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I tried to post this last week but the computer froze.
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Just a quick note.
I was thinking I was really coming along as a boxer -- and to be fair, perhaps I am -- until this week, when an older guy showed up at our gym. He is nearly 50, in comparable physical condition to me, a light heavy at about six feet. Wiry arms, ropy legs, a bit of a waistline but he looked pretty fit, cropped gray hair. I didn't think anything about him until I noticed that he was sparring with NO HEADGEAR. This is a big no-no in our gym.
Often, noobs will go their first couple of workouts not taking punches, just working on jabs or footwork, so they won't wear headgear.
A trainer put me in with him, and I found out quickly why he had no headgear: I couldn't touch him. In 3 rounds I landed a couple of bodyshots and managed to get the better of him only by bulldozing him into the corners -- I'm physically stronger than him -- but that's it.
Turns out, this guy has been boxing for nearly 30 years.
He was loose, fluid, and fast as hell, and the son of a ***** can HIT. Sweet Jesus, can he hit. Effortless, blinding snaps that stung like a bastard -- even his hooks had snap -- and I have the feeling that he wasn't even trying to knock me around for real. I would have been in serious, serious trouble if we'd been going 100%.
I had probably the most fun sparring with him that I've had with anyone to date; it was humbling and awe-inspiring just seeing what a guy that seasoned was capable of.
I don't know if he is a retired pro or just a dedicated hobbyist, or even what his record is; I didn't ask, because it didn't matter.
What mattered was, finding out that there is an entire other level to this sport that I am not even scratching the surface of after two years of hard training and a few matches. I hope in another year or two to be able to trade punches with this guy and not look like a kindergarten student by comparison. That's the next goal I've set for myself: to be able to trade with this guy and have it be something people want to watch.
I am really glad that I didn't try to pull any kind of pretentious crap on him and I pity the first loudmouth mother****er who does.
I guess the lesson here for me -- and you -- is, respect your elders. That gray-haired dude limbering up in the corner might very well walk your ass around the ring with a toothy grin and make you look really ******.
God willing, that gray-haired dude in the corner might be me, someday.
----------
Just a quick note.
I was thinking I was really coming along as a boxer -- and to be fair, perhaps I am -- until this week, when an older guy showed up at our gym. He is nearly 50, in comparable physical condition to me, a light heavy at about six feet. Wiry arms, ropy legs, a bit of a waistline but he looked pretty fit, cropped gray hair. I didn't think anything about him until I noticed that he was sparring with NO HEADGEAR. This is a big no-no in our gym.
Often, noobs will go their first couple of workouts not taking punches, just working on jabs or footwork, so they won't wear headgear.
A trainer put me in with him, and I found out quickly why he had no headgear: I couldn't touch him. In 3 rounds I landed a couple of bodyshots and managed to get the better of him only by bulldozing him into the corners -- I'm physically stronger than him -- but that's it.
Turns out, this guy has been boxing for nearly 30 years.
He was loose, fluid, and fast as hell, and the son of a ***** can HIT. Sweet Jesus, can he hit. Effortless, blinding snaps that stung like a bastard -- even his hooks had snap -- and I have the feeling that he wasn't even trying to knock me around for real. I would have been in serious, serious trouble if we'd been going 100%.
I had probably the most fun sparring with him that I've had with anyone to date; it was humbling and awe-inspiring just seeing what a guy that seasoned was capable of.
I don't know if he is a retired pro or just a dedicated hobbyist, or even what his record is; I didn't ask, because it didn't matter.
What mattered was, finding out that there is an entire other level to this sport that I am not even scratching the surface of after two years of hard training and a few matches. I hope in another year or two to be able to trade punches with this guy and not look like a kindergarten student by comparison. That's the next goal I've set for myself: to be able to trade with this guy and have it be something people want to watch.
I am really glad that I didn't try to pull any kind of pretentious crap on him and I pity the first loudmouth mother****er who does.
I guess the lesson here for me -- and you -- is, respect your elders. That gray-haired dude limbering up in the corner might very well walk your ass around the ring with a toothy grin and make you look really ******.
God willing, that gray-haired dude in the corner might be me, someday.
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