Hi im fairly new to boxing from a muay thai background. Just joined a new gym that is run by a old skool coach. I have been training there for about a month now learning all the basics of boxing. Its a great gym with great people the only problem is the coach. This coach he knows his stuff but has a very aggressive appraoch to training the students. Outside of class he is the nicest person but he suddenly flips as soon as class starts. I have had a lot of abusive words said to me everytime i make a mistake and he does this to all the other students aswel. I have spoken to few of the other students who said thats just his way of training. I like the gym and he does push us hard which is what I want but not sure about the shouting swearing and verbal abuse. This is not something I have experienced before and I have trained in several gyms when doing muay thai. Not sure if I should stick it out and see how it goes or find another gym.
I find it hard to justify anyone using bad language as you have described however perhaps the coach is trying in the only way he knows to “pressure test” his students ? You have stated that he seems a nice guy before class and he seems knowledgeable and that the other students are used to his style. Remember boxing is not a pleasant sport and no matter how you dress it up emphasising the discipline, fitness etc. the aim is to land powerful strikes to your opponent. Likewise your opponent will be using more than bad language to gain victory over you.
Yes that could be the reason he could be pressure testing us and taking us out of our comfort zone so when we step in the ring we are already used to the pressure. I have stepped into the ring before and been through hard training when doing muay thai but never been sworn at during the process. Maybe its just something I will get used to. Only time will tell.
I don’t swear at my fighters and my coach never did either. That doesn’t make our style of coaching better or worse than your coach if he knows how to teach you to win. If I’m giving my opinion based on the little facts that I know, you need to learn to deal with it. The world of boxing isn’t for people with a thin skin.
Coaches in every sport used to do stuff like that. If he's older he might not think anything of it. The idea is they disrespect you and you get fired up and work extra hard to prove them wrong. It might not be correct but that's the theory. It's always an option to talk to him about it.
Honestly, deal with it you're meant to be a boxer no offence if his training is solid, endure. Can't be worse then being KO'd.
Honestly, that's probably not a good idea. Imagine training people to brutally knock people out and having a student come up and ask why you swear at them so much? I think that'll make him an easy mark for more old school hazing.
You have a point there. I'm also assuming this is just some random gym and it's not the OP's one and only chance to train with Eddie Reynoso or whoever. But I think if it's handled the right way it would be respected. One on one without others around, when everyone is calm and no one is yelling, asking questions rather than filing a complaint, etc. He said the coach is a nice guy outside of practice. If he's really going to pick on someone for that may as well figure out this guy is an asshat now and save himself the trouble. Plus, what better place to practice sticking up for yourself?
When you are a teacher, or any type of leader, your job is to build, not to discourage. Unless you think that you have an unlimited supply of people to seek out your services... You make assessments of people and that influences how you speak to them Some people I speak to differently than others but I don't raise my voice at anybody. I have been around numerous world class trainers and none of them raise their voices either; learning to box, and actually fighting, is stressful enough. You raise your voice only to emphasize a point and, if you do it too often, it loses value. Personally I don't believe that the tough guy rah rah rah bull**** has any place in boxing. This isn't a team game where you are trying to motivate a group; it is an individual endeavor, and you have to build, not push. There are a million places where a young fighter gets tested and will either rise to the occasion. Your job, as a teacher, is to prepare him for those spots by teaching him the skills needed to be successful. Maybe if your coach is going hard on you, you should look to yourself and see why.
Listen to your trainer, always. Ignore the swearing, it's not personal. If a trainer shouts at you, and/or sets you straight for not doing it right, the chances are he probably sees something in you, or he's trying his best to unlock some hidden potential. From my very own experience, trainers go easy on the students don't have any potential whatsoever. I mean why bother? Listen to your trainer.
Something I picked up from a college athlete some years ago who had grown up as a child of a gruff, hard-ass strength and conditioning coach — listen to the MESSAGE not the tone or language. Don’t get caught up in HOW the coach is saying what he’s saying, pay attention to what he’s trying to get across. He may be full of knowledge but not a polished communicator — everyone isn’t blessed to be all things to all people. If a coach trains 100 people, they may respond to 100 different ways of trying to get a message across to them and that coach may not be able to ascertain what you’ll respond to — but he may know what the message needs to be. Also, over time most coaches learn that not everyone responds well to the same thing. Some people need a pat on the shoulder, some need a kick in the ass. If you’re dropping your right hand every time you jab and he tells you to keep your hand up — keep your hand up. Getting hit with a counter hook is going to hurt a lot more than his unkind words trying to convey this message.
We can not justify abusive conduct but I think so he is solid about his trainings and you are here to learn. You can avoid physical injury by using a pair of good gloves but to avoid emotional injury your need to be patient and composed enough.
