Page 143 - Doug Werner Boxer's Start-Up

Journal

Looking at myself for yelling. If nothing else, I’ll
remember and learn. The dark before the
his hands light and all that.
is self- BOXING IN A PHONE BOOTH
1-20-98: Lesson #44
defeating After the usual bag work, we go a round or
two with Al wearing the glove on his left and
(which the mitt on his right. My moves are much
one is he improved today. Head, hands and feet are a
little more active and a tad more decisive. I
going to slip some and land some. Problem: shooting
punches with my eyes down. It’s a very bad
hit me habit. I must force myself to keep my eyes
on my target. The nano second I duck and
with next)! lose sight of him is totally confusing and
frightening.It’s a nerve thing.You gotta go in
there and face the music. It ain’t gonna feel any better getting hit
blind. Putting your head in a hole like that is suicide.

Next,something different. Al has me “box in a telephone booth.”He
corrals me in a little cul-de-sac made with the punching pillars and
has me trade punches with him face to face.It’s fast and furious.I’m
throwing jabs, rights and hooks --- Boom, Boom, Boom --- nonstop,
while he’s throwing with punch mitts (this time on both hands).It’s
absolutely exhausting and I actually give up at one point --- hey, I’m
tired. Al says 30 more seconds, come on! and I slop through. I rest
a second and ask to go one more round. I feel I have to redeem
myself. It goes much better.

Despite my fatigue, I appreciate what the drill does in terms of sim-
ulating real in-fighting.Since you’re not getting hit with gloves (only
the mitts), you can go until you drop and get a feel for the blazing
give-and-take of a real bout.

SPARRING WITH THE KIDS
1-22-98: Lesson #45
Al calls a special sparring session for his boxing students. Three
average looking high-school guys show up. No hulking brutes. No
intimidation. I was a little anxious, but after looking at them, it
doesn’t look like a big deal.

142