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What's goin' down at Tocco's (video):

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Now that you see a fight where distance control is central to the plot, try to find it in any and every fight. Especially when the fighters aren't aware that that's what they're struggling for. The first one to realize it tends to win
 
@Sinister
Something has been on my mind lately.
I have been doing a lot of learning related to linguistics and language acquisition. During this I have become familiar with the term “mental representation”. Is the development of boxing ability much closer to the development of a mental representation (like a language) vs developing a specific subject like (basic math)?

Any way if I am totally off my rocker please let me know. I hope you had a good holiday and you and yours are doing well
 
zapataxiv said:
@Sinister
Something has been on my mind lately.
I have been doing a lot of learning related to linguistics and language acquisition. During this I have become familiar with the term “mental representation”. Is the development of boxing ability much closer to the development of a mental representation (like a language) vs developing a specific subject like (basic math)?

Any way if I am totally off my rocker please let me know. I hope you had a good holiday and you and yours are doing well
Click to expand...

Could you elaborate more on the differentiation?
 
Sinister said:
Big news for Kolli:

http://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation?permalink_uri=36mEFb2&image_url=https://files.constantcontact.com/78d73a48001/33e79abe-d063-4565-8f8a-3e4914c25716.jpg&fbclid=IwAR2_4NspFJD3iH4Kg6WeTxHxnnUHDLChIBAB8qs-cRUDWFymFk4yIVyq0Nw
Click to expand...
Awesome, I know Dadi is an awesome trainer so I was wondering do you know what Javon Steward brings to the table? I am guessing their isn't enough quality heavyweight sparring partners in a small Country like Iceland.
 
That's pretty much it.
 
Sinister said:
Could you elaborate more on the differentiation?
Click to expand...
So I am a bit shaky on it myself so bear with me if you will.
Language is an abstract concept that is reliant on the mental representation that is developed in your head. There are boundaries to that representation due to concepts like universal grammar.
While basic math skills are very much physical as in adding, multiplying and dividing solid sum amounts that come down to various ways to approach an equation.

My theory is that boxing is much closer to the science of language because of the chaotic nature and frenetic pace of combat. So essentially what you develop during training is a mental representation of what you should be doing in the ring. It’s not as simple as 1-1-2, because just learning 1-1-2 lacks the actual why for what you are doing. Conversely if you have somebody telling you every time you step here you throw 112 it is also not solid teaching because it doesn’t take into the account all the variables of combat. Compare it to how you train where you had partner drills that actually develops an intrinsic sense of where you should be positionally. The result is the boxer acquires the ability to get a mental representation of where to be and where they should try to be..even though they might not be able to verbalize it.
This ties back in to language learning because it is quite similar in that the frenetic pace and unpredictability of conversations and the language you encounter makes it reliant on your sense of knowing what is right instead of knowing a sense of rules.
 
zapataxiv said:
So I am a bit shaky on it myself so bear with me if you will.
Language is an abstract concept that is reliant on the mental representation that is developed in your head. There are boundaries to that representation due to concepts like universal grammar.
While basic math skills are very much physical as in adding, multiplying and dividing solid sum amounts that come down to various ways to approach an equation.

My theory is that boxing is much closer to the science of language because of the chaotic nature and frenetic pace of combat. So essentially what you develop during training is a mental representation of what you should be doing in the ring. It’s not as simple as 1-1-2, because just learning 1-1-2 lacks the actual why for what you are doing. Conversely if you have somebody telling you every time you step here you throw 112 it is also not solid teaching because it doesn’t take into the account all the variables of combat. Compare it to how you train where you had partner drills that actually develops an intrinsic sense of where you should be positionally. The result is the boxer acquires the ability to get a mental representation of where to be and where they should try to be..even though they might not be able to verbalize it.
This ties back in to language learning because it is quite similar in that the frenetic pace and unpredictability of conversations and the language you encounter makes it reliant on your sense of knowing what is right instead of knowing a sense of rules.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I think your on to something...
 
zapataxiv said:
So I am a bit shaky on it myself so bear with me if you will.
Language is an abstract concept that is reliant on the mental representation that is developed in your head. There are boundaries to that representation due to concepts like universal grammar.
While basic math skills are very much physical as in adding, multiplying and dividing solid sum amounts that come down to various ways to approach an equation.

My theory is that boxing is much closer to the science of language because of the chaotic nature and frenetic pace of combat. So essentially what you develop during training is a mental representation of what you should be doing in the ring. It’s not as simple as 1-1-2, because just learning 1-1-2 lacks the actual why for what you are doing. Conversely if you have somebody telling you every time you step here you throw 112 it is also not solid teaching because it doesn’t take into the account all the variables of combat. Compare it to how you train where you had partner drills that actually develops an intrinsic sense of where you should be positionally. The result is the boxer acquires the ability to get a mental representation of where to be and where they should try to be..even though they might not be able to verbalize it.
This ties back in to language learning because it is quite similar in that the frenetic pace and unpredictability of conversations and the language you encounter makes it reliant on your sense of knowing what is right instead of knowing a sense of rules.
Click to expand...

I'd concur with this. Have you ever seen "The Arrival?" If not, you should.
 
Sinister said:
I'd concur with this. Have you ever seen "The Arrival?" If not, you should.
Click to expand...
I haven’t yet but it’s on my watch list.
The reason why I being this up is the implications of developing a mental representation vs developing something more literal. You want to develop the students knowledge of the subject. This is usually done with input, or what you put in the students head. So going back to language that is like reading, listening to stories communicate in a way that you understand and can process. I think in boxing we get this input by actually being in the gym and being around people who are working with you that you can feel and understand. This way the input is comprehensible. What we see a lot online here is people who don’t have the base to comprehend what they are seeing when they binge a bunch of fights/ highlights on YouTube. What happens then is what we see here a bunch of crazy theories that may have some tether to a tangible idea but it’s totally wrong because of the persons lack of context, that comes from actual gym time.
This reminded me of when I was talking to you way back when and you said something along the lines of lots of people don’t know how to watch fights. I thought that was a key insight and it is coming back now in my language training. I think that is watching a fight and making it comprehensible. It’s also kind of the problem of a sport a dude wants to watch a match between two of the highest level competitors and then think they can breakdown everything, without having the base to do so.
 
This is a fun watch:

 
My student Cyclone Mike is venturing into coaching. Here we've constructed some drills based on his background in dance, which was National level. He trained in Cuba for a bit (boxing and dancing) and with instructors from Russia:

 
MarcAnthony sparring with U.S. Olympic Alternate Jeremiah Milton:



This is the second time they sparred. The first time Marc had only like 6 fights. Jeremiah said: "man if I had the same experience level I wouldn't wanna fight him."



Edit: If that kid in the still image behind me looks familiar it's because its Shane Mosley Jr. Looks quite like his Dad in the face. He sparred one of my Norwegians.
 
Oscar sparring this Australian who trains with Caleb Plant's coach:

 
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