Lawyer-boxer's Blog

Mike Tyson Training Video Courtesy of MarksTraining.com

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:25:00 +0000

Marks has a good blog post up with an embedded video of Mike Tyson training. Check out the video and Marks' commentary about it; it's worth seeing.

I might disagree with Marks about whether Tyson "was the greatest boxer to step into the ring." Then again, I might not. These are fun debates to have over a few beers with friends, but as far as answering who was or is "the greatest," I find the debate itself is a lot more important than whatever conclusion one reaches (which is bound to be different from the other guys talking about it).

It's helpful and inspiring to see a masterful presentation of some of the things my coaches have been trying to get me to do over the years.

Also, I hope you'll spend some time at the rest of Marks' blog. He has a fair amount of boxing content, along with the various other martial arts and MMA.

Training Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:28:00 +0000

Not a lot to report here. I've been doing the roadwork consistently and working on solidifying the gym routine and improving it. It's getting where I want it to be. Life is nuts right now. Work is very busy and I am juggling various family issues and am preparing for a move. Training keeps me grounded.

Monday's Training Update

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:06:00 +0000

Over the last two weeks, I have been to the gym a few times and had several roadwork sessions that lasted for an hour or more. I don't try to log all my training here, but I like to mention some of the workouts. Doing that helps me stay motivated and allows me to post about some other topics related to boxing. Also, my blogging here has been sparse because work has been very busy--unusually busy for July. Of course, being self-employed, that's a pretty good "problem" to have. I've been networking like a madman and have been hustling to get some new clients for my law practice. I'm also pursuing a few more writing gigs, so yeah, it has been a busy, and unusually productive, summer so far.

Here's today's training breakdown.

32 minutes of roadwork
4 rounds of shadowboxing
4 rounds on the heavy bag
4 rounds on the double-end bag
4 rounds of stretching
1 round of sit-ups and crunches

I did more stretching today than I had been doing because I want to focus more on flexibility. Over the weekend, I was talking with my buddy, Mark, about the challenges of the, ahem, "aging athlete," particularly in the area of preventing injuries. (Mark's a southpaw, pretty much ambidextrous as a boxer, and a fellow forty-something guy, so I am looking forward to sparring with him when his ankle heals.)

Flexibility is the component of fitness that seems to be overlooked most frequently. That's a shame because it's easy to practice and maintain and is a huge help for staying healthy and relatively injury-free. As long as I live, I want to remain committed to health and fitness. Of course, I don't know how long that will be. But there's a lot of longevity in my family and if I'm going to be on the planet until I'm 85 or 90 years old, I want to be healthy and fit for it.

Quick Update

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:51:00 +0000

Some brief periods of roadwork after Friday's training:

Saturday, June 28: 26 minutes
Monday, June 30: 24 minutes

Also, some good news: Chad at GoTime said he will help arrange some sparring for me. Since my training times have varied a lot recently, it has been hard to get much sparring practice, but I am hoping we can change that soon. I have been working on various improvements to my technique and would like to do some sparring to practice them under "real" conditions.

Sending Condolences to an Online Boxer Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:27:00 +0000

My friend Marc's dog passed away on Sunday. I hope you will please join me in offering condolences to Marc. Thank you.

Friday Morning Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:15:00 +0000

I did the morning workout again. It was great. It's still a bit difficult to get the timing of the workout down, but it is getting easier and I'm enjoying it. Upon completing today's workout, I felt a lot of joy and peace--probably the rush of endorphins to my brain! The exact explanation doesn't matter; I'm not going to second-guess wholesome good feelings.

Here's the recap of today's workout.

1 hour 25 minutes of roadwork
5 rounds of shadowboxing
5 rounds on the double-end bag
3 rounds on the heavy bag
1 round on the uppercut bag
3 rounds of stretching
1 round of situps and other abdominal exercises

That's 18 rounds plus the roadwork--not a bad way to begin a Friday. I believe this kind of experience is what my friend Marc has in mind when he refers to the "joy of training." How sweet it is!

Roadwork and Shadowboxing Update

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:17:00 +0000

Thursday, June 19: 45 minutes
Friday, June 20: 34 minutes
Saturday, June 21: 35 minutes
Monday, June 23: 23 minutes

Monday's Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:30:00 +0000

Ever have one of those days when work consumes more time than you thought it would and you come close to talking yourself out of going to the gym? Today was such a day. As I was scrambling to finish various projects and get on my way, I began to think, "Maybe I'll just take today off and go in early tomorrow morning." Doing that was tempting, but I am glad I got to GoTime this evening.

Here's a recap of the workout.

35 minutes of roadwork
3 rounds of shadowboxing
3 rounds on heavy bag
2 rounds of stretching
7 rounds on double-end bag

I spent a lot of time on the double-end bag to work on my speed and timing. I'm trying to improve some combinations with it. I love that bag--it's like a close friend--because, as frustrating as it is to use, it always teaches me a lot.

I'll write more about my routines with the double-end bag soon. I'm trying to make the practice as interesting as possible so that I'll stay with it.

Saturday Roadwork

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:06:00 +0000

45 minutes on Saturday.

Wednesday's Training

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 27 May 2008 01:22:00 +0000

I'm posting this (as well as the entry that immediately follows it) a few days after the fact, but because it mentions a slightly different approach to training, I want to post it.

On Wednesday, May 21, I tried something new: I did my training in the morning before work on a weekday. I haven't done that in a while and it was a great way to start the day. I got over to GoTime, talked with Chad for a few minutes, and then got to my routine. Here's the recap.

35 minutes of roadwork
3 rounds of shadowboxing
3 rounds on the heavy bag
6 rounds on the double-end bag
2 rounds of stretching
1 round of situps/abs

It was nice to do a morning workout. If I am going to continue doing them, I'll have to start a little earlier than I did on Wednesday, but I am still pleased with the results. Having some variety in the training program helps me stay interested.

JD Bliss Webinar with Carolyn Elefant: "From BigLaw to YourLaw: The Secrets of Starting and Growing a Successful Solo Law Practice"

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Attention all lawyers:

Many of you know that I am a guest blogger and regular contributor at the JD Bliss Blog. I'm thrilled to post this announcement about Carolyn Elefant's upcoming webinar.

JD Bliss is proud to announce a new webinar on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 12:30 PM EST:

From BigLaw to YourLaw: The Secrets of Starting and Growing a Successful Solo Law Practice

with

Carolyn Elefant, Esq.
Attorney, Author, Blogger and Consultant

During this 60-minute webinar, Carolyn Elefant, Esq., successful solo attorney, author of Solo by Choice, and publisher of the popular MyShingle blog for solo lawyers, will cover the nuts and bolts of starting up and growing your own successful solo law practice.

Attendees will learn:

The 9 reasons lawyers leave law firms to start their own practices

How to evaluate whether starting your own law firm is the right choice for you

How to write a business plan for your new firm

Techniques to identify potential clients and markets

3 easy marketing tools to help build your reputation

How to negotiate an amicable departure from your current firm without "burning bridges"

And much more. . . . . .

Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 12:30 pm EST

Location: Participate remotely from the comfort of your own office or conference room via a webex connection!

We look forward to greeting you!

I'm reading Carolyn's new book, Solo by Choice, and am thoroughly enjoying it. I recommend that you read the book and attend her webinar on June 3 to take advantages of these opportunities to learn about solo practice from Carolyn's extensive experience and clear, practical, and interesting way of presenting information about this exciting sector of our profession.

Preston Halliburton: Another Lawyer-boxer

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:28:00 +0000

As many of you know, I'm also a guest blogger at the JD Bliss Blog. A few days ago, I posted about yet another lawyer-boxer, Preston Halliburton of Buckhead, Georgia. Here's a link to the story.

http://www.jdblissblog.com/2008/05/in-this-cornerp.html

I'd like to say that the number of us lawyer-boxers is growing. I've blogged before about other lawyer boxers, and about law-student boxers. However, I don't know if our numbers are increasing or if we're just getting more press and blog coverage. It doesn't really matter, though, as long as we're enjoying the sport. Keep training, everyone!

Happy Anniversary to Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:52:00 +0000

On May 5, 1994, I set out on my own to establish my solo law practice. It's hard to believe that was 14 years ago, but that's how quickly time flies. I can honestly say that I have had no regrets whatsoever; I am blissfully self-employed. I have certainly learned many things along the way, and I would probably do some things differently on a second attempt, but no regrets. It's a great feeling! 14 years--woohoo!

Celebrate RSS Awareness Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:18:00 +0000

Mental Training

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:43:00 +0000

Yesterday, I focused on doing some mental rehearsal. It was the first time I had done it in a while; I need to do mental training more often.

For Thursday's training session, I spent about 15 minutes visualizing how to handle effectively an opponent who is always charging and hitting very hard--he's a relentless attacker. During the visualization, I recognized the importance of staying light on my feet and being able to move quickly. I always think I can't do too much footwork practice, and this mental training session affirmed that.

My imaginary opponent for the visualization is a friend of mine named Dave. I have fought him twice. I beat him the first time and he came back strong and won the second bout. I am eager to challenge him to a rematch.

Mental practice helps to point out some techniques I need to polish, such as smooth, quick footwork. It also gives me some concrete ideas about strategy; I can try out different approaches and see what works.

A challenge for mental training is the duration of it. I find myself training mentally for about 15 minutes at a time, but then I leave it on the side for too long. I am going to try more frequent mental training sessions and see if that helps me stay focused and improve my technique.

New Blog Sighting

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:27:00 +0000

This morning, I happened upon a relatively new blog that has some good content and insights into our sport. It's called The Current Boxing Scene, and it is published by a fellow who calls himself "the boxing fanatic." According to the archives, this blog has been online for about two and a half months and provides very good commentary about what is going on these days in boxing. It's a fine blog and I hope "the boxing fanatic" will be posting more frequently. I already like what I see!

Hat tip to Marc at My Boxing Blog for the link.

Update:

Usually, I don't second-guess myself, but shouldn't that read "glove tip" instead of "hat tip." Or, maybe, "glove tap"? Nah, the latter is too aggressive--Marc might think I'm challenging him or something!

Another Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:01:00 +0000

Just 52 minutes of roadwork today. Even better news is that I received my replacement debit card and, unlike the previous replacement card I had, I was able to activate this card and use it. Now I can renew my gym membership (which used the old debit card that got stolen).

Automatic, recurring payments are great--as long as they work. Having my debit card stolen has been a very educational experience about how even simple personal finances and banking can become complicated in this electronic age when various accounts can be linked to one another.

It will be difficult to enjoy the same convenience without the complexity and the interrelationships among my PayPal account, debit card, and bank accounts. Nevertheless, I am developing some backup strategies to make things a lot easier in the event this situation happens again. I hope it wont, of course, but I plan to be prepared for it anyway.

Update on UNB Law Students' Boxing Event

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:19:00 +0000

A few days ago, I wrote about an event that law students at the University of New Brunswick planned to hold in order to raise funds for the Lawyers Against Landmines organization. Since then, I have traded a couple of e-mails with Gavin Cosgrove, the event's organizer. He seems like a great guy and he was kind enough to send me this news update about the Knocking Out Landmines event, which was a great success.

Gavin and I have talked briefly about working together to host a USA vs. Canada boxing event featuring lawyers and law students. That would be great, since I've been pondering the idea of organizing another lawyers' charitable boxing event here in Chicago. He and I will talk further about this.

Congratulations to Gavin and the rest of the UNB law students who boxed and raised a lot of funds for the Canadian Landmine Foundation. Well done, lads (and lass)!

Hey, Who Ordered the Snow???

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:38:00 +0000

It snowed a little yesterday. A little uncommon, but not unheard of for Chicago on March 27. It's weird because the previous day was partly sunny and very wam--about 60 degrees.

Anyway, even in the snow, I managed 46 minutes of roadwork, then another 30 minutes today. I haven't been to the gym this week (it's a long, boring story). Anyway, keep up the good work everyone!

He's Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:45:00 +0000

"He" is a fellow boxer-blogger named Duncan Higgitt who lives in Wales. He has recently resumed blogging. Here's a link to his site.

http://boxingaches2.blogspot.com

Welcome back, Duncan. It's good to see you online again and good to know you're staying with our sport!

It's a shame you're all the way in Wales. I'd be glad to invite you to my gym. It's a great place with lots of great people.

Keep punching, man! I hope your schedule and life commitments will allow you to keep with your training.

Law Students Set to Box in Charity Event

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:29:00 +0000

First, we have some lawyer-boxers (such as Marc Saggese and yours truly). Then we have a lawyer-boxer-turned-Aikido-practitioner. Then there's Marc, the first law student-boxer I have met online. Also, Brett Trout is a lawyer-cage fighter, also known as Iowa's Toughest Attorney.

Continuing the fine tradition of legal types as fighters, eight law students at the University of New Brunswick's law school will climb into the ring tomorrow to put on a boxing show to raise funds for the charitable group Lawyers Against Landmines. Pretty cool stuff, eh?

Here's the Web site for the event. If you happen to be in the area, check these guys out. They're hosting the event for a good cause and it looks like it will be a blast. New Brunswick's kind of far from me; otherwise, I'd love to attend.

I expect the law students and their audience will have a great time. (I wonder if they would allow lawyers who have already been admitted/called to the bar to participate.) Several years ago, I was privileged to box in a local fundraiser for the DuPage County Legal Assistance Foundation. It was serious fun and I hope to have the chance to participate in similar events again.

That gives me an idea. Wouldn't be neat if we had an organization for lawyers and law students that could periodically hold events like the Knocking Out Landmines event? We could help some worthy organizations, encourage lawyers and law students to maintain higher levels of fitness, and have fun doing it. What do you think? Post any ideas you have here in the comments, or feel free to e-mail me at steve@lawyerboxer.com.

To the New Brunswick law student-boxers: good luck in your event. I hope it will be a great time, a huge success for the fund-raising campaign, and a memorable and fun event for everyone. Let us know how it goes!

Updated on March 25, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.: Here is another news article about the event.

Updated on March 27, 2008 at 12:12 a.m.: I don't have any post-fight coverage of the event, but here's an additional story about it:

http://law.unb.ca/news/2008/03/knocking_out_landmines.html

Monday Brief Update

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:05:00 +0000

Nothing extraordinary going on in the training department here: just some roadwork (40 minutes today), shadowboxing, and mental training. Work has been consuming tons of time again. It's amazing how busy a guy can be doing essentially non-paying (or, as we lawyer like to call it, "non-billable" work). Oh well, just a temporary situation. Stay positive!

A New Yorker's Look at Gleason's Gym Gets Me Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:34:00 +0000

Jeremiah Moss recounts a visit to Gleason's Gym on his blog. It's not a bad read, as blog entries go, and much of its message resonates with me.

I grew up as an inner-city boy. I was multicultural before that word was used fairly widely in common parlance. I was diverse before diversity was a multi-million-dollar industry. I know the pain of seeing my beloved city (in my case, Chicago) become gentrified and lose its familiar roughness and grittiness.

While I train today at a gym that some might call "upscale," I'm no stranger to the rough-and-tumble world of the storied Windy City Gym and various Chicago Park District boxing gyms. While I am technically, I suppose--can you sense my ambivalence about this?--one of those "white collar" guys about whom Moss seems to have deep misgivings, I'm pretty simple and pretense never did much for me. I'm equally at home throwing down with a kid several years younger than me in a gym in a rough part of town, and boxing against another lawyer in a charitable fund-raising event.

While I could complain a bit about how Mr. Moss painted his picture of Gleason's Gym and its environs, my complaint would not really be about his message or even how he delivers it. My frustration may be the same as his: I lament the loss of many things that give our cities an identity that goes beyond block after block of what Malvina Reynolds famously called "little boxes."

One can't dismiss me as some sort of anti-progress Luddite who naively yearns for "the good old days." I'm a technology kind of guy. My law practice and much of my writing concentrate on Internet and computer law and I have lots of information technology experience. I don't dislike innovation and change; technological progress fuels my livelihood. Still, I don't necessarily think something is better just because it's new. I may be in the minority, but I feel a lot safer in integrated neighborhoods, where all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds learn to live together peacefully, than I do in places where everyone looks the same, talks the same, lives in the same kind of house, and drives basically the same kind of cars.

I can't do very much to stop the tide of gentrification and all the phenomena that accompany it. But I don't have to like it and I certainly won't stop asking whether there are other, better ways to improve our cities.

Slow Training this Week

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:19:00 +0000

It has been one of those slow weeks of training. I wanted to do more this week, but the demands of work have required me to spend more hours on my law practice. That's fine. While I'm a bit disappointed, I remember that I am learning my livelihood as a lawyer rather than an athlete, and I am able to keep things in perspective. There are also some really good aspects of this week, so I want to share those, too.

After almost 14 years, I am still positively thrilled to be in solo practice. It is the right fit for me. From talking with friends of mine over the years, as well as blogging for the JD Bliss Blog, I have learned that I am really blessed to be working on my own and not at one of the "law factories" (or in "big law," as it's often called). Sure, I have made my share of mistakes in solo practice and I've learned better ways to do things, but going solo in 1994 was undoubtedly the very best decision I have made in my career.
I have been working with a new client and they have presented me with a fascinating legal issue. Because of professional confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege, I can't go into details here, but the project is perfect for my hyper-analytical mind; my neurons can really crunch on it and savor it. It's taking somewhat longer than I originally expected it would. I appreciate the client's patience and the opportunity to be at the forefront of important legal questions related to doing business on the Internet.
I earn part of my living by writing. I update my book quarterly, to keep it current, and doing that helps me keep up to date, too.
I earn part of my living by blogging. How cool is that?

Overall, at least in this moment, I am blessed and I am grateful.

Tuesday Roadwork and Shadowboxing

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Imparl) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:37:00 +0000

36 minutes today. Gotta keep going.