Mary told me, "Remember, no sparring," after she learned Alan was not coming in last night. "No, I never let them spar when the coach is out," I told her. Carlos, Leon, Jamil, and Oscar had other ideas, however.
When Steve was in charge of the gym, Friday was sparring night. Rarely did sparring take place on Wednesday unless some of the guys had fights coming up. I think it was easier to enforce the no sparring rule whenever Steve was out, because he only allowed it on one day. Alan has sparring each time the gym is open, so people have gotten used to that.
I turn around to see Carlos wearing headgear. "You're sparring?" I asked. He answered in the affirmative. "Mary doesn't want people sparring when Alan's not here," I told him. "Oh, we're just going to move around in the ring," Carlos answered. "Yeah, we're going light," said Leon, who was ready to go. Both his headgear and gloves were on. I got a bad feeling in my stomach, as I remembered how Deo was injured by Leon. "Do sparring drills," I ordered, hoping it would not turn into full-on sparring.
Stay pretty boxing headgear at BoxingDepot.com
It wasn't long before I heard pops that indicated the guys were going harder than they should. I stopped my workout to watch the action closely. Several times, I had to warn Leon to take it easy. Carlos took hard shots, Jamil and Oscar took heavy hits to their bodies. "They're not little kids, so they should be able to spar. You're a coach," Ieisha told me. "Yeah, but I'm not a Chicago Park District employee. Mary's against sparring when Alan's not here because of liability issues," I answered. If someone becomes injured, and it's discovered there was no official supervision involved, game over. The Park District could be sued, I could also be named in a lawsuit because I'm an official volunteer, and worst of all, the gym could be shut down.
Barry called me the day before to congratulate me on the match I had Friday. A check of the calendar says I have a little over two weeks to get ready for my rematch with Meg.
Finally showed Justin my Kindergarten class picture. The boy appeared to be amused, especially when I pointed out my five-year-old self. I also showed Ieshia, who laughed at how formal some of the boys were dressed. "That's how kids looked in 1967," I laughed. Carlos picked me out right away. "You look the same," he said. "Yeah, I do, except for the gray hair," I smiled.
For awhile I've been putting in one entry a day for a "Follow Your Passion" contest sponsored by an aspirin company. The grand prize is $25,000.00. If I won that, I'd probably buy a cobra bag for the gym. I miss the old one that used to be there.
Showing posts with label Boxing Depot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boxing Depot. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Shots and Knees
Justin told me that he liked Kindergarten so far. He was in the middle of the ring, playing with his Spiderman action figures. "You missed it. I brought my Kindergarten class picture in, but you weren't here last week," I told him. Later on in the evening, I attempted to sneak up on him while he was sitting on one of the tires in the gym. At the last second, he saw me and grinned. "He's learned to be quick in catching people do that. I have a hard time sneaking up on him at home," his father Carlos said.
Carlos sparred with Oscar. Both guys keep coming forward and going non-stop whenever they are in the ring. It looked as if Oscar had punched Carlos in the stomach. Carlos crouched down to the canvas and mumbled, "I need to wear a cup." Turned out that Oscar had scored a low blow.
Alan got in the ring with Carlos next. Carlos would start to throw his left several times, then stop short. In between rounds, I told him, "It looks like you're faking him out, but then you don't follow up with a second punch." "I begin to throw a punch, but then he backs up and is too far away for me to land it," Carlos answered. I mentioned it to him again when the action resumed. "I'm trying," Carlos said, while Alan bobbed and weaved.
Earlier in the evening, Mary asked me if I would sing the National Anthem for the field house's boxing show, which will take place on the 25th of this month. It seems to be a tradition now. I think I've sung the National Anthem there since 2004. Mary pulled out a banner to display out front to announce the upcoming show. "Any of the adults going to be in the show?" she asked. Alan had been talking to Johnny, Oscar and Carlos. Later that evening, he would also ask Ieisha. "I'm not sure," I said, hoping that someone from the adult program might be able to participate. Several of the kids usually do have matches. Alan walked in as we were looking at the banner, and Mary asked him the same question. "Well, I'm trying to get a match for Hillari", he grinned, pointing at me.
My stamina is way down. I was telling Ieisha there was a time when I would go three or four rounds in the ring. I remember doing sparring drills with Keith for five rounds once. I only lasted one round with her last night. I took a shot to my upper right chest in a sensitive spot (guess what spot), then was stopped momentarily by a body blow. I went down on one knee to rest, just like I have seen professional boxers do on cable TV. "You both need to wear chest protectors," Alan said. I'm going to have to dig mine out of the closet at home and bring it in.
I seem to have had a hard time on the speed bag lately. I believe it has to do with the platform. When it was installed in the gym a couple of years ago (one of the free pieces of equipment we received from Everlast when the international boxing championships were in town) it worked like a charm. No longer did I have to stand on a riser to reach the bag. The platform could be moved easily to adjust to a boxer's height. A minor adjustment had to be done to the platform, and handymen were called in to fix it. I don't know what was done, but now, the platform can't be moved up or down. So I'm back to standing on one riser, which still doesn't put me up high enough. I read somewhere that a person's head should reach the halfway point of the speed bag. If I stand on both risers, I'm too high.
Save on speed bag platforms at Boxing Depot.
Ieisha and Oscar sparred, and he caught her in the back of the head twice. She would come in just as he was throwing his right, and it would snake around to the back. He also threw in an overhand right. I had done the same thing while she and I were sparring. "Now I know what that overhand right is! I will need aspirin for those knocks in the back of my head tomorrow," she said.
Carlos sparred with Oscar. Both guys keep coming forward and going non-stop whenever they are in the ring. It looked as if Oscar had punched Carlos in the stomach. Carlos crouched down to the canvas and mumbled, "I need to wear a cup." Turned out that Oscar had scored a low blow.
Alan got in the ring with Carlos next. Carlos would start to throw his left several times, then stop short. In between rounds, I told him, "It looks like you're faking him out, but then you don't follow up with a second punch." "I begin to throw a punch, but then he backs up and is too far away for me to land it," Carlos answered. I mentioned it to him again when the action resumed. "I'm trying," Carlos said, while Alan bobbed and weaved.
Earlier in the evening, Mary asked me if I would sing the National Anthem for the field house's boxing show, which will take place on the 25th of this month. It seems to be a tradition now. I think I've sung the National Anthem there since 2004. Mary pulled out a banner to display out front to announce the upcoming show. "Any of the adults going to be in the show?" she asked. Alan had been talking to Johnny, Oscar and Carlos. Later that evening, he would also ask Ieisha. "I'm not sure," I said, hoping that someone from the adult program might be able to participate. Several of the kids usually do have matches. Alan walked in as we were looking at the banner, and Mary asked him the same question. "Well, I'm trying to get a match for Hillari", he grinned, pointing at me.
My stamina is way down. I was telling Ieisha there was a time when I would go three or four rounds in the ring. I remember doing sparring drills with Keith for five rounds once. I only lasted one round with her last night. I took a shot to my upper right chest in a sensitive spot (guess what spot), then was stopped momentarily by a body blow. I went down on one knee to rest, just like I have seen professional boxers do on cable TV. "You both need to wear chest protectors," Alan said. I'm going to have to dig mine out of the closet at home and bring it in.
I seem to have had a hard time on the speed bag lately. I believe it has to do with the platform. When it was installed in the gym a couple of years ago (one of the free pieces of equipment we received from Everlast when the international boxing championships were in town) it worked like a charm. No longer did I have to stand on a riser to reach the bag. The platform could be moved easily to adjust to a boxer's height. A minor adjustment had to be done to the platform, and handymen were called in to fix it. I don't know what was done, but now, the platform can't be moved up or down. So I'm back to standing on one riser, which still doesn't put me up high enough. I read somewhere that a person's head should reach the halfway point of the speed bag. If I stand on both risers, I'm too high.
Save on speed bag platforms at Boxing Depot.
Ieisha and Oscar sparred, and he caught her in the back of the head twice. She would come in just as he was throwing his right, and it would snake around to the back. He also threw in an overhand right. I had done the same thing while she and I were sparring. "Now I know what that overhand right is! I will need aspirin for those knocks in the back of my head tomorrow," she said.
Friday, September 11, 2009
What's Up With The Calendar?
Alan called Arturo, who is the coach over at Eckhart Park. According to the Park District boxing show calendar posted in the gym, there's a boxing show scheduled for today. Alan was trying to get fights for Oscar, Carlos, and myself. "I'm weighing people right now," Arturo told Alan. "What do you mean you're weighing people?" Alan asked. Turned out that the boxing show was taking place the day Alan called. That's the second time a date has found to be wrong on the calendar. I'm going to go to the Park District's actual web site to double check the dates.
I was looking at some pink Everlast boxing gloves in a catalog the other day. They're cute, but I don't think I would actually buy a pair in that color. I do have a pair of red ones buried at home. I used to joke that I picked the red color to match the blood of my opponents.
Yesterday, I stopped in a sporting goods store to see if they had any kettlebell exercise videos. The fitness equipment section, where the exercise DVDs were, was on the top floor of the building. No kettlebell DVDs, but they had some limited boxing equipment. I saw an Everlast heavy bag, and wished that I could put one in my apartment. It's doubtful that my landlord would let me hang one. Fortunately, there are free-standing ones available.
Great heavy bags by Ringside and Everlast.
This past Wednesday, the crowd was small. Ralphie, Oscar, and Johnny came in. Ralphie battered Johnny several times while they sparred. Johnny wasn't throwing many punches back after awhile; the man was noticeably tired. Near the end of the last round they did, Ralphie did a dramatic fall against the ropes after Johnny landed a light punch on him. Ralphie shook his head as if he had been stunned. We all laughed about that. Johnny said he saw the same trick done during a professional fight. When the opponent came in for the kill, the boxer who was playing injured nailed him.
Oscar and I sparred, and my energy was high during the first round. I stunned him several times with rights to the head. I still have to concentrate on throwing hooks more. I was winded most of the second round, but managed to hang in there, pinning Oscar against the ropes and in the corners a few times. "That was the best I'd ever seen you spar," Alan told me.
Carlos and Justin were no shows, and I was a little disappointed. I had brought my Kindergarten class picture in to show Justin, who started school this week. Alan was amazed that I still had my class picture from back then. Unfortunately, I only have that class picture, plus the ones from second, fifth and eighth grades. The other class pictures were destroyed (don't ask), and I don't remember sitting for a third grade class picture. Ralphie and Johnny guessed which kid I was right away. Alan made wrong guesses until I pointed myself out.
I was looking at some pink Everlast boxing gloves in a catalog the other day. They're cute, but I don't think I would actually buy a pair in that color. I do have a pair of red ones buried at home. I used to joke that I picked the red color to match the blood of my opponents.
Yesterday, I stopped in a sporting goods store to see if they had any kettlebell exercise videos. The fitness equipment section, where the exercise DVDs were, was on the top floor of the building. No kettlebell DVDs, but they had some limited boxing equipment. I saw an Everlast heavy bag, and wished that I could put one in my apartment. It's doubtful that my landlord would let me hang one. Fortunately, there are free-standing ones available.
Great heavy bags by Ringside and Everlast.
This past Wednesday, the crowd was small. Ralphie, Oscar, and Johnny came in. Ralphie battered Johnny several times while they sparred. Johnny wasn't throwing many punches back after awhile; the man was noticeably tired. Near the end of the last round they did, Ralphie did a dramatic fall against the ropes after Johnny landed a light punch on him. Ralphie shook his head as if he had been stunned. We all laughed about that. Johnny said he saw the same trick done during a professional fight. When the opponent came in for the kill, the boxer who was playing injured nailed him.
Oscar and I sparred, and my energy was high during the first round. I stunned him several times with rights to the head. I still have to concentrate on throwing hooks more. I was winded most of the second round, but managed to hang in there, pinning Oscar against the ropes and in the corners a few times. "That was the best I'd ever seen you spar," Alan told me.
Carlos and Justin were no shows, and I was a little disappointed. I had brought my Kindergarten class picture in to show Justin, who started school this week. Alan was amazed that I still had my class picture from back then. Unfortunately, I only have that class picture, plus the ones from second, fifth and eighth grades. The other class pictures were destroyed (don't ask), and I don't remember sitting for a third grade class picture. Ralphie and Johnny guessed which kid I was right away. Alan made wrong guesses until I pointed myself out.
Friday, August 28, 2009
No Boxing Wednesday
Alan had to take his son to military school, so he told me he wouldn't be in on Wednesday. It appeared he forgot to let staff know that it was okay to open the gym that night if I came in. Rob, BK and Carol had no go-ahead from Mary to do so. Yeah, most of the staff knows me, and I've been in the boxing program for nearly eight years. I'm a Chicago Park District volunteer and a USA Amateur Boxing coach. But I never want to staff to get in trouble for opening up the gym when they didn't have permission to do that. Carlos, Justin, and Jamil showed up, but left a little while later when they learned the gym was closed for the evening. I hung around and talked to Rob for about a half-hour before I went back home.
Save on boxing equipment and gloves.
I was hitting the bigger speed bag on Monday, and it's very raggedy. It is still in decent shape to use, but the outside is falling apart. I never know which bag is going to be up there when I come in -- that bag or the smaller bag. Barry probably changes it when the kids are in on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The smaller speed bag is easier to hit, but the bigger bag's advantage is that it makes one work more.
Before Comcast decided to move ESPN Classic so that those with the basic digital package -- like me -- can't see it anymore, I watched some of "Iron" Mike Tyson's matches. The announcer made a comment about Tyson coming to the ring wearing no socks with his boxing shoes. I've done that a few times when I forgot to wear socks, usually during the summers. I guess the sweat from one's feet would do some damage to the shoes after awhile in terms of the moisture.
Save on boxing equipment and gloves.
I was hitting the bigger speed bag on Monday, and it's very raggedy. It is still in decent shape to use, but the outside is falling apart. I never know which bag is going to be up there when I come in -- that bag or the smaller bag. Barry probably changes it when the kids are in on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The smaller speed bag is easier to hit, but the bigger bag's advantage is that it makes one work more.
Before Comcast decided to move ESPN Classic so that those with the basic digital package -- like me -- can't see it anymore, I watched some of "Iron" Mike Tyson's matches. The announcer made a comment about Tyson coming to the ring wearing no socks with his boxing shoes. I've done that a few times when I forgot to wear socks, usually during the summers. I guess the sweat from one's feet would do some damage to the shoes after awhile in terms of the moisture.
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