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Sunday, January 15, 2012

CORNERSTONES OF THE RING - WIND, LIGHTNING, FIRE and ICE

SYMBOLIC STEPS to SUCCESS:  By Brian Zelley
                                 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.


    







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