Isolating boxing for the JKD practitioner

[Mr. Gordo]

Hey all,

I'm looking to isolate the boxing aspect of my JKD training. My main concern is that I don't want to get punch drunk or wind up with some type of brain damage. Is there a way to isolate the boxing without suffering any type of brain injury while at the same time not sacrificing the skills in boxing i wish to acquire. I've heard that thai boxers train lite year round till their actual fights occur (could be some B.S. myth for all I know.) I know that Rodney King of the straight blast gym did boxing and was wondering if he teaches it and trains his guys in a safe manner without sacrficing skills and attributes that a boxer has. Can anyone help with this?


mr. gordo

[Tom Yum]

Not everyone who trains in boxing ends up punch drunk or with severe brain damage. It depends on how you train. Both Klitschko brothers began their professional fighting careers while getting their phD in sports medicine in Russia (not exactly a cake walk). The new WBA lightweight champ, Juan Diaz, is a pre-law student.

If you step in the ring everyday, sparring full-contact with guys who are 1,000 times better than you then you will end up with brain damage after a few years. That's not the right way to train...

As you develop boxing skill, you also develop ability to handle contact. Alot of it boils down to fitness. The better shape you are in and the more often you spar, the more prepared you will be. On top of that learning proper boxing skills, defense and strategy will help protect you.

When you first spar, your natural instinct is to flinch or cover up. Once you've sparred 1,000 times with quick, light contact you don't flinch as an instinct, rather you move your head to get out of the way, block or roll with it.

Then you can start going a little harder - once you go harder, you have to bump up your fitness again because your matches are a little more explosive and more taxing on your attributes.

Look at it as a journey that begins with one step at a time; try to be patient with yourself and give it your all.

[Mike Brewer]

Hi Gordo,
I have spent probably more time boxing than any other single area, so maybe I can help out. I was introduced to martial arts at age 6, and boxing at about age 8. When I was 14, I began boxing with some of the silver glove athletes in my area, and then with Olympic boxers at age 16. It was the first time I'd ever competed in anything full-contact, and it was a great awakening for me. It really shaped the way I train today, and I think you'll find it true for yourself also.

In my opinion, conditioning is key. Not just endurance and stamina, but toughness. You need the ability to absorb blows to the body (please don't try to condition your head to take a shot...) and you need to work heavily on evasiveness. Remember early Mike Tyson fights? He was a beast with a lot of power, but he spent so much time working on evasiveness (he used isolation drill and something called the "maize ball" to develop it) that he was able to get in and land without being hit.

As long as you keep your training in perspective and realize that boxing is just one of the ranges you need, I recommend finding a boxing gym in your area and going in once or twice a week. Sparring with really good boxers is a great skill and confidence developer (so long as they're not egomaniacs that get off on hurting you), and the conditioning routines boxers train are great for core strength. I'm assuming you have a heavy bag? If so, work on it often, along with the double end bag. I personally try for ten 3-minute rounds on each per session at a good pace. This will build your shoulders, and give you the ability to punch well even if you're dog-tired. Beyond that, use good partners as often as you can. Work on drills and focus mitts, sparring, and anything else that gives you a feel for being in front of a living, breathing opponent.

Most good boxers are of the same opinion you are when it comes to safe training. No one wants to be a slurring, punch-drunk 40 year old. The key is using the right equipment, training seriously (while having fun), and having a solid "support staff" of people who want to see you get better.

Outside that advice, I'd encourage you to enter a tournament or two once you feel your skill is at a decent level. It's a little intimidating to fight two or three guys in one day, especially when you don't know them. It's good for learning how to cope with that kind of stress, and besides, you aren't likely to get paired with an opponent that is severely out of your class so long as you go to a good tourney. And remember, it's sport, not fighting. Just train and enjoy. Competition is just another training method as far as I'm concerned, and with boxing, you're only worried about one range, so it feels a lot more like sparring than fighting. You just don't have to hold back.

Hope you enjoy!

[EmptyneSs]

if u wear the proper gear, like headgear, and mouthpiece and gloves and go light u will be ok. u and ur partner dont gotta murder eachother. u can go light and work ur form and speed and u will still be able to develope good boxing skills without getting hurt.

[Mr. Gordo]

guys,

Thanks for all the great advice. Nice to know if I join a gym people won't try to take my head off the first day. I guess I had the wrong preconceptions. It's just that one of my friend's who does JKD in Brooklyn wanted to isolate his boxing, so he joined Gleason's Gym there. When the boxers there found out he was a martial artist, they gave him a pretty hard time in the ring. My paranoia also increased when I saw a documentary on the Chavez / Taylor fight....it freaked me out to see what happened to Taylor.


mr. gordo