I got my planning wrong this morning and missed training for the first time...Ill be honest I'm gutted...
Its got to that point where I look forward to the banter, new friendships and incessant build up to fight night, even Scott's horrible shorts stolen from Mini me from Gold member
I pack my bag the night before, go through the ball ache of rolling metres of hand wraps, triple check my head guard and gum shield are present, its all a ritual, like despite not being religious I follow a certain process or I'm not happy.
People who love and play sport tend to head towards superstitions, my own are fairly simple, drinks at certain times, listen to music, but when I was playing rugby regularly it was far worse, I used to stress if I forgot particular pants, and then one day some ones boot ripped them and my arse apart, it felt like the loss of an old friend, and the loss of the pants far exceeded the pain of a 4 inch cut across my arse! (The shower after that was horrific)
I intend to write certain things on my hand wraps on the night, and some I will never explain except to my wife , some will be obvious to most and refer to people who have passed and some I feel far deserved the shot at life that they got, I feel sometimes like I carried a burden when I was younger which made me the way I was, now I'm happy but this fight will put a few ghosts to rest for me. I'm sure I will be accused of making too much of what this fight is, a scrap between two blokes, but in order to step through some ropes it takes some nuts and I dare anyone reading this blog who thinks it is easy to step in and try it....and I'm happy to spar.
My life hasn't always been easy, but its far better than some, I believe you don't get a practice run at life, though this view will depend on your religious beliefs!
To the cause!!!!!!
I want to try and raise the profile of the thousands of unseen Londoners, the people with nothing, the people who don't sleep, don't eat, and beg for cash for drink to try and help them escape from the shitty reality of the life they are caught in, without charities like Broadway, who I will fight for there is no way out of the cycle for these guys and girls. If you have ever felt cold or lonely then you have to feel the way I feel, its easy to write everyone off as scammers but this is in fact a massive minority.
With all the charities out there today its easy to feel like everyone wants something, but there is no one reading this blog who hasn't seen a homeless person, or wondered what they do when it rains or snows. Any donation will help! And a deep heartfelt thanks to those who have already donated.
I've promised to train in my pants, or NUDE if it raises the money for the charity, my personal dignity next to raising money for the cause is irrelevant! Don't make me though!
Enough of me bleating along! Thanks for the amazing support, through donations, tickets, and just messages telling me to keep pushing on. I promise an explosive fight on the night. You have my word.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=thebearboxes&faId=329837&isTeam=false
Thanks again everyone....
The Bear
Saturday, 20 July 2013
Thursday, 18 July 2013
A late one...
Sorry for the delay in the blog, had meant to write it over the weekend but a blazing hot sunday was the only reason I needed to be out all day, and then between work, training and dropping tickets off its been a busy week so far!
Saturdays training was purely boxing focussed and people were virtually straight into sparring and padwork, I got two rounds of sparring in and after being concerned about the need to move I again allowed Lee to use me as a punchbag by charging in, and being too static, I cant deny I was pissed off with myself, and sulked for a bit, but encouraged by everyone around me who bascially told me to suck it up and get back in, Jo and Leo really puched it along, I climbed back through the ropes.
This time Walter, who was down for the first time stepped up, and I got caught flush with a hell of a hook to the chin, I'm man enough to say it rocked me, but I managed to get a bit of composure and kept my shape and tactics to the end of the round, but still feel pretty unhappy with my all round game.
Its going to take more hard work and movement but with less than 3 weeks to go I am confident I can pull it off on the night.
It was actually great to see some new faces down at the gym, and everyone was made welcome as always in the WCBL way, the sweat was running down the walls and everyone is really putting the work in.
Scott asked us our 60 second questions this week about WCBL and I am pleased to have avoided biggest moaner (Cheers Lisa!) because all I do at the minute is moan about my form, tickets, being tired etc, but I love it really. Will be a hell of a night and I want to put on the best show I can, big defence needed, and sharp attack and I cannot wait.
Big Love
The Bear
Saturdays training was purely boxing focussed and people were virtually straight into sparring and padwork, I got two rounds of sparring in and after being concerned about the need to move I again allowed Lee to use me as a punchbag by charging in, and being too static, I cant deny I was pissed off with myself, and sulked for a bit, but encouraged by everyone around me who bascially told me to suck it up and get back in, Jo and Leo really puched it along, I climbed back through the ropes.
This time Walter, who was down for the first time stepped up, and I got caught flush with a hell of a hook to the chin, I'm man enough to say it rocked me, but I managed to get a bit of composure and kept my shape and tactics to the end of the round, but still feel pretty unhappy with my all round game.
Its going to take more hard work and movement but with less than 3 weeks to go I am confident I can pull it off on the night.
It was actually great to see some new faces down at the gym, and everyone was made welcome as always in the WCBL way, the sweat was running down the walls and everyone is really putting the work in.
Scott asked us our 60 second questions this week about WCBL and I am pleased to have avoided biggest moaner (Cheers Lisa!) because all I do at the minute is moan about my form, tickets, being tired etc, but I love it really. Will be a hell of a night and I want to put on the best show I can, big defence needed, and sharp attack and I cannot wait.
Big Love
The Bear
Sunday, 7 July 2013
Learning from Mistakes
Another week, another training session done in what is basically now a countdown to fight night, the glorious English summer arriving didn't help as I heading out with a bag full of kit yesterday morning.
I had a good week this time in the build up and felt far more confident after 3 good gym sessions, and a lot more sleep, I mixed things up this week with home and gym workouts and I think it paid off, I used the gym for the heavy bag, treadmill and machines, then at home focussed on moving and bodyweight stuff, push ups, crunches and planks.
The training itself wasn't too bad, bag work, shadow boxing then sparring, and as you can tell, those that have seen the videos I have clear work to do on my defence, I also need to hold back more as I am tiring myself out too quickly trying to land heavy blows, but the punches I took prove I have a chin at least, and it was good to spar against a tall guy and a shorter fighter as I had to think more tactically. In the build up to the fight and on the night itself I need to be more focused and not brawl as I have a tendency to do.
I had an incident in the gym today where I was loosening up after training which made me feel even more pleased to have been involved with WCBL and Scott over other companies that organize White collar events, a girl came up to me as I was hitting the heavy bag and asked if I was training for a fight or just for fitness, when I said I was training for a white collar fight she said she had been asked to do the same thing by someone from her gym in Harrow, except he was billing it as a models fight night! She was unsure whether to do it or not, I advised her that it sounded a bit dodgy and if she was serious about wanting to get involved in white collar she should go to a gym where she would be treated equally. I'm no Germaine Greer and I can think of worse things to watch but I can imagine the event would not be what she was looking for as a challenge, unless the challenge was to get into Loaded magazine. At Knights everyone gives everyone else banter and the girls in the group train and fight just as hard as the guys, if not harder.
Fight night isn't far off now and the tickets are flying out the door, I can guarantee it will be a great night in Camden and I think the buzz is building among my friends and colleagues as well, if anyone wants to get hold of some send me a message and I will happily sort you out.
Right, little word about my charity now if I can, as people know I have chosen a homeless charity to benefit from donations building up to the fight and I have been really impressed with the response so far. Broadway look after the needs of London's homeless, and I feel it is a fantastic charity. I know there were some statistics that showed that a percentage of London's homeless these days are foreign and this may be the case, but a large percentage are from the UK, and many are ex-military who couldn't cope with the things they have seen in theatres of war, or were treated badly and not supported when they came home and Broadway give the first step on the ladder back for these people. Not that I care about the foreign issue either, if someone is in such a position that they are on the streets, sleeping in parks and doorways, afraid to close their eyes to sleep I couldn't give a shit where they originated, they need help, end of. If you would like to donate please do so and feel free to look up Broadway to see exactly what they get up to helping those who need it.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=thebearboxes&faId=329837&isTeam=false
Thanks for all the donations, bought tickets and support, I won't let you down and promise to give absolutely everything I've got.
Big Love
The Bear
I had a good week this time in the build up and felt far more confident after 3 good gym sessions, and a lot more sleep, I mixed things up this week with home and gym workouts and I think it paid off, I used the gym for the heavy bag, treadmill and machines, then at home focussed on moving and bodyweight stuff, push ups, crunches and planks.
The training itself wasn't too bad, bag work, shadow boxing then sparring, and as you can tell, those that have seen the videos I have clear work to do on my defence, I also need to hold back more as I am tiring myself out too quickly trying to land heavy blows, but the punches I took prove I have a chin at least, and it was good to spar against a tall guy and a shorter fighter as I had to think more tactically. In the build up to the fight and on the night itself I need to be more focused and not brawl as I have a tendency to do.
I had an incident in the gym today where I was loosening up after training which made me feel even more pleased to have been involved with WCBL and Scott over other companies that organize White collar events, a girl came up to me as I was hitting the heavy bag and asked if I was training for a fight or just for fitness, when I said I was training for a white collar fight she said she had been asked to do the same thing by someone from her gym in Harrow, except he was billing it as a models fight night! She was unsure whether to do it or not, I advised her that it sounded a bit dodgy and if she was serious about wanting to get involved in white collar she should go to a gym where she would be treated equally. I'm no Germaine Greer and I can think of worse things to watch but I can imagine the event would not be what she was looking for as a challenge, unless the challenge was to get into Loaded magazine. At Knights everyone gives everyone else banter and the girls in the group train and fight just as hard as the guys, if not harder.
Fight night isn't far off now and the tickets are flying out the door, I can guarantee it will be a great night in Camden and I think the buzz is building among my friends and colleagues as well, if anyone wants to get hold of some send me a message and I will happily sort you out.
Right, little word about my charity now if I can, as people know I have chosen a homeless charity to benefit from donations building up to the fight and I have been really impressed with the response so far. Broadway look after the needs of London's homeless, and I feel it is a fantastic charity. I know there were some statistics that showed that a percentage of London's homeless these days are foreign and this may be the case, but a large percentage are from the UK, and many are ex-military who couldn't cope with the things they have seen in theatres of war, or were treated badly and not supported when they came home and Broadway give the first step on the ladder back for these people. Not that I care about the foreign issue either, if someone is in such a position that they are on the streets, sleeping in parks and doorways, afraid to close their eyes to sleep I couldn't give a shit where they originated, they need help, end of. If you would like to donate please do so and feel free to look up Broadway to see exactly what they get up to helping those who need it.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=thebearboxes&faId=329837&isTeam=false
Thanks for all the donations, bought tickets and support, I won't let you down and promise to give absolutely everything I've got.
Big Love
The Bear
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Quick Midweeker!
As I sit here in the office, on my lunch hour, halfway through the week I am well pleased. My training this week has been hard but rewarding and I am feeling really positive. The secret to keeping motivation going it seems is creating mini targets, and not setting goals that are unachievable.
Train hard, Win Easy!
Train hard, Win Easy!
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