
That is a long round for me since the Masters' rounds are half that length, but as with every sport, one should practice longer and harder than an actual competition (Of course).

Other than the new sparring partner, not much has changed. As I have mentioned earlier, I am going to keep ramped-up training for the time-being and hope that another chance to step into the ring comes along soon.





NEXT ENTRY: January 20 /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)

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, January 6, 2024

Someone "Blew Up" the Brampton Cup

 

    ENTRY 526| JANUARY 6 /2024


WHO BLEW UP THE BRAMPTON CUP???


It was back-to-work training for the Brampton Cup this week, but has it all been for nothing?

On Thursday I checked the Brampton Cup entries and there were 317. Keeping in mind that there was a cutoff at 480 I figured I still had a lot of time so on Friday after confirming with my coach that I was going to put in my name for the tournament, I couldn't because the registration had been closed to due reaching the cap in registrants.
I was a bit pissed because I didn't understand how they could get over 100 registrants in less than a day. Somebody ble up the Brampton cup and screwed a lot of us out of the chance.
The Cabbagetown Boxing Club only managed to get three in, and two are in the Funbbox category. I noticed that some clubs didn't get any. For example, I didn't see any entries for the Stockyards Boxing Club and they usually have at least a couple of entrants.
The coaches are going to try to get me and at least another Cabbagetown boxer into the tournament as "late entries", but even if it doesn't happen, it gives me more time to train for the next one. I will be better next time.

Part of the reason for the "blow up|" was the number of entries from outside of Ontario. I have even seen boxers from the U.S. wanting to get in.
The problem is that a lot of these boxers don't qualify and will end up having to drop out.
I have a suggestion for Boxing Ontario (not that they take any of my suggestions), but here it is anyway: Since this is an Ontario event, they should restrict entries to Ontario boxers only at 
first.  After that, if they still need more athletes, open it up to everyone.
That will ensure that local athletes can have a fair try at it.
That makes sense, doesn't it?
Of course, it does, which is exactly why Boxing Ontario won't ever consider doing it.






NEXT ENTRY: January 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:
76 kg (170 lbs.)  

 STANCE:
Orthodox (left lead)

TRAINING STATUS:
ACTIVE

TRAINING SCHEDULE:
Mon: 0900-1100
Tue 1730-1900
Thu 1730-1900
Sat 1100-1300

COMPETITION STATUS:
ACTIVE

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:
Brampton Cup Tournament 
February 1,2,3,4 (TENTATIVE)

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:
Cabbagetown Boxing Club
Toronto

COACH:
Johnny Kalbhenn