The Joy of Boxing (and Muay Thai)

 I want to begin this post by saying that Boxing is delicious.

I sincerely don't know what kind of positive superlative to use here--I think most of them have already been overused.

Anyway, I have learned that transitioning knowledge from Muay Thai to Boxing is not necessarily as effortless as I had assumed. In fact, I seem to have settled into some lazy habits with my technique that are now getting addressed. Things like shifting weight properly, keeping one's torso over the legs when throwing jabs, crosses and hooks can get overlooked when trying to add newer, flashier techniques. The problem is that one's overall arsenal (for lack of a better term...maybe tools?)--rather, "tools" become less effective. A cursory search of MMA, Muay Thai, or Boxing matches on YouTube will show plenty of examples of fights (professional fights) being ended with very basic techniques--something as simple as Jab, Cross, Hook for example. Nothing fancy.

The point is that regardless of how many cool skills one accumulates, it is still absolutely essential to pay attention to honing even the basics. I can't begin to count the number of different coaches and trainers who have said something like, "If you did nothing but spend hours perfecting the jab and cross, you will not have wasted a moment of your time."

Yeah. I know there is a great allegory for some life lesson in that. I'll leave it to the reader to work those out...

But, back to Boxing.

So, as I mentioned, I'm tuning-up some of my basic technique, but I'm also learning a ton of new stuff that has easily enhanced my Muay Thai. Through regular shadowboxing sessions, doing multiple classes most days in the week, and working with a variety of people; I'm feeling more fluid in my movements, and I'm even holding my own against people half my age, and half-again my height. However, even with all of those things as benefits, one would not be remiss in wondering why in the world I would want to do this sort of thing for sabbatical.

The thing to understand is that Martial Arts have been a passion for me for ages. Throughout my life I have sporadically been able to train both formally and informally (learning from anyone who would teach me stuff). It wasn't until about 2009 that I began training consistently through to today. At that point I began training in Muay Thai as well as Taekwondo. I know there are people with certain "feelings" about Taekwondo, but all I can say is that the school and the teachers make all the difference. I was lucky enough to have really amazing teachers in TKD, and continued training in that form when we relocated from Ohio to Illinois. Sadly there were no options for Muay Thai where we were living in Illinois. However, I continued to work on what I had learned.

By the time we came to Maryland, I didn't have a lot of interest in continuing with Taekwondo, but I did find an opportunity to get back into Muay Thai. And, ever since, I have been crazy about it.

The tricky thing about stuff like this is that, for most people, pursuing Martial Arts really isn't a viable option--even if it is a passion. Truth to tell, when I was in high school (and training in a form that included American kickboxing), I had thought seriously about doing it as an amateur or semi-pro. But, it just became harder and harder to make space for training. Before I knew it, life was happening, and I didn't have any money or time to pursue training. But I never really lost my passion for it.

Fast forward to now, and I am working in a vocation that is every bit as much a passion as Martial Arts. And while I don't believe that these passions are in competition, I am compelled to wonder if there is something that needs integration between the two... That's what I'm considering in this sabbatical: how these things can be more fully integrated. Oh, yeah...and also learning how to do some dope stuff.