The MI6 Martial Arts Thread

Comments

• 007ClassicBondFan

  June 14 Posts: 2,594

  Hope this is okay with everyone but I’ve decided to resurrect this thread and see if some of our current members are interested in Martial Arts? For the past 7 months I’ve been training in Boxing and I have to say it’s changed my life all for the better. I have a wonderful coach who supports me - we’re currently working on Weight Training because I’d like to have my first fight lined up for next summer - so far I’ve had two sparring sessions (both of which I lost but losing is the only way to get better in Martial Arts so no bother) and I’d like to continue having at least one sparring session each month. There are still plenty of technical aspects I need to improve. My footwork isn’t perfect but I feel it’s at least solid. I definitely need more work on my head movement - and my right cross isn’t as hard hitting as I think it could be but with time and patience I’ll correct those issues. My ultimate goal is to begin Brazilian JiuJitsu within the next few months so that I can learn some ground defense and then I’ll be taking it from there. Do we have any other Martial Arts enthusiasts? I’d love to hear your guys stories!
• peter Toronto

  June 14 Posts: 9,675

  @007ClassicBondFan ...here in Toronto, my coach was the light Canadian champ, Mario Lechowski.
  
  Right crosses are tricky, with *potentially* an easy fix:
  
  Pivot that back foot with intent. Cork-screw it into the floor with the ball of your foot as you throw the right.
  
  Get on the bag every day, and throw a hundred rights (with various power (save your knuckles and wrist)). Focus on the pivot and how that drives the force.
  
  And please be careful with sparring. Even though we wear headgear, a punch to the head is still a punch to the head. More contemporary training spaces out sparring a lot more to save the brain (I didn't have a lot to save, but I'm warning a young and smart person such as yourself, lol).
  
  Good luck!!!
• 007ClassicBondFan

  June 14 Posts: 2,594

  peter wrote: »

  @007ClassicBondFan ...here in Toronto, my coach was the light Canadian champ, Mario Lechowski.
  
  Right crosses are tricky, with *potentially* an easy fix:
  
  Pivot that back foot with intent. Cork-screw it into the floor with the ball of your foot as you throw the right.
  
  Get on the bag every day, and throw a hundred rights (with various power (save your knuckles and wrist)). Focus on the pivot and how that drives the force.
  
  And please be careful with sparring. Even though we wear headgear, a punch to the head is still a punch to the head. More contemporary training spaces out sparring a lot more to save the brain (I didn't have a lot to save, but I'm warning a young and smart person such as yourself, lol).
  
  Good luck!!!

  
  Thank you for the advice @peter! I'll try that technique you mentioned and see if I can improve my right cross!
  
  I remember leaving the gym after my first sparring session and having a horrible headache and ever since then I've been very hesitant when choosing my sparring partners. The guy I sparred was one of the head coaches and he was trying his best to be very careful but one particular shot knocked me right down and he felt awful and checked to see if I was okay immediately afterwards. I will say that I am very comfortable sparring my coach because he knows my size and level of experience and so for my second sparring session we kept it relatively light and despite getting a good ding right on my nose I felt fine when we left that day. I get nervous about spars for exactly the reasons that you mentioned - but you also never know the mindset of your opponent when sparring them. A lot of the people at my gym are very cocky and have something to prove. I do my best to stay away from those guys because I know exactly the type of personality they have and the type of spar that they're going to have. I'm going to take your advice to heart though and I won't forget it! I'll have to update you at some point haha