boxing 101

i decided i could never be a demi-god if i lazed on my bed on weekends and do nothing but read my sweet, sweet FHM mags (oh yeah i dont only turn pages after pages but also read it - hehe). since my nephro informed me that i could again hit the gym, i ne'er was totally enthused into re-lifting weights. i wanted something atypical but fun. luckily, i got ma bros on my back. we kicked some ass last night, man. my rotten buddies and i went to this new boxing gym in downtown area. it's quite small but heck we enlisted and paid one Ninoy for the handstraps and a couple of Roxases for the gloves rental, use of the ring, etcetera, etcetera.

Inside, it's quite surprising that people are lifting weights instead of boxing. Thought this was a boxing gym??? Since no one was in the ring, in a jiffy, we strapped our hands up and readied ourselved for a sparring session with our 5'3" instructors.

After several minutes, albeit my knuckles darn ached and my arms subdued, it was one helluva work out. These midget instructors are insane. It was my first time in the ring and they kept on saying "Jab, Jab, Hok, Hok, Strit, It, One, to, tri... siven, it". Though I didn't totally understand what they were saying, heck I just look at their pads and do what I need to do - BOX.

Will I recommend boxing? Not for the faint-hearted. But before you enroll, you need to understand the terms most coaches or instructors use while they are teaching. I for one need to decipher the words piece by piece during the session hahaha.

Jab - A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard position

Cross - A powerful, straight punch thrown with the rear hand

Hook - A semi-circular punch thrown with the lead hand to the side of the opponent's head

Uppercut - A vertical, rising punch thrown with the rear hand

These different punching types can be thrown in rapid succession to form "combos". The most common is the jab and cross combination, nicknamed the "one-two combo". This is usually an effective combination, because the jab blocks the opponent's view of the cross, making it easier to land cleanly and forcefully

There are also several basic maneuvers a boxer can use in order to evade or block punches: slip, sway, duck, parry, cover-up, clinch or RUN FORREST RUN. The last one I just invented, in case a pseudo-Ali or a pseudo-Manny Pacquiao invites you for a spar.