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Jock Talk: The Clarity A Punch Can Bring

Jock Talk: The Clarity A Punch Can Bring

Mike Nussbaum ’11
Sports Editor

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Courtesy of sxc.hu

I love boxing; it’s definitely the highlight of my week.

Since the beginning of the year, I have been boxing every Friday at LA Boxing in Norwalk. When I first stepped into that gym I remembered feeling invincible. Even though professional fighters who could tear me apart in less then a second surrounded me, I felt that I belonged in that gym. Of course, they wouldn’t just let me hop into the ring and spar, so I had to work to get a chance to step into the ring.

As a result, the first couple of weeks were spent at the heavy bag, probably the equivalent of Body Blast for the football players or Hell week for Staples Players. After the first couple of lessons, I truly thought the only thing that was keeping my hands together were the meager wraps I had struggled to put on. But, it was a good workout to say the least, and that was my initial goal in going to that gym. As the weeks passed, it became more and more addicting. The sport, the atmosphere, the passion was so fulfilling that the Friday afternoon workout became a ritual.

My relationship with boxing evolved from a strictly workout routine into a deep infatuation with a sport that is an art, a test of mental capabilities, and pure athleticism all at once. I love boxing because you won’t—I mean you can’t find that kind of mix in any mainstream American sport.

Baseball? Let’s be honest…

Basketball? Please enlighten me with the mental capabilities in a pick and roll.

Football? Sorry, no art there.

Boxing is it’s own league.

It was probably the first time when I learned to wrap my hands that I realized what gives boxing the name, ‘the sweet science’. It’s a process—and it starts with the hand wraps. First of all, the final product of hand wrapping is concise and organized, but the 12 feet of total wrap is not. When not tightly wrapped, it’s a huge mess. Also, once that wrapping starts, if you mess up, you have to start over.

So take for example last week, I think I’m finally getting the hang of the process, but that’s until the Velcro at the end of the wraps is backwards. Demoralizing to say the least. But that 5 or so minutes I have to take to wrap my hands mentally prepares me for the discipline that is so often looked over in boxing.

That discipline is far more then just throwing on a pair of gloves and punching. I tried that approach and I was on the mat in probably 8 seconds. I have learned that a boxer needs the ability to use their legs to create power, fast footwork, and a keen sense of balance. Without these, a boxer’s brute strength can be their worst enemy, which is why it gives me the utmost confidence to win any bout I would ever participate in.

Another crazy reward of boxing that only some sports can provide is that incredible adrenaline rush. When I stepped into the ring and started bouncing around throwing jabs, hooks, uppercuts, I felt as if everything slowed down. It’s a feeling that words cannot describe, and it does away with any soreness felt before stepping into the ring.

My experience with boxing so far has been probably the most constant thing about my week ¬– it brings intensity, control, and the mindset of a champion to a life so usually dominated by grades.

Boxing and I are going on two months, and the unique feel I get from stepping into that ring has not come close to subsiding.

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