Sup guys , I'm 4X just started boxing last year, been going to this gym for a year I train 5 days a week very committed and dedicated. The issues I'm having is that I'm barely learning anything, never learned any defense, no footwork drills at all, the coach is on his phone and give pointers occasionally, on the phone majority of the time as well. All I do every day is jump rope, shadowboxing, heavybag , wreckball and speed bag then 100 of each push-ups, sit ups and squats 5 days a week. I've sparred twice so far both where basically hard sparring it sux cause not knowing any defense doesn't help any with sparring. Coach told me I can compete in masters boxing division but how can I compete without defense and good footwork. I figured after being there a year I feel like it's time to find another gym where I can get mote training and drills in with a better coach. It's no more than 5 to 6 people at the gym in the mornings and still dont learn anything new . Do you guys I should think I sould go to another gym?
You’re at a bad boxing gym. Many examples you mentioned here, but coach being on the phone most of the time is really enough.
Think of it this way - at your (our) age, you can do what you're setting out to do with a lot of hard work - but that alone won't cut it, you also need professional dedicated support. Just like a woman our age would need to see a high-risk OBGYN if she was thinking about squeezing in a pregnancy before the window shuts. You don't have an "impossible" prognosis - just a "proceed with caution, with the personalized attention of someone who knows their stuff" - and that doesn't mean just being knowledgeable about pregnancy (or in this case boxing) in general terms, but specifically for people advanced in years. It might take some trial & error to find the right fit, but it'll be worth it. Not sure how many gyms you have available in your area.
From your description it seems like you're mostly doing conditioning. If you have choices in your area, go to a gym where fundamentals are taught first. By fundamentals, a good basic stance (the stance can be changed to suit you later). Then correct movement (foot work) is the foundation and without it nothing will be right. Then the punches (jab, power hand, hook, uppercuts) and how to do them correctly while keeping balanced and positioned to follow up. After that, defense - slipping, rolling, parrying, etc. After you have a working knowledge of all of that, it would be a good time for the coach to use the mitts, have you punch and throw some light punches back at you so that you can work on defense. After you are competent with all of that, have you spar with someone who is good enough that you're not likely to hurt them and who is also not interested in hurting a beginner. After you get comfortable in the ring, the coach could let you spar someone closer to your experience level. With someone your level the intensity will increase and you'll find out if you want to compete. It's good that you understand enough about boxing to know that although you are in shape, you don't know enough about boxing to compete. To answer your question, if the coach isn't teaching boxing, go to another gym.
It's a long shot, but where do you live? The guy has probably already told you how little he knows. Ask him how many amateur or profesional bouts he has had and where did he fight out of, as in which gym.
You might not believe it but he's a former world lightweight champion i live in JXX fl don't want to put his name out but the boxing gym is out of FL
Thank you for you opinion. You're exactly right the coach is a former world champion is the crazy part too . There's so many stories that I can tell you about that gym and being coached by him it's toxic cult like tbh
Do you think that he may have sustained too much damage in his time? Being a world champion takes so much hard work and dedication not to mention the skill.
Okay...I've worked out his identity. That's a shame, because I was a fan of his when he was active - but even then he was known to be a bit of a headcase. What he accomplished in the sport was admirable for having picked it up so late in life (nearly 30, and only had about half a dozen amateur matches - a few more than are listed on BoxRec - winning only twice) and just from learning on the job in the proverbial trenches and facing plenty of quality opposition he probably has more knowledge than 99% of the forum ...but he also has some very strongly held questionable opinions about the sport on record, and he isn't exactly a role model for mental discipline as his biggest claim to fame, unfortunately overshadowing his championship reign, is an epic brain fart. Not terribly surprised he's mucking about on his phone neglecting most of his charges. If you read interviews from when he began coaching, he does have a haughty view of people who show what he sees as natural promise with innate fighting instincts vs. people who are merely fit/athletic. If you don't fit his vision straight off, he's probably just happy to collect your money while offering little in return.
Oh and guys, given that OP didn't want to put his actual name out - even if his post and/or mine made it obvious, let's abide not actually spelling it out, eh?
I knew who he was as soon as he mentioned the city as well. You certainly confirmed my suspicion…. And yeah, brain fart is putting his most memorable moment very kindly!
Great question. I was thinking he suffered some damage but hearing some his stories before boxing he's alittle crazy
You're right it's definitely a shame, and you're exactly right about his haughty views as well it's literally his way or the highway. He's a big con artist too with unethical business practices as well. A couple of examples first one when he left out of town to train AB for a month , couple days after he left the gym had an eviction notice to move out of the gym without telling anyone . Come to find out he wasn't paying the rent and pocketing our boxing dues to go overseas every month. Then one day he wanted us to cashapp him money to help with his friends or claiming he's 'paying a bill' . He always selling t shirts damn there forcing you to buy them. Borrows money never pay you back. He doesn't have a vehicle so you have to take home or across Jax to borrow a vehicle without offering gas money. The last scam he did before I left his gym was he collected $20 from us for Spanish classes and it never happened. As far as training , he don't know how to talk to people alot of cussing and insults while training with him. He's gets a high off of hard sparring too he laughed after I sparred and just me and my sparring was trying to kill each other and didn't tell me what I need to work. Speaking of him being on the phone, he on social media talking about politics or sports during training and he puts on a front pretending to be a coach whenever he's doing mitts with someone to post on social media. Majority of his amateur have left already , he only has 2 boxers remaining. Sorry for the long post had alot on my chest , I felt duped and scammed from dealing with him but I haven't gave up on my dream in boxing. I just started training with the amateur team that left his gym.
Definitely look to find a new gym or look to learn defense and other stuff online as well, The coach seems like a scumbag whos only trying to take your money