Road to the Golden Gloves

[stickmassacre]

Hello, I tried keeping up a log before on this site but due to school, work, and some personal issues I had to go AWOL on it. I'm starting up again this time with a goal in mind, I want to compete and win the 2009 Chicago Golden Gloves. So let's start with the stats:

Age: 19
Height: 6'3
Weight: 175.5
Division: Middleweight

I have had no formal training really. I've been on and off training for about a year now. I'm looking for classes but being a college student, money is a little thin right now.

The scoop:
I'm at one gym right now and plan on transferring to another in a month. The first gym is called "Degerberg Academy." It's more of a martial arts school that oftens boxing but it has a couple rings, fuckton of bags, and everything else. Why am I transferring? It's 159 a month with only two classes a week that's western boxing related. The only reason I'm staying here for a month is because I paid a trial period of a month so when that's done I'm off to another gym.

The gym I plan to hit to after that is pretty well-known, at least in the chicagoland area, called JABB. It's 25 dollars a month and charges 155 for 6 classes.

 

[Art Vandelay]

There has to be a PAL/YMCA/similar gym somewhere. Go online and look for the results of the 2007 GG. Look for gyms that had multiple participants, and then go off of location to determine which would be best for you. You want to be where the other guys are.

I just don't see amateurs paying to train at the costs you listed, so unless there is a deal, there have to be better gyms.

 

[stickmassacre]

There has to be a PAL/YMCA/similar gym somewhere. Go online and look for the results of the 2007 GG. Look for gyms that had multiple participants, and then go off of location to determine which would be best for you. You want to be where the other guys are.

I just don't see amateurs paying to train at the costs you listed, so unless there is a deal, there have to be better gyms.

I'll check it out when I get chance. The only problem is with school and work I need a close location to either home and/or school.

 

[mschatz]

If you dont mind going to the slums, Woodlawn boxing club has a great reputation. Windy City boxing gym is supposed to be great as well

 

[stickmassacre]

Pulling a night shift....

Hit DePaul's gym around 8pm. This is the gym I went to last year, it only has a heavy bag and a speed bag station. There were classes at the other gym so I figured it would be less crowded here, boy I was wrong.

Warm-up: Shadow Boxing for a round, all my rounds are 2 minutes long btw. I aimed to be more defensive, which is something I need to fix.

I did about 2 Rounds on the Heavy bag. One problem that a couple people have notice with me is I use power too much over speed. I'm trying to fix that now. Even though, I tried to perfect a Mickey Wardish left hook to the body. I'll try to get a video soon. Also I'm working on transferring my weight properly on the cross. I got it down pretty much but the form suffers every now and then.

I finished with about 4 Rounds on the speed bag. I had a good rhythm with the 2nd and 3rd but the 4th was shit. I have a big problem with timing. I'll try to get a video of that up here soon. But in between rounds I took an active rest by just shadow boxing, working on foot work and speed.

It was an alright day...night I mean.

 

[Sinister]

Good to see another Boxer around these parts. You got gorilla arms, too, if you really learn to use your reach and can do so while moving your head you'll be very difficult to deal with.

 

[w0cyru01]

So you're trying to win the golden gloves with no formal boxing training?

Or did I miss something.

 

[stickmassacre]

So you're trying to win the golden gloves with no formal boxing training?

Or did I miss something.

I have a friend that trains in boxing and martial arts as his family is hugely into combat sports/training of all kinds. We meet up sometimes to spar, work mitts, and give me pointers. I'm not learning all of this from youtube videos and expertvillage.

I will get into classes when I find some cheaper ones or when I saved enough for the classes I stated above. This is not going to be me trying to coach myself.

 

[stickmassacre]

Good to see another Boxer around these parts. You got gorilla arms, too, if you really learn to use your reach and can do so while moving your head you'll be very difficult to deal with.

Thanks man, your log is incredible and got me motivated to start with training again with a more serious attitude.

I like fighting at medium range best. I can do long range alright at best and close range is never really favored for tall fighters. I've been told what most of my downfalls I need to work on are:

-After a throw a punch/combo, I automatically start clinching or "freeze up".
-Overuse power shots instead of small speed furries.
-A novice mistake but I'll forget to keep my chin tucked sometimes
-Big problem with being too tense and forgetting to stay loose when fighting
-I tend to not cover my body too well.

 

[mschatz]

If you dont mind going to the slums, Woodlawn boxing club has a great reputation. Windy City boxing gym is supposed to be great as well

Hey dude. Seriously. You might want to check these places out.

 

[stickmassacre]

Hey dude. Seriously. You might want to check these places out.

I looked for Woodlawn boxing club with no luck. Windy city is on the list of gyms to check out when I can free up some time. I'm going to look at Chicago Park Districts also.

 

[GlassJaw]

War fellow boxing friend!

 

[andrewbc]

best of luck to you, get some ammy fights and let us know how they go!

 

[stickmassacre]

War fellow boxing friend!

Haha, the name's Stan or hopefully if I make it big. I can go under the alias of "Fightin' Irish." Thanks.

I haven't been able to train the past two days because of getting shit ready for school and work but I'm going to hit the gym later tonight. I can't get videos since it's nto allowed unless they're doing it for a promotion but I'll try to get a couple on Friday.

Also, I found that Chicago Park District does offer a class for pretty cheap (10-30 bucks, depending on the place). So I'm going to call later this week and see what's up. YMCA was no luck though.

 

[stickmassacre]

A Relentless Return

After about a 4 month boxing hiatus, I'm planning to come to training and compete in the 2009 Golden Gloves 165 pound Novice Division.

I got a membership at JABBs boxing gym. It's a vintage boxing gym. Former Lightweight WBC Champion David Diaz trains there on and off.

I plan on hitting the gym every weekday at least in the morning. It's never crowded around 9 or 10, hell I started there on Friday and the place was empty. I love it so far.

So far today:

9:15 am - Gym Time

2 rounds of Shadowboxing:

The first round was with weighted gloves I purchased last week. They weight about a pound and a half on each hand. It's easy at first but after the first minute muscle fatigue was setting in already.

The second round was without the gloves.

2 rounds of double-end bag:

The first round was just getting use to it. I made a novice mistake during the first couple of seconds by trying to murder the ball instead of just relaxing and throwing smooth punches while improving my timing/rhythm.

Second round was mostly just jabbing at it. I was would throw some 1-2's at it every now and then.

1 round heavybag:

Just more of a freestyle then trying to work on anything specific. Just threw double jabs, jab and circle, 1-2's, and double left hooks. I started to gas in the middle of it. I'm noticing my biggest mental problem so far. I throw too many power punches instead of speed punches and I pay for it after a couple of minutes.

After that I just stayed about 10 minutes observing the fighters there. There was only about 5 other people there so not too bad. I talked with a 60 year old guy ,who would have looked about 45 if he didn't gray hair, for a couple of minutes before I left.

So far it was an average day to be honest.

 

[stickmassacre]

Wow, neglected this log for a while. Sorry about that. I have been training though. I'm saving some dough to get a trainer there as well.

Tuesday 9-17-08

1 round of shadow boxing

2 rounds of heavy bag

2 rounds of double end bag

3 rounds of speed bag

Short workout I know. I only got 3 hours of sleep the night before. I'm ready to rest tonight and give hell tomorrow.

 

[cXs808]

good luck on keeping up with your log on here and WAR BOXING

 

[stickmassacre]

good luck on keeping up with your log on here and WAR BOXING

Thanks man I appreciate it.

Wednesday 9-17-08

2 Rounds of Shadow boxing

3 Rounds of heavy bag: Mostly just emphasizing on utilizing my reach with my jab, perfecting on throwing a quick right cross, and doing punch out drills on the last 30 seconds

2 Rounds of double end bag. I was way too tense today so I was a bit frustrated with it. I was doing better the second round of it, reminding myself to keep relaxed.

3 Rounds of speed bag. Had a really good rhythm going until the last round.

1 Round of rope skipping. I haven't been skipping for a while so I was a bit rusty.

Pretty alright day.

 

[stickmassacre]

Thursday 9-18-08

9:30 am

2 Rounds of shadow boxing. I'm starting to feel much more fluid with my punching.

2 Rounds of heavy bag. I was practicing using my range. Jabbing and moving. Jab moving to the left and jab moving to the right. Then using punch out drills at the last 30 seconds.

2 Rounds of double end. The first round was average, missing more than I was hitting. The second round I let my hands fly and I was doing much much better.

3 Rounds of speed bag. I'm getting much better day by day. I'm finding my rhythm and messing up less.

 

[stickmassacre]

Tuesday: 9-23-08

Got to the gym around 9:20am.

2 Rounds of shadowboxing

2 Rounds of heavy bag

2 Rounds of double end bag

3 Rounds of speed bag. I just couldn't get my rhythm down for anything today.

Pretty average day. I'm going to start running in the morning soon. I got my weight down to about 169.5.