Beaver Boxing

So we are half way through the first Whitebrook boxing technique class, 4 more weeks to go and then the classes stop for 3 weeks for renovations, and then there's the summer schedule. We're definitely signing up and sticking with this program, but its time to find a place where we can spa too.

There is a boxing gym in town called Beaver Boxing, so I have to email Chris the Coach at Whitebrook for an introduction. I dont want him to think that we're not continuing with his fitness plan because we are, I imagine everyone knows each other in the boxing community. He started out at Beaver too so hopefully he'll understand and be helpful.

Skip-to-the-loo

I managed to do the speedbag continuously for 2 mins. Its funny because I set that as a goal, and seperately Konrad bought himself a rope and set himself a goal of continuous skipping and achieved that too. Amazing how fast you can progress when you really want to. Which is good because we're up against the clock if we want to fight in 10 more months.

We are now doing cross-over skipping, where you cross your hands in front of you to jump through the loop. Pretty fancy.

The bathroom is almost done, still no running water and no toilet available last night but the walls are the right colour and the tiles are on the floor.

Having a dog with the jog

mmm its not been the best week for sticking to the plan, diet has been good but workouts have been few and far between. First I cancelled the weightlifting with Konrad on Wednesday because of taking the dog to the vet. That was horseshit because I hate going to the vet anyway, I always feel like I'm being gouged for more money for shots / parasite treatments / fleas etc etc .. she's in grave danger of something or other new every time we go. Anyway, she's getting fixed next week and then we're not going back unless she explicitly asks me to. Then, my football match was cancelled on Thursday. Only a friendly pre-season but I'd already chalked up 90 mins on the exercise log which now I'll have to scrub, thats a pyschological blow!

On the otherhand, I've worked out a decent schedule for the mornings now. Up at 6.30-40am, bowl of Kashi cereal/juice ... 6.50am go for a jog to the dog park inc 3 times round the perimeter. Its a bit of a chore teaching her to run alongside but its going to pay-off big-time because 1) getting 2 jobs done at once and 2) she's been asleep in her crate since we got back. 7.40am After the park, come home, get a drink of water, go to the gym across the street, quick 15 min swim / sauna, shower, back home in front of the computer by 8.25am. Trick is to do it again on Monday.

Mornings

So the morning workouts are not going that well, in that they are not going at all at the moment. Didnt do the home workout yesterday or today, or bother going swimming. I have to sort this out and get in the groove. At least start by taking the dog for a longer walk / jog or something. Weightlifting tonight with Konrad

Speed bag II

Cannot wait for the camera to get me doing speed bag next time! At the last class, I had it almost going for the whole 2 minute station ... even during the class before Brent 'the other coach' said, "it normally takes rookies a lot longer to master than that". Wouldn't say mastered, but just shows when you concentrate and really want to you can progress quite quickly. I read Coach Chris's story of getting into boxing after some difficult times in his life, and I can definitely see how focussing on something like this would give you a big lift. I'm feeling really good in general (less stress even though I wasnt that stressed before, lighter, fitter, healthier, better mood). Chris used to box at Beaver Boxing Club so I think I'll get him to introduce us when the time is right to start the sparing. This is week 3 of the technical training. I havent missed a class (x 2 per week). Marcus has missed one, and Konrad didnt show on Saturday am, presumed hungover but I havent spoken to him yet.

More good news, I bought a scale and I am 169 llbs .. way better than I thought I was and now I think about it, my jeans are fitting much better. Getting a bit obsessed with the weight aspect just cos I'm so pleased with myself. I have been eating meg/veg far more but I'm pretty sure the thing that has had the most impact has been cutting down on the booze. I havent had a beer for about 3 weeks now I think. I did have a few drinks on Saturday for Cynthia's birthday but I stuck to a red wine then vodka shots. Did the trick, less calories, felt a bit shitty on Sunday morning which I take as encouragement to stick with the program. Actually, I feel like stepping the program up ... I've been doing pre-season soccer training which should help with cross-training, plus a bit of swimming but we havent been too regular at the weights for one reason or another (normally clashing schedules etc) so I am going to start doing the Tranz4m again every morning. That dropped off because the house is upside down with the bathroom renovations, and I dont have a shower .. but these are just excuses. No reason I cant do Tranz4m downstairs instead of in the usual room, then swim then shower if I get up just a bit earlier. Let you know how I do with that one tomorrow

The African King

My grandad just told me a story about when he was a kid. Apparently he was pretty good at boxing and even thought about trying to be professional. Anyway, in those days there were traveling carnivals with boxing rings where you could try to stay in a fight for three rounds to win a pound. I can imagine it exactly, in my head its in black and white and they're wearing all-in-ones. So he lined up to get fixed up for a fight, and he was supposed to fight the Welsh Schoolboys champion but when they weighed him in they found he was too heavy, so they matched him up with the biggest boxer there. He was called "The African King". My grandad told me it was doubly frightening to him because this was the first black fella he'd ever seen. He got battered, but managed to stay in the ring and win his pound. In his words, "That African King couldn't catch me with a bike, it was like if you've ever seen one of those films where the bloke sees the other bloke and tries to get under the ropes but they won't let him, it was just like that." Brilliant image ... he did catch him though because when he got home his father, my great Grandfather John, saw his nose spread all over his face and smacked him again. They were in the back yard and he threw a shilling on the floor and said, "If you want to fight, your brothers will give you a fight for that right here". They didn't fight, the point was made. I told my grandad not to worry, I have no intention of fighting at the fairground.

Boxing weights

That got me thinking ... wondering what weight class I would fight in ?

OK, so here are the weight classes according to the Olympic rules :

200 lbs + Super heavyweight
200 lbs Heavyweight
178 lbs Light heavyweight
165 lbs Middleweight
152 lbs Welterweight

... no point typing any others out cos I'm not getting lighter than 152 lbs, no chance. So right now I'm a light heavyweight. I dont think I fancy anything with 'heavyweight' in the title. This is very motivating, I would rather be a middleweight. So the new goal is 165 lbs (11 stone 11 lbs). The other goal is body fat <10% because I know weight isn't the best measurement of fitness.

Speed bag

Good news, the speed bag went miles better today. No cameras on, but it was probably mostly because I'm getting practise. Chris the Coach gave me some advice regarding the shape / distance of my stance which he said he usually reserves for Week 2 or 3, but that I needed because I was picking things up quickly. So I'm well happy with that. Like I said, I think the key to progressing quickly enough for the project is getting the fundamentals sorted, and I'm really concentrating in there. Loved the workout again by the way. In other good news, I weighed myself at the gym, and the scale said 170 lbs (12 stone 2 lbs), and I thought I was more like 185 lbs so provided the scale was right then I'm on the right track. Better buy our own scale.