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.


    

AMATEUR vs PROFESSIONAL BOXING

the two significant differences: by brian zelley

It is interesting hearing about the many differences,
but in reality there are only two main differences that should
count in the art and science of boxing.

For those boxers that only fight four round prelim fights,
there is no significant differences for the boxer.
But, when comparing a three round open senior bout vs
a ten round professional bout, then the two differences kick-in.

THE TWO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES
*The Endurance Factor, and
the Ability to take or avoid a punch.

JABS, HOOKS and CROSSES

JABS, HOOKS and CROSSES by Brian Zelley
from BC Amateur Boxing News, May 1984

The following was done in 1984, but it still has some value today in 2011.

Quote: "In order to arrive at what you are not,
you must go through the way which you are not" - T S Elliott

"If we want success in the various aspects of amateur boxing
competition, coaching or officiating, we must prepare ourselves
to enter a training program. Three basic requirements are
DESIRE, STUDY and PRACTICE.

For our long term success, this desire, study and practice
must be ongoing. In Canada, we are fortunate to have some excellent
programs to aid coaches and officials in their individual and
 group development and growth.

Our present programs are due to the past effort of
individuals and organizations and the ongoing support of
members of our Provincial Amateur Boxing Associations.
In British Columbia, the BCABA Executive under the
leadership of GEORGE ARMSON puts a high priority on
education in the form of clinics and competition."

BOXING BC EXECUTIVE - May 1984
George Armson,Bill Long, Sid Knopp, Marg O'Reilly,
Larry Carney, Shirley Knopp, Bert Lowes, Brian Zelley,
Glynn Jones and Dave Thompson.

A VOICE FOR THE YOUTH BOXERS OF CANADA

Boxing proponents spar with doctors

AMATEUR BOXING UNDER ATTACK by Brian Zelley

The recent news (see link) article was one of many that has
flashed across Canada concerning the attempt
by a society involved in medical issues attempts
to have a ban on boxing for junior and youths,

Although the group admits that other sports
results in sport injuries they have not suggested
there be bans of sports like hockey and football.

APPEARANCES, ASSUMPTIONS and UNKNOWN POSSIBILITIES

There are significant problems with the so-called academic study:
.failure to obtain reliable data from the various
boxing organizations,
.failure to properly analyze the data that was received
from hospitals,
.failure to identify the details of 270 or so injuries
that were used as a reason for the sport of amateur boxing
to be a target,
.failure to be objective in declaring no ban recommendations
for sports with more risk of serious injury.

RIGHT OR WRONG - YOUTH BOXERS BELONG
Several words from an old Ronnie Dove song of 1964
"I BELIEVE THAT I BELONG...RIGHT OR WRONG"
This should be the colletive voice of the junior and youth
boxers of Canada.

BOXING SKILLS Body Punching

BOXING SKILLS - BODY PUNCHING: By Brian Zelley

The art of body punching for many is a lost art due in part to
the scoring system used in International Amateur Boxing.
Flashback 30 years to 1981 and the story was the same.

The RING magazine Associate Editor, Randy Gordon outlined
the issue in the December 1981 issue. The article was titled
randy gordon on The Once Glorious Art Of Body-Punching
Takes A Licking.

The story started with a look back at one of the Ali vs Frazier fights.
Ali was quoted:
"The fight was the closest thing to death. Frazier hit me with
body punches that made we want to quit.

JOE FRAZIER was also quoted:
"Kill the body and the head will die"

In his article Gordon mentions some great body punchers such as
Henry Armstrong, Tony Zale and Robert Duran.

Getting back to amateurs in top level competition,
the body punching skills and application appears to be
a non-starter. So the question is when are the high level officials
and coaches in amateur boxing going to recognize the importance
and traditions of the sport of boxing after all competition in the ring
 is not a fencing duel with boxing gloves.

THE BOXING BEAT - THE TRAINER-COACH

THE TRAINER - By Brian Zelley

Looking through the pages of boxing history reveals a wide variety of coaches and trainers with different experience
and techniques. One important first step for the trainer is to have a broad base of understanding of boxing history
and experience in the sport of boxing from the ground up.

Of course an understanding of the history and experience in the sport is no guarantee that the would be trainer
will be effective. Effectiveness will be determined by the abilty of the coach to demonstrate the skills on a
verbal basis and a visual basis, and a combined verbal and visual basis. For instance, it is necessary to point out
a procedure on a physical basis by demonstrating the point, communicating the procedure to the trainee,
explaining the reasons for the procedure, and watching the trainee execute the procedure. Then the trainer should
analyze the results and show and communicate to the trainee the correct procedure.

BOXING BASICS:

There is no rush, each trainee will learn the basics on a graduated level, and it must start with the basics of stance,
foot and body movement, the basic straight left, straight right, and basic boxing defensive skill of blocking.
Over time the other basic punches can be taught and other defensive skills can be added to the boxing tool kit.

THE LEFT JAB

Often considered the lead punch or the measurement tool for measuring distance before executing other punches.

The left is a multi-purpose tool that can be used as an offensive weapon or a defensive tactic.

As a rule it is important to be able the jab as a single , double or three at a time to add the element of surprise.

An important issue is the left jab should not be punched at the target but through the target. However,
some left jabs are used to probe the defensive abilities of the opponent and do not have to be executed with power,
but speed still is an important issue.

An important defensive step is to close a series of combinations with the safety left jab which allows the boxer to return to
to the proper stance position.

For variation, it is also important to target the body for some left jabs, it enables one also to see how the oponents
defense is.