Isolating boxing for the JKD practitioner

[Mr. Gordo]

Hey all,

I'm looking to isolate the boxing aspect of my JKD training. My main concern is that I don't want to get punch drunk or wind up with some type of brain damage. Is there a way to isolate the boxing without suffering any type of brain injury while at the same time not sacrificing the skills in boxing i wish to acquire. I've heard that thai boxers train lite year round till their actual fights occur (could be some B.S. myth for all I know.) I know that Rodney King of the straight blast gym did boxing and was wondering if he teaches it and trains his guys in a safe manner without sacrficing skills and attributes that a boxer has. Can anyone help with this?


mr. gordo

[Tom Yum]

Not everyone who trains in boxing ends up punch drunk or with severe brain damage. It depends on how you train. Both Klitschko brothers began their professional fighting careers while getting their phD in sports medicine in Russia (not exactly a cake walk). The new WBA lightweight champ, Juan Diaz, is a pre-law student.

If you step in the ring everyday, sparring full-contact with guys who are 1,000 times better than you then you will end up with brain damage after a few years. That's not the right way to train...

As you develop boxing skill, you also develop ability to handle contact. Alot of it boils down to fitness. The better shape you are in and the more often you spar, the more prepared you will be. On top of that learning proper boxing skills, defense and strategy will help protect you.

When you first spar, your natural instinct is to flinch or cover up. Once you've sparred 1,000 times with quick, light contact you don't flinch as an instinct, rather you move your head to get out of the way, block or roll with it.

Then you can start going a little harder - once you go harder, you have to bump up your fitness again because your matches are a little more explosive and more taxing on your attributes.

Look at it as a journey that begins with one step at a time; try to be patient with yourself and give it your all.

[EmptyneSs]

if u wear the proper gear, like headgear, and mouthpiece and gloves and go light u will be ok. u and ur partner dont gotta murder eachother. u can go light and work ur form and speed and u will still be able to develope good boxing skills without getting hurt.

[Mr. Gordo]

guys,

Thanks for all the great advice. Nice to know if I join a gym people won't try to take my head off the first day. I guess I had the wrong preconceptions. It's just that one of my friend's who does JKD in Brooklyn wanted to isolate his boxing, so he joined Gleason's Gym there. When the boxers there found out he was a martial artist, they gave him a pretty hard time in the ring. My paranoia also increased when I saw a documentary on the Chavez / Taylor fight....it freaked me out to see what happened to Taylor.


mr. gordo

[GQchris]

Well you're not supposed to block those punches with your head

Whole point of martial arts is to hit and not be hit.

[ProKarateShop]

I agree, the proper gear will protect from injury. and the fact that you are probably not training as much as some professional boxers have in the past, should also benefit you.

[george stando]

Gleasons is a tough gym and my teacher taught out of there for years. They respected him highly and he did know boxing inside and out (and was a trainer and actually trained there since he was a kid) but he taught martial arts and there was never any incident there to my knowledge. They respect you when you work hard, jsut like the kai muays here in thailand, these are pro camps and you got to work up to level and trian hard, nobody kills you here unless you ask for it. Actually, we cross trained with the boxers, wrestlers because of the close comraderie so all i can say from my experience was you dont get picked on because you are a martial artist but your attitude and your ability to fit in and work. Just my two cents. They work hard at gleasons alot of pros, up and coming golden glovers and in recent times alot of white collar nonsense which should make them all the more accepting of a guy wanting to improve his boxing who just happens to be a martial artist.

[fire cobra]

Guys this thread is 5 years old! the op may be world champ now!

[george stando]

Ouch! Didnt realize that, firecobra. Why do they keep reviving dead threads> I have to pay more attention, thanks for telling me.

[fire cobra]

Ouch! Didnt realize that, firecobra. Why do they keep reviving dead threads> I have to pay more attention, thanks for telling me.

LOL hope your well George.