Sparring Saturdays has becoming something I look forward to all week. The chance to see if my skills have progressed further than last week is the only real evaluative tool I have. After filming Brad last week I decided to ask Jessica to film me this week. I remembered when I was learning how to kick, for football, the coach would have me watch video of myself and dissect it. I would be able to see the subtle issues I was having with foot placement and follow through. Fighting is different. I know that I am making BIG mistakes (eating an overhand is a pretty immediate indication) but I have no idea what it looks like. I need to see what it looks like so I can know what it feels like so I can know NOT to do it.
The purpose of these videos is to help me evaluate my technique. They are not ways for me to boost my ego by posting how awesome I am at boxing/kickboxing. As of right now the only people viewing this blog are my friends but maybe later others will find their way over here and give me some tips and possibly learn things themselves. * No videos yet cause they don't want to upload to the blog. I will post them on YouTube and embed them here*
Let the videos speak for themselves. The thinner guy is Ahmed, he is an instructor and pro Kickboxer from Egypt. The taller one is Luciano, he just had his first boxing match a couple weeks ago. I call him Bunny Foo Foo (don’t ask why cause, I really have no idea) and is fast becoming a person I will be training a lot with. As of right now we are the only two signed up for MMA Grappling. Should be interesting with me at 185 and him at 265 (when I get him running he will shed weight like WHOA).
The one video Jess did not film is the one where the fun happened. I was tired in my last round. I tried to sneak one more in so that I could get some work. I should have listened to my Dad’s advice. “When you want to do one more (ski run), don’t. When you say one more that’s when you need to stop. Its in the “one more” run that you get hurt.” I didn’t get hurt, I got . . . knocked out. I was fighting Ahmed and was way more tired than I thought. I had my chin raised and my arms swinging wildly. I heard Sifu in the sorner screaming for me to “ANSWER. THROW BACK.” I just couldn’t. Not from fear of being hit (I really don’t have that) but just from the fact that when I get tired my form, in anything, goes to shit. Sure enough, Ahmed ducted under and caught my chin, which was sitting on a silver platter, and I dropped like a fucking sack to the floor. If you take a look at the first video, he tags me on the left side with a right hook almost immediately. The punch that knocked me out/down hurt way less than that one but it was just so textbook my brain said, “Nope, if you won’t stop you then I will. To the floor with you , you stubborn ass.” **Correction, upon further research what happened would be considered a Flash Knockdown**
One thing I got out of all this is that I need to work on my footwork. I know that but I just don’t know how to or what that means right now. Sifu held mitts for me after we ended the sparring session which really helped with my placement of the cross and not to look “surprised” when someone throws a punch. Also, he is trying to get me to answer. It hasn’t become reflex yet but it needs to if I want to stop becoming a tenderized Pak-steak.
While changing, I asked Ahmed to clarify a statement he made about me being “stubborn.” I wasn’t sure if it was meant as a compliment or an area of improvement. He assured me it was a compliment and a good quality I have. ”You don’t stop. You don’t give up.”
Why would I.
Positives:
Weave, stubbornness
Improvements:
Footwork, keeping my chin down, close off my shoulders in fighting stance
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