There are many types of boxing coaches and trainers with a wide variety of ring skills. For amateur boxing there are plenty of coaches with various levels of completion of coaching levels from basics to advanced skills.
In December 1983, I wrote and article with the heading "Jabs, Hooks and Crosses" which appeared in the January 1984 issue of the "BC Amateur Boxing News".
The first part of the article dealt with stance and footwork and balance. The next part dealt with coaching problems, and the last part dealt with coaches and some requirements to be a complete coach/trainer. That part is as follows:
RING SECONDING: A QUALITY OF A GOOD COACH: "No coach is expected to be an expert in all aspects of boxing. In my opinion, the basic skills required to be a first class coach include conditioning of boxers, teaching skills, and ring seconding skills.
*Ring seconding skills can be sub-divided into **physical aspects required to ensure the boxer obtains the maximum rest including proper sitting techniques for the boxer, the correct application of water and giving the boxer enough breathing room; **communication skills required to inform the boxer of 'important instructions' at the proper time between rounds of the contest; and **analytical skills to observe the strengths and weaknesses of each of the competitors.
A very important part of ring seconding is co-ordinated teamwork by the chief seconder and the assistant.
Two serious errors by cornermen are excess water and excess talking
The best method of improvement is self-study by observing and thinking about the results of your work. Like good boxing, good coaching comes from study and practice.
Brian Zelley and Clark MacLellan Post fight pose after the final bell Nanaimo, BC fight card - Seventies
Introduction It has been decades since I had the opportunity to teach boxing skills on a regular basis, but as we follow the flow of boxing activity today there are countless areas where every boxer from young novice to seasoned pro can improve in attitude and performance using four symbolic elements as the four cornerstone of their gym training and ring activity.
THE FOUR CORNERSTONES: WIND, LIGHTNING, FIRE and ICE
THE WIND Using the symbolic wind element is to use the positive and to avoid the negative wind. The negative wind is the hot air that sometimes blows out of the mouths of boxers or coaches with pre-fight hype or post fight excuses. it is the type of wind that should be avoided at all times. Stupidity through the mouth is a damaging force with no positive outcomes.
Positive Wind can be called "poetry in motion" and the ability to change direction in a flash.
The Lightning Lightning is symbolic for speed and power, but it also applies to the thought process and the ability of cornermen to act fast and accurate, knowing when and what suggestions to offer between rounds. The best bet is to keep the suggestions to a few words seconds before the bell for action.
The Fire The fire can be used to describe the dedication desire and determination The most important time for the fire element to reach the white hot level is when it appears there is no hope for victory, often that may appear after the first few seconds of a bout, but in many contests it is the start of the last round. That is when the boxer needs to dig deep into the boxing tool kit with the highest level of determination and desire to pull victory out of the jaws of defeat.
The Ice The most important element for long term success is the element of ice which is symbolic for COOL CALM and CONTROL. Likely, the most important area is CONTROL of FEAR in all the many forms. But being loose, cool and calm before stepping between the ring ropes is highly desired for a smooth start when the bell rings for action and the boxer with the cool attitude glides out to the middle of the ring to take control of the action.
THE LAST ROUND This report is just an overview of four elements for success in boxing. No idea is carved in stone and each element can be expanded to get to details of application from th ground-up in the gym and the early days of boxing competition. And even for experienced boxers when things seem to be spinning out of control or heading south, there is always the opportunity to revisit the four corners and restart the engines.
Remember: anyone can become A CINDERELLA MAN like JAMES J. BRADDOCK. There are countless stories of world champions that bounced back from the land of nowhere to win the big one such as middleweight champion JOEY GIARDELLO and for a brief moment in time there was ROCKY GRAZIANO who turned a rocky road into a positive spin with the help of the symbolic WIND, LIGHTNING, FIRE and ICE.
