As I have probably made clear through this organ (ohh err missus!) I love boxing, it’s changed my life and it’s in my blood now. However there is something that’s given me pause for thought just recently. Right now though it is time for me to go off on a tangent.
All my life I have had an evil temper. As a child I tried stabbing a teacher with a pair of scissors when I was told off (I think I was about 6) and when I was 9 I stabbed my stepbrother in the eye with a compass. During my first prison term I head butted a screw for shouting at me. I’ve since calmed down but occasionally, very occasionally the dark side bubbles up.
This past Monday I was sparring with Alfie, a young lad and a southpaw. The first round was crap from me, I kept getting caught. I upped my game in the second and third round and held the centre of the ring well and kept pressure on Alfie. However in the fourth round I came in low with a body shot and somehow Alfie ended up holding me in a sort of headlock! He then proceeded to throw uppercuts into my face whilst holding me down. I heard John, our coach, shout break but Alfie didn’t let me up. When we broke, instead of gathering ourselves and then going back, I steamed right into him. For a few seconds I wanted to kill him. I unloaded with everything I had and the darkness was behind my eyes.
John was hollering break at us, and whilst I heard him, I didn’t pay attention, I was that much into wanting vengeance on Alfie, who was himself cowering behind his arms. When I eventually stopped, John hoiked me out and handed out the mother of all bollockings. I have since been allowed to spar again but I am under orders to dial down the power and to never do that in sparring again. According to John I was an animal in the ring and that needs to be kept for when I fight. I walked home in a huff but I have since realised that John was right but it doesn’t help the fact that for those few seconds I was out of control.
Norma, I don’t know how often you do the MMA stuff now and if you spar but I am pretty sure that Josh must do so regular? Would my actions in the boxing ring seem like an isolated incident? I’ve put the incident behind me I think and have since sparred again with yet another southpaw and yet again I came off worse but there was no evilness this time, just blood! I have a distinct hatred for southpaws.
Southpaws are evil! More evil than gingers! ;) Well, I do spar; not often anymore, but even as woman, I have been the object of some cheap shots from a couple of the guys (whom are young enough to be my children, in some cases). And Josh has gotten into it heavy whilst sparring several times; sometimes, even with a friend, shit gets real. You can always tell when someone's going hard to be a jerk as opposed to just taking the round seriously -- if someone's in there to work and get better and they accidentally connect with too much force, they'll apologize. If they're in there to show off and make you feel bad to make themselves feel good, emotions start bubbling and it can get ugly. I've found it helpful to just clear the air at the outset and ask how hard are we going to go? 50%? 60%? and depending on whom it is and the difference, if any, in your respective experience and skill levels can be bridged.
ReplyDeleteHa! Alfie is both southpaw and ginger!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind hard sparring and at times i relish it but what i don;t like is when someone takes the piss.
for my own part, i need to dial down the anger a notch when sparring. I learn naff all when i lose it.
Anyhow, thanks for the input Norma, it's always appreciated.