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[tjlee]

I watched Wega play-spar* Bill today. Now that we've been doing this for a while and are getting a lot better, I could watch and see where we've improved, and where we need help. Wega's been working on his head movement and throwing combination punches, but he has a bad habit of having his legs too far apart when moving around. It may not seem

Comments

[hozomeen]

man, closing your eyes.. I guess it makes sense as a "protect your eyes" reflex, but I guess we're not really built to repeatedly face punches naturally. Does everyone have to grow out of that reflex?

[hozomeen]

also wanted to add that I'm digging these insights into boxing, particularly the Ali thing, since I've always been into watching the sport but admittedly don't know enough about the actual technique to note things like you mentioned. I was still under the impression that Ali was like, the complete package of technique and natural skill and now I'm kind of like, oh really?

[tjlee]

Roy Jones Jr. is similar to Ali, in that they both have an unbelievable amount of natural ability. Roy Jones in his prime could probably embarrass good boxers with one hand behind his back. A typical problem of great naturals is they lack good form; they make up for it with astonishing speed, reflexes and power. They never have to learn great technique (like Winky Wright or Bernard Hopkins), and they typically pay for it as they get older.

What's funny though, speaking of good technique, is that good technique is very boring. Showboaters and power punchers are the boxers we want to watch. We don't want to see someone with great defense and a stinging jab, we want to see boxers with porous defense, rock hard chins and bone breaking right hands and hooks.

That's why we love Mike Tyson and no one knows who the heck Winky Wright is.

Fascinating stuff

[german_dwarf]

Hey, I have next to no interest in boxing, but you're descriptions are fascinating. It's got to be good that you are learning this stuff, as even the slightest technique will probably help you defend yourself to some degree when you are dealing with a pugnacious drunk in a bar, for instance. Am I right?

Are you interested in this new movie, Cinderella Man? Did you see Million Dollar Baby? How do boxing movies measure up, now that you know something about it all?

Good talking to you, BTW, the other day. Will call again soon.

Re: Fascinating stuff

[tjlee]

Not a big fan of boxing movies. I did see Ali, but really, how can anyone copy Ali in the ring?

Yeah, man. We'll talk soon.