Christmas and Hanukkah Boxing

Yesterday, I pointed out to Alan that it has been a year since Colonel (Ken), who stands to the left in the photo above had passed away.  I still miss him.  Alan wondered how Kenny, Colonel's son, was holding up.  We haven't seen him since he came to the gym months ago.

I almost didn't go to Loyola Park because the temperatures have been so frigid.  But I just bundled up, toughened it out, and took the walk.  A recent trip to the doctor revealed that I have some muscle weakness in my left leg.  However, I didn't have as many problems with that leg as I walked to the gym.

I was wearing a hoodie that a Facebook friend, Scott, had sent me for my birthday.  The hoodie reads, "Don't let your president get your ass whooped," which is a statement directed at the racists and misogynists who voted for Donald Trump.  Those set of his supporters lately have been thinking that they can step to people of color and women any kind of way because their "hero" is now the president-elect.  I showed Alan the shirt, and he smiled.

Timothy, who usually spends a lot of the gym time taking pointers from his friend Lamar, sparred with Ro.  Lamar kept telling him to "trust your defense".

Lauren, the quiet law student, sparred with Kathy.  I kept thinking, "Lauren is a solid-built woman.  If she really put some power behind those punches, she'd give Kathy something to think about."  She did surprise Kathy with a straight punch in one of the later rounds.

Paul and his wife made some wonderful Christmas cookies which they brought in to share with everyone.  The mint chocolate cookies were especially good, and I ate more that I probably should have.

Barry has closed up the youth boxing program for the rest of the year.  I know he usually takes vacation around this time.  Paul, who is a volunteer, offered to keep the gym open for the kids, but Mary said no.  Alan's adult program has been open throughout the break period.  Christmas and New Year's Day are on Sundays this time around, so the park district will not be open on the Mondays following those holidays.  I won't be back down at Loyola until the new year.

Meanwhile, I have got done much of the stuff I wanted to catch up on down at LaFollette boxing gym.  I'm basically coasting until the winter session begins in January.

The Day Before Thanksgiving. . .and Hanukkah

I learn something new every day.  Liam Neeson, an actor who appeared in such films as Darkman, Schindler's List, and Taken, began boxing lessons at age nine.  Neeson eventually became Ulster's amateur senior boxing champion.

I'm always watching old clips on YouTube of James Brown.  One of the clips was from "Soul Train", and Brown told host Don Cornelius something about having boxed in the past.  Sure enough, the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business", did have a brief boxing career.

In addition to Alan and myself, John and Igor came in.  That was it.  John played his iPod via the radio/CD/tape player in the back of the room.  Instead of Colonel's mix of 1950's, 60's, 70's, and early 80's tunes, we heard a mix of sports themes ("NBA on NBC"), TV themes ("The Streets of San Francisco") and classic and newer rap by Eric B. and Rakim, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Lupe Fiasco, and others.  Alan usually says he doesn't listen to new music.  But he had John and I laughing when he said he did like Li'l Kim.  "My son had one of her CD's when he was younger, and I used to listen to it," Alan grinned.

Igor begged off sparring again with the same excuse that was always given to the previous coach: "Next week!"  No surprise there.  I really wanted to spar with Teacher John after he and Alan did a few rounds with the punch shield.  My mouthpiece was choking me again, so I took it out.  But I kept coughing.  Finally, I threw up in the spit bucket.  I had some spicy Jamaican beef patties for lunch; hadn't eaten those for months. I believe my stomach gave me a hint that is another food that needs to come off of my diet. Unfortunately, I had to take the gloves and headgear off.

John wished that Matthew had come in so he could get some sparring with him.  There's a park district fight in early December -- I think it's at Brooks Park -- and John wants to get a trophy that he can take with him to South Korea.  John will leave after that to go back and teach there for six months, and to reunite with his wife, who is currently teaching there now.  It'll be for bragging rights.  John trains at a gym overseas, and he'd like to put a trophy up alongside the other ones that are there.

Reygie and Five Rounds

 

"I had two Whoppers today," Alan said.  If it isn't hot dogs from SuperDawg, it's something else.  "Where are you putting all that food?" I asked.  Alan is not overweight.  "I would have brought my workout clothes in, but that food is still sitting on my stomach," he said. 

Reygie came in groaning about being tired and getting old.  "I lifted weights yesterday, and I still feel it," he explained.  He and I agreed to do a couple of rounds of sparring.  We ended up doing three rounds.

It was one of those nights when I had picked up some energy from somewhere.  I moved around the bags easily, then when I got into the ring, I was moving quicker than I usually do.  Reggie switched to southpaw a few times.  I made the mistake of moving to his right to avoid the incoming punches, instead of moving to the left, but I corrected that quickly. 

Reygie ended up doing five rounds total, as he gave a round a piece to a couple of guys who came in looking for some sparring action. 

One of the guys took a serious pop in the face from Reygie, but they shook it off and got right back to business.  Another guy had a long reach, and he used it well. 

 

We keep half-joking around about having a Christmas/Hanukkah in the gym.  "Pot luck!" Reygie suggested with a grin.  Now it's turned into an interfaith party.  Have to cover everybody, you know.  It's a good idea, and it could happen, but without alcohol added.  Strong drinks aren't allowed on Chicago Park District property.

 

 

Owen revealed that he's part of a company that created an app for cell phones.  He's currently going to college, but he'll be going back to England for a little awhile to work at the company.  "I've invested in the company, and I want to see a return on it," he told me.  I wish I was that smart to be able to create apps for phones.  That's a lucrative business to be in these days. 

 

 



 

Of course, I wouldn't hit a heavy bag without gloves on my hands, so obviously, the photos above were staged.  Alan took the pictures.  They'll also turn up at some point on my web site, www.smartwomenboxingtraining.org.