Is this a good boxing gym?

[LangfordBarrow]

disagree... I think light-moderate sparring from very early is important.. especially in a neighborhood with a lot of "tough guys"... they need to understand why they should respect the craft over their previous notion of what tough was.... and the only way to gain that understanding is to experience it first hand..

same thing with jiu jitsu.. I did some jiu jitsu and I looked around the room at all these little guys and thought.. "I can throw these guys all over the room"... well, I got a chance to try.. and it didn't work out that way, and I was hooked into the sport after that because I had to know what allowed a little guy to so easily control a bigger guy.. The asswhippin was a crucial part to what got me interested and involved in the sport...

Now with boxing, it's the same.. only there are 2 types of people that come to the gym...1) people that can handle not being the toughest guy in the room and want to work towards that.. 2) people that can't and never come back... who needs the second group?

You sound like you've never trained in a pro boxing gym. Throwing a guy a beating is not a character buillder. If you're in a good gym with a pro trainer, you won't be "thrown to the wolves", much less without protective equipment and supervision.

 

[Cracky]

You sound like you've never trained in a pro boxing gym. Throwing a guy a beating is not a character buillder. If you're in a good gym with a pro trainer, you won't be "thrown to the wolves", much less without protective equipment and supervision.

All do respect, you sound like you have never been in a "pro" boxing gym... Just to make this not about the opinion either of us have, let me simply reference Emanual Steward throwing Tommy Hearns to the wolves to see what he was made of... the infamous, "Tommy straightened out his nose and went back to work" interview...

That said, I'm not saying throwing a severe beating on somebody is practiced or necessary to weed out the "tough guys"... those guys quit just in the act of learning that they can't steamrole their opponent.. because when that happens it becomes about you vs. you... your opponent isnt going anywhere and you now have to face the limits of your stamina and will ... and most "tough guys" don't ever want to go there...and aren't very capable if they do.. and it makes them feel vulnerable and they don't come back...

 

[LangfordBarrow]

I would understand body shots, but swinging at eachother's head seems like accidents waiting to happen no?

There's nothing wrong with sparring throwing all types of punches. Not that it doesn't have it's place but you can also pick up bad habits going body only.

You should definitely learn your punching techniques, stance, footwork, et cetera first to get good sparring but the most important thing is a good trainer. Sounds like you were in a backyard gym. Forget about the vaseline you didn't even get a mouthpiece.

 

[LangfordBarrow]

All do respect, you sound like you have never been in a "pro" boxing gym... Just to make this not about the opinion either of us have, let me simply reference Emanual Steward throwing Tommy Hearns to the wolves to see what he was made of... the infamous, "Tommy straightened out his nose and went back to work" interview...

That said, I'm not saying throwing a severe beating on somebody is practiced or necessary to weed out the "tough guys"... those guys quit just in the act of learning that they can't steamrole their opponent.. because when that happens it becomes about you vs. you... your opponent isnt going anywhere and you now have to face the limits of your stamina and will ... and most "tough guys" don't ever want to go there...and aren't very capable if they do.. and it makes them feel vulnerable and they don't come back...

I just think your taking an intuitive point of view of the situation without having any real world experience. Gyms and trainers aren't in the business of chasing away tough guys, or even just casual fans, by putting them in over their heads. Their purpose is to keep them interested and mold them.

 

[Shoemaker]

Yeah Cracky I disagree with you. I think you're just projecting your own arrogance and bad attitude on other people. It's common, but not *everyone*, not even a majority. I think most people think they're tough enough to learn; but you thought you'd just be better, period. That's delusion.

 

[Cracky]

I just think your taking an intuitive point of view of the situation without having any real world experience. Gyms and trainers aren't in the business of chasing away tough guys, or even just casual fans, by putting them in over their heads. Their purpose is to keep them interested and mold them.

Well.. you are jumping to a very wrong conclusion...but, think what you like...

I can promise you and back it up with numerous real world and public examples... that "pro gyms" salivate when somebody walks in talking a big game...videos all over youtube support this claim, my personal experience supports this claim, and the rise of one insane troll named Charlie Zelenoff supports this claim..lol...


The reality is this... if you aren't going to stick around anyways, which the "tough guys" Im referencing aren't, then there is no financial incentive to keep them around.. they already paid their dues, and now they get to sink or swim..and the faster they do either, the better for the gym...

 

[Shoemaker]

I just think your taking an intuitive point of view of the situation without having any real world experience. Gyms and trainers aren't in the business of chasing away tough guys, or even just casual fans, by putting them in over their heads. Their purpose is to keep them interested and mold them.

To be fair, the gym I spent the most time at did this. It does happen. But also, the guys who came in acting like that were far and few between. I don't mean guys with a chip on their shoulder. That IS really common from my experience. But guys who think they're world beaters on the first day aren't.

Plus we had a hard time finding work for one of the pros. So what if they weren't lying and they could give him rounds? (They never could)

 

[Cracky]

Yeah Cracky I disagree with you. I think you're just projecting your own arrogance and bad attitude on other people. It's common, but not *everyone*, not even a majority. I think most people think they're tough enough to learn; but you thought you'd just be better, period. That's delusion.

Come on man... That's a dumb conclusion to come to... I stuck around in gyms for the majority of my life.. not because I was that "tough guy".. because I was the guy willing to work..... Of course, I went in thinking I was tougher than I was... but I was willing to accept it and learn from it when I found out that I wasnt... this is a very common thing that people find out at the gym.. some find out in the ring.. some find out on the heavybag.. but everyone finds out...and some leave because they can't accept it...

That said, I have probably seen 100 street kids come in talking shit, and then never came back when they found out that the folks at the gym aint impressed by their history of street fights and tough guy persona.. work is the only thing that gets you respect and a big mouth gets ya put at the front of the line for sparring...

 

[Shoemaker]

Come on man... That's a dumb conclusion to come to... I stuck around in gyms for the majority of my life.. not because I was that "tough guy".. because I was the guy willing to work..... Of course, I went in thinking I was tougher than I was... but I was willing to accept it and learn from it when I found out that I wasnt... this is a very common thing that people find out at the gym.. some find out in the ring.. some find out on the heavybag.. but everyone finds out...and some leave because they can't accept it...

That said, I have probably seen 100 street kids come in talking shit, and then never came back when they found out that the folks at the gym aint impressed by their history of street fights and tough guy persona.. work is the only thing that gets you respect and a big mouth gets ya put at the front of the line for sparring...

It absolutely isn't a dumb conclusion. You admitted yourself that you were delusional when you entered the gym, and after you learned the lesson once it happened again when you first tried bjj. That's just arrogance.

I don't disagree with your last paragraph.

 

[Cracky]

It absolutely isn't a dumb conclusion. You admitted yourself that you were delusional when you entered the gym, and after you learned the lesson once it happened again when you first tried bjj. That's just arrogance.

I don't disagree with your last paragraph.

I think you misunderstood my level of confidence... lol.. I wans't coming in talking shit... I was just generally more confident in my own ability than I should have been... but, like I said, this is very common... nearly everyone comes in thinking a lot more of themselves than they should.. that's what the break down process is for.. and it translates to other things such as military training and many other sports.. it's a common thing and has a common solution.. break the person down so that they will understand the reality of the situation and be receptive, and then build them up....

This is so common that I really don't understand why you are holding so strong on this point.. Did you go into a gym having no confidence in yourself at all to begin with????? Were you already broken down??? That's not where the majority start... and some start on a cloud of hype that needs to be thouroughly destroyed before they can be taught anything at all.

 

[LangfordBarrow]

Well.. you are jumping to a very wrong conclusion...but, think what you like...

I can promise you and back it up with numerous real world and public examples... that "pro gyms" salivate when somebody walks in talking a big game...videos all over youtube support this claim, my personal experience supports this claim, and the rise of one insane troll named Charlie Zelenoff supports this claim..lol...


The reality is this... if you aren't going to stick around anyways, which the "tough guys" Im referencing aren't, then there is no financial incentive to keep them around.. they already paid their dues, and now they get to sink or swim..and the faster they do either, the better for the gym...

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but to my experience, not like you describe. I've trained at Morris Park, Church Street, Kingsway, Gleason's, among others that all have "sparring only under supervision" signs. Can you talk yourself into a beating? Yes. Is that normal for people that join a gym to learn to box? I don't think so.

 

[LangfordBarrow]

I think you misunderstood my level of confidence... lol.. I wans't coming in talking shit... I was just generally more confident in my own ability than I should have been... but, like I said, this is very common... nearly everyone comes in thinking a lot more of themselves than they should.. that's what the break down process is for.. and it translates to other things such as military training and many other sports.. it's a common thing and has a common solution.. break the person down so that they will understand the reality of the situation and be receptive, and then build them up....

This is so common that I really don't understand why you are holding so strong on this point.. Did you go into a gym having no confidence in yourself at all to begin with????? Were you already broken down??? That's not where the majority start... and some start on a cloud of hype that needs to be thouroughly destroyed before they can be taught anything at all.

Some guys are. They are there just to get in shape and realize a pro is a different animal. They want pad work and to learn the basics.

 

[Cracky]

Some guys are. They are there just to get in shape and realize a pro is a different animal. They want pad work and to learn the basics.

even those guys have to be introduced to their limits in order to grow though.. Like I said, that can be in the ring or on a bag, but at some point the coach is going to say keep going while their mind is saying stop and they have to decide which to listen to...

and Im impressed by some of the places you've trained, but you and I both know those are CYA signs... the regulars, at least in the gyms I've trained in, can do what they want within reason..my last gym, a guy literally walked in off the street with no shoes on and offered 40 bucks to go some rounds with our undefeated pro...it was not a pretty event.

 

[LangfordBarrow]

even those guys have to be introduced to their limits in order to grow though.. Like I said, that can be in the ring or on a bag, but at some point the coach is going to say keep going while their mind is saying stop and they have to decide which to listen to...

and Im impressed by some of the places you've trained, but you and I both know those are CYA signs... the regulars, at least in the gyms I've trained in, can do what they want within reason..my last gym, a guy literally walked in off the street with no shoes on and offered 40 bucks to go some rounds with our undefeated pro...it was not a pretty event.

Hope the owner has good insurance. Guys have died in gyms sparring that way and in my point of view it was due to negligence. The old saying is that it's heart that makes a champion. That doesn't mean taking a beating, or giving one for that matter, is going to teach you to have heart.

 

[Cracky]

Hope the owner has good insurance. Guys have died in gyms sparring that way and in my point of view it was due to negligence. The old saying is that it's heart that makes a champion. That doesn't mean taking a beating, or giving one for that matter, is going to teach you to have heart.

Well, that saying doesn't work for me.. there are a lot of people that never got to understand that they are not made of glass.. I think you have to be exposed to the possibility of breaking to understand what you are really made of... and better you are exposed in a gym than a real fight...That's just one dudes opinion though...

Also, everyone that comes into a BJJ or boxing gym these days signs their ability to sue away.

 

[Mr2urbo]

Whats the name of both the trainer and boxing gym?

It all depends what your looking for and heavily depends whos training you

Ive seen trainers throw in two inexperinced guys who never sparred before, that's a recipe for disaster, then there are ones who will put you in with an experienced, often an ammy and push you but not hurt you

As for protective equipment, often times ill spar wothout headgear against a buddy or someone I trust, but a trainer throwing you in there for the first time without the proper equipment? Unless he was having you guys do body only, he's a fucking idiot

 

[wilddeuces]

Despite what some people say about not wearing it. If you find a decent piece of headgear that doesn't restrict visibility and is not very large, I don't see why you shouldn't wear it. If you are doing light interactive drills or sparring I can see why you may want to do without it on some rare occasions. 16 oz sparring gloves aren't a bad idea either, unless you are on the lighter side. Mouthpiece should be worn.

Getting tossed in right away just doesn't seem smart to me. Sure sparring on the first day can be alright. If you are asked to throw punches while the other guy does an all defense round, then that makes sense. You can work on your form and technique that you just learned. You don't want to get thrown into the fray like that and then start learning bad habits. Slow and steady. Rome wasn't built in a day.

"In no sport is the temptation stronger than in boxing to run before you can walk. It is a temptation more strenuously than some others to be resisted..." - J.G. Bohun Lynch

I don't like the sounds of this gym. FWIW. You need your brain years from now. Them? Not so sure.

 

[freakyfarley]

There's nothing wrong with sparring throwing all types of punches. Not that it doesn't have it's place but you can also pick up bad habits going body only.

You should definitely learn your punching techniques, stance, footwork, et cetera first to get good sparring but the most important thing is a good trainer. Sounds like you were in a backyard gym. Forget about the vaseline you didn't even get a mouthpiece.

Yeah, I agree that sparring to the head is important but just not beginners swinging at eachother. Thanks man.

 

[freakyfarley]

Whats the name of both the trainer and boxing gym?

It all depends what your looking for and heavily depends whos training you

Ive seen trainers throw in two inexperinced guys who never sparred before, that's a recipe for disaster, then there are ones who will put you in with an experienced, often an ammy and push you but not hurt you

As for protective equipment, often times ill spar wothout headgear against a buddy or someone I trust, but a trainer throwing you in there for the first time without the proper equipment? Unless he was having you guys do body only, he's a fucking idiot

Don't feel comfortable naming people. I live in a small city in Belgium you know (I am a bit paranoid, sorry).

I was mostly looking to train recreationally, not do competitions. Not to say I don't train hard or push myself.

One of the competition guys there did go easy on me. I never swing or try to hurt the people I spar with. If anything I am apologetic about it.

The trainer did say no hard shots, but it wasn't obeyed or checked.

 

[nastyleft]

Leave that gym immediately, someone is gonna get hurt, and hopefully it isnt you.