Sparring Day

 Spars are a fact and necessity in all fighting styles, many time sparring is seen as a right of passage into the sport. Often time, unfortunately, spars get out of hand when one or both fighters begin throwing venomous punches- punches with full force, meant to inflict much damage. Sparring is meant to be constructive, not destructive. Many fighters have the urge to throw everything they've got into a spar. There are no winners in sparring and knockouts, bad bruises, and especially cuts are frowned upon in a spar. The true purpose of sparring is so the fighters can determine the skills they need work in such as defense, offense, or conditioning and should always be done in full gear. (as depicted above)

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

My mentor is Antonio Moya, he's a professional boxer who trains at Fist of Gold boxing gym.

What made you want to do boxing? When did you start?

What do you do to prepare yourself for a fight?

What are your thoughts as you step into the ring?

How demanding is the sport of boxing?

Why do you like boxing? What drives you to continue?

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ...

(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?
    
The result of boxing has given me many benefits, both physically and mentally. to quote a piece of my research, "The training is wholesome and complete, building lean bodies and, most often, minds devoid of aggression and fear." (-Bob Breen) One of the most apparent benefits of training is weight loss. Since I started training I have lost a total of 18 pounds, prior to beginning i lost an additional 9 pounds. Another benefit of boxing is the change of lifestyle, I have had a drastic change in diet and my physical activity has since then also increased. The last benefits are mental. Boxing has given me a more stable confidence and calm mind. As Bob Breen said, training reduces aggression and fear. I am now able to control aggression and channel it into my fighting and leave it all behind. A mind devoid of fear is speaking of something different than the fear of monsters beneath your bed. What Breen means by fear is lack of confidence. Many people lack confidence in public and boxing helps build on that skill. 

(2) Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

"Boxing: A Guide to Get Fighting Fit" is a great book. It shows the importance of training and has helped me realize how demanding the sport is on your body and all the training that is required to partake in a bout. The book offers great insight on techniques for working on the bag to the jumprope to running as to prepare your body for what is to come. 

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

Training is going well. The mentorship is also going very well, I get to train everyday and i constantly get the help I need. That's pretty much what has worked so far. 

(4) What hasn't worked so far?

As for what hasn't worked, the training is going slower than I had expected, in the sense that i thought I could ge tin the ring in only a short period of training. Other than that everything is going smoothly. I've been able to spar, but I want to contend in an amateur fight... Soon. 

(5) Finding Value:  

• What does it take to be a good boxer?
•  I will be training with and shadowing a professional boxer ,named Antonio Moya, in the gym as he trains as well as in the ring when he fights this October.