Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Wednesday's Small Training
Tuesday: An Unplanned Day Off
Monday, May 29, 2006
Taking the Holiday Off
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Saturday's Training
Friday, May 26, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Wednesday Practice
- 33 minutes of roadwork
- 9 rounds on the pads with Bernard
- 3 rounds on the heavy bag
- 2 rounds of shadowboxing
- 2 rounds on the double-end bag (the bag that hits back!)
- 2 rounds of stretching
We had a decent turnout today. Mike B. and the Judge were there. Tim stopped by for about 60 seconds; he's getting married this weekend (congratulations, Tim and Christine!). We had a new guy, Ron, who worked out with us for the first time. Hopefully, he will become a regular. Overall, it was a good session.
A Friend Celebrates
Tuesday's Day Off
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Monday's Workout and Learning a New Combination
- 31 minutes of roadwork
- 8 rounds on the pads with Bernard
- 5 rounds on the double-end bag, working the 1-2-1 combination (left jab, right cross, left jab)
- 2 rounds on the heavy bag
- 2 rounds of shadowboxing
- 2 rounds of situps and crunches
- 1 round of stretching
That makes 20 rounds plus the roadwork. Not a bad start for the week (especially counting yesterday).
I got to work on a new combination that I am going to like. In fact, I really like it already. It starts with the basic one-two (left jab followed very quickly by a hard straight right). Then I take a short step forward and to the right (and my opponent's left) and throw a quick left hook, being sure to pivot on my left foot to get the weight behind the punch. The finisher is a straight right or right cross, depending on the angle from which I am facing the opponent.
The key to throwing that combination successfully is this: you must complete the short step forward before throwing the left hook. It's tempting to try to step into the punch to give it more power, but that really doesn't work because you're supposed to be stepping forward and to the right. Another problem is that stepping into the punch leaves you facing slightly away from the opponent and in no position to throw the right hand. Even worse, the opponent can hit you and you are in a very awkward position from which even defending would be difficult, much less counterpunching.
This combination is new and is going to take some work. I can already see how my eagerness to throw it is tempting me to throw the left hook before I have finished the step. I'll work on it with some visualization and will be practicing it many more times on Wednesday and in the practices to come. It will probably be a while before I attempt to use it in sparring, but that is fine; I have plenty of other techniques to use.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Saturday's Workout
- 4 rounds of shadowboxing
- 3 rounds on the heavy bag
- 2 rounds on the double-end bag
- 1 round of stretching
I saw Cory briefly at the gym, too. I feel good about today's work.
Unplanned Day Off
Friday, May 19, 2006
A Good, Healthy Feeling of Soreness
I don't know exactly what today's routine will involve. Tim is supposed to be back in town today. He had mentioned working out together on Friday or Saturday. If he's flexible, I'll probably recommend that we do the workout tomorrow and I'll focus on some roadwork, shadowboxing, and visualization today. If he won't be available tomorrow, I'll meet with him today.
In any event, it's good to feel just a little sore. Onward and upward!
Thursday's Training
- 36 minutes of roadwork
- 11 rounds on the pads with Bernard
- 3 rounds of shadowboxing
- 3 rounds on heavy bag
- 2 rounds on uppercut bag
- 7 rounds on double-end bag
- 3 rounds of situps
- 2 rounds of stretching
It's a good workout; I'm happy with it. Tonight, Tim was still away on business, but he should be back next week. John C. stopped by and said he'll join us next week. Cory, Mike B., and Rich P. were at tonight's workout with me. More details to follow tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Monday's Practice Session
- 25 minutes of roadwork
- 8 rounds on the pads with Bernard
- 5 rounds on the heavy bag
- 4 rounds on the double-end bag
- 3 rounds of shadowboxing
- 3 rounds on the uppercut bag
- 3 rounds of stretching and situps
We had a fairly good attendance today. In addition to me, Rich, Cory, Kevin, and Mike B. were there. Tim is out of town on business (I am sure glad I don't have his job!) and he won't be back until Friday, which means he won't be back to our practices until next Monday. I am hoping to recruit a few more guys to join us. I know that they will probably become regulars after they attend just one or two workouts with our team. Pat also told me he is hoping to join us soon.
I have a few more club updates, but I'll post those next time when I am not so tired. Now, it is time to get some sleep!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Mental Training on Sunday
Instead, I focused on mental training. I did some visualization of myself in the ring, practicing punches and footwork. I also practiced seeing myself as the winner of the match, getting my hand raised at the end.
Soon, I am going to write some scripts for the mental imagery to make this part of my training more consistent. I will probably record them on my digital voice recorder so I can play them back as a guided imagery session. I think that will help me a lot. If I like the results, I may even upload some of those voice sessions or scripts to this site so others can try them out and adapt them to their own training preferences.
As I am writing more here on the blog and getting more focused again, I find my training is going better; it is more fun and I have a more positive attitude about it. I will continue this way and adapt the training as I go along.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Saturday Roadwork
Friday, May 12, 2006
Thursday's Workout
- 36 minutes of roadwork
- 5 rounds of shadowboxing
- 5 rounds on the pads with Bernard
- 2 rounds on double-end bag
- 1 round on heavy bag
- 1 round on uppercut bag
- 1 round of situps
- 1 round of stretching
All in all, I got in 16 rounds plus the roadwork. I prefer it to be about 25, but I got a late start today. Also, I was fighting some inertia that threatened to hold me back from my workout. It was the little voice inside that was saying, "Ah, it's raining today. You can go back on Monday..." I am glad I resisted that little voice!
We had a decent turnout. Bernard was back. Also, Mark V., Cory, Andrew, and I were there. It was a good workout, even though I was a little sluggish.
Bernard mentioned that Dr. Kevin is working to get the doctors vs. lawyers charity boxing match arranged. He said so far Doc Kevin is willing to box and one other doctor. I promised to help with finding other Chicago area physicians who would like to participate. I'll phone my friend Glen who coaches the boxers at the East Bank Club and see if he has any guys who want to do it. From my club, we can easily field a whole team of lawyers, so that should be no problem. I've already told Andrew that he needs to be ready for the event. :-)
Who knows? I might even get to face Dr. Kevin in the ring. That would be fun. He's a good guy. I believe the event will raise money for a children's charity, so we'll be doing it for a good cause. Bernard jokingly mentioned that the name of the charity is the "Victims of Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Fund." He's trying to have some fun with the doctors-vs.-lawyers theme, but somehow, I doubt there is such a charity. However, it will be fun however it goes.
If any of my readers are physicians in the greater Chicago area and you would like to participate in this event, send me an e-mail at steve@lawyerboxer.com and I'll get you information as it becomes available to me. Even better, I'll get you connected to the guys who are organizing this event. I'll also post further details here when I have them.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Wednesday Update
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Tuesday's Unplanned Day Off
Monday, May 08, 2006
Monday's Program
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Boxing with a Poker Face
As usual, Ross gives us plenty to think about and to implement in the ring. While I am sure I have heard or read some of these pointers before, in various scattered places, Ross neatly packages them into one article for us. This information is really helpful. Learn it. Master it. Use it.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Saturday Outside, and Inside
Friday, May 05, 2006
Friday at the Gym
- 41 minutes of roadwork
- 4 rounds of shadowboxing
- 4 rounds on heavy bag
- 2 rounds on uppercut bag
- 1 round on double-end bag
- 1 round of stretching
- 1 round of situps
Also, I did some sports visualization today. I'll write much more about this, I'm sure, but my friend Todd has recently reminded me of the important role visualization plays in an athlete's training. (Thanks, Todd!)
Today's visualization was pretty simple. I visualized one round of an amateur bout where I was matched against a taller opponent. I visualized myself doing perfect footwork, being full of energy, and landing hard, quick punches. Again, it was basic, but I haven't done visualization for a while. I'll get back to it more and write more about it soon.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Thursday Roadwork
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Rats! Foiled Again! (Sort of)
However, despite feeling well, I did not get to boxing practice this evening. I got stuck doing some work projects, so the boxing had to wait. It is frustrating, but a man's got to pay the bills. As a result, this is the only workout I did today:
- 30 minutes of roadwork
- 3 rounds of shadowboxing
I hope to do more tomorrow. Also, I am meeting Tim on Friday afternoon for a workout, so things are looking up.
I Guess I'm Not the Only One...
He reports that a "nasty little virus" caused him to miss some training. Happily, though, he is back in training. Good job, Duncan, and get well soon!
Is Boxing "Losing the Battle of Evolution to UFC"?
White Collars Are Off and Boxing Gloves On
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
A Planned Day Off
Monday, May 01, 2006
Monday's Training
- 32 minutes of roadwork
- 3 rounds of shadowboxing
- 3 rounds of stretching
- 3 rounds of practicing pivoting on my left foot and punching, as Bernard recommended
- 2 rounds on heavy bag
- 1 round on uppercut bag
- 1 round on double-end bag
Overall, 13 rounds. Not great, but not terrible. I continue to recover from the "attack of the pollens" and get to a more regular routine.