Just educated myself properly when I was young. Taken responsibility for my own learning.. I'd also say I wish I'd not wasted time with unproductive people. Just coaching people mate... I want to make a champion from start to finish. From first time in the gym to winning and defending titles. No one I know looks at boxing the way I do. I just want to get busy - got some good lads and the lads I'm involved with have won 80% of their fights but I want more...
I know this question is very individual but I'll ask anyway Let's say you are training a lad who has decided he wants to to pro, what experience, achievements, years training ect would you like or expect him to have before you 'support' his decision?
If I'd trained someone and knew that they would be safe being a pro then I would encourage it. Some people simply aren't good/tough enough But safety is paramount
Two questions. 1) how important would you say a trainer is? When i started boxing i had i wouldnt say bad trainers but not great trainers and lost most of my fights. How much should i blame them and how much should i say was just me? 2) would having a high amount of losses ( was 2-8 in my 1st 10) on my record make it stupid for me to turn pro even if i win the aba's later in my career? (was due to be in the aba this years but injured myself in dec)
Yes you have to be fairly tough to be a good amateur but its more about speed and athleticism then pro boxing. Good enough to be pro... Is someone who knows the basics properly.
Ever since I started boxing 2 years ago, I keep getting BAD nerves even thinking about boxing. Even sparring I get sick, I'm not a bad boxer but I'm always worried about looking foolish. I get anxiety just from thinking about fighting or sparring. Is there any way to cope with this?
For me I used to think of the worst possible outcome of a situation then convince myself that I could deal with it. Don't be afraid of negative thoughts. Let them in - control them and then go to work.
Anxiety and excitement are the same energy. It's just how you perceive it. If you perceive it as a positive and that your body is getting ready for combat then it manifests as excitement. If you view it as unwanted then it just becomes dread and anxiety. Accept it and change how you view it. When you think about something it is essentially the same as doing it, when you think about it you're telling your body to respond. That's why you can be sitting in your lounge room, think about something and then be buzzing and full of adrenaline. Try visualisation, imagine yourself sparring and fighting and picture yourself as being calm and in control. When you get excited thinking about boxing take some deep breaths and repeat a word such as 'calm' or 'relax' to yourself. Don't be afraid of your energy, you can raise or lower it through your thoughts and breathing patterns. If you're worried about looking foolish or a past performance then you're not in the moment. Practice focusing on what you're doing right now, stress is just worrying about things you can't control. You can't control it so why worry? If you're sparring and you make mistakes, have a bad round or whatever then just take a second to tell yourself 'STOP'. Flush the past away down the toilet, let it go and start again, refocus. You can make a bad round a bad fight if you don't let it go. Continuously let it go, focus on what you're doing right now. The reason why Andre Ward is so good is because he constantly practices focusing, practice your psychological skills. You can't just turn it on at fight time, you need to practice your psychological skills everyday to develop them. Whenever you hit the bag or do anything practice improving your focus. That's how you develop mental strength, and that's Ward's biggest strength imo.
Brown Bomber or anyone else out there Have you ever felt a shot go down your leg and feel like 'Yeah, I've lost a few brain cells after that one'
