Posts filed under Fight Philosophy

Arcaro on Boxing

Recently I’ve been working with athletes from other sports. It dawned on me as I was doing a training session, you can go to a few practices and then jump right into competition. Boxing is very different. It could be anywhere from 6 months to 1 year before you are ready to enter the competition ring. It’s no wonder in our current society that boxing isn’t necessarily a sport that a lot gravitate to for competition. Most of us want instant success and instant experiences. Boxing is not that type of sport.

Many people stop by the gym and have the hunger to box initially, but only a few have the grit and determination it takes to stay interested when the setbacks pile up. That’s actually why I like it so much. I’m ok with the transitions and turnovers, because when you get the 3% that you can count on for their commitment and fire, you know you are blessed and sure to experience a ton of growth.

Remembering Sparring in the Beginning

When I first started sparring, I think I cried darn near every time I sparred for about my first month and intermittently for my first year. I’d be in the ring, getting in my sparring rounds and right after, damned if the tears didn’t start coming. I’d toss off my headgear, run for my gym bag and blaze the hell out of the gym trying not to be seen. I felt humiliated, as if crying only happened to me and that I was some sort of baby in the eyes of others. A weakling.

The worst part was that I didn’t even know why the tears would come. As I was headed home I couldn’t even determine what brought on the tears. Sometimes nothing monumental would happen. I didn’t even have to take a big punch and the tears would overcome me like a bad dream.