Everybody’s got one

So I’ve fallen in love with this trainer from Arizona, Bret Contreras.  He’s known as the “Glute Guy” as he’s has great success in training people and is know for his “ass development”.  He works mainly in sports conditioning, training athletes.  He’s also an avid blogger and has a huge following of readers, one of them being me.

On Facebook a very famous fitness model, Jamie Eason was talking about him, and her post got a huge reaction from alot of different people, some good, and some bad.  In response he blog in answer to the comments on Facebook: http://bretcontreras.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/will-the-real-glute-guy-please-stand-up/

This post just cracked me up. Not because I think it’s all that funny, but just because it hit’s close to home, as we fellow boxers all know. Everyone has to have their opinion and apparently everyone is an expert.

I get it all the time; after an awesome win in a boxing match I get at least 5 or 6 people (sometimes other coaches) come up to me and say “good job, but you should have done this or that. You need to work on your conditioning more, and do more road work!”  Everyone has to get in their two cent’s.

Hey man, the proof is in the pudding! The way I see it, if you’re winning,  you must be doing something right!  And as for what I should be doing, I guarantee you, I’ve done it all.  I’m quite sure that I do more roadwork then the average competitive RUNNER.  And as for conditioning, I currently have a conditioning coach, who I work with once a week, I do conditioning 4 times a week.  I’ve also trained with professional body builders, sports therapists and fitness competitors.  So I’d like to think I’m pretty well versed in what’s out there.

The nice thing about being involved in this sport for so long (and having tried every method out there available) is eventually you get to know your body quite well and you begin to realize what works best for you.  For instance, I need to keep my conditioning light and fast, otherwise I gain to much weight and get really slow.  I also find that I do better on a higher carb diet (as appose to a higher protein diet), as strangely enough I am able to manage my weight like this.  I know I have a very defensive style of boxing and that works best for me.  I’m also quite happy to work on the inside, despite my height and reach.  Of course, this is just me and I would never say it’s the be all end all.

But the advantage of knowing your self well is that you can take all the “know it all’s” comments, sift through them and select those few that could benefit you.  The worst thing an athlete can do is be closed minded to something, but at the same time it’s important that they realize the advice isn’t the be all, end all (Unless it’s coming from my husband/coach, or so he would think )

Anyway, I love this guys blog, his advice advice is golden, and I intend to totally blog and twitter about him from now on! Thanks!

When did it all stop being fun?

Last night my husband came home from the boxing gym (I’m enjoying a relaxing week off due to burnout) and told me about how we recently had a young man join our gym after a disappointing experience with another club.  He was entered into his first fight on a card and was matched up with a contender 14lbs heavier.  None of the coaches said anything and the official in charge aloud this to take place (There is suppose to be no more then 7lbs weight difference).  Regardless to say this young man was beaten and knocked out… for his very first fight!  This didn’t happen because he was ill experiences – as a novice can go, but because the ones “in charge” made poor and unsafe decisions.  Because of their lack of concern for safety this young mans impression of the sport was immediately bad, and any chance of him experiencing a fun, exciting first bout was lost on the unfairness of the match up and the disregard for the rules. Read more

It’s NOT all about me? (part one)

I’ve been wanting to write about this subject forever, why I haven’t is beyond me.  One of the biggest problems my coach (and husband) has with me, any many other boxers he trains is their “it’s all about me” mentality.  I can see where he’s coming from. He’s running a gym, he’s coaching a team.  His time is spread out between everyone in the gym and he makes most of his decisions based on what’s best for the team, not necessarily the individual boxer.  And although he trains us all differently and recognizes our individuality he is constantly pushing the “team” aspect.  There is no “I” in team, right? Read more

Girls CAN’T beat up boys!

Now, if you just read my last blog post, where I was bashing the brains out of the male race, calling them babies and wimps, then all of you men who were so pissed of by that post will LOVE this one…  because I do indeed think women CAN’T beat up Men.

Dave made an interesting point the other day when he was talking about his job as a bouncer.  He said that when dealing with rowdy people at the bar the men were always easier to reason with then the women.  He said the the women always went on to become more aggressive and mean when crossed. Read more

What is with men in boxing?!

Okay, I am seriously going to get into way to much trouble writing this, but I have had enough.  I know people are gonna single me out as a feminist bitch (which I am) or a total dumb blond (which I am not), or even a ranting, raving lunatic (which is quite possible), but this is a subject that I just HAVE to cover:

What is with MEN in boxing?  When did men afford to become such babies in a sport that screams manliness!  In my 4 years involved in this sport I’ve met more women who have more balls then any of the guy.

Okay so there are women who are babies in boxing, who turn away during a match, or even worse, quit, who cry after a loss and stop if it’s to hard; but I’m not talking about the powder puff, has two fights and then calls it a day then goes around for the rest of their lives saying “I’m a boxer” (Oh and there are just as many – actually more if you look at the numbers – of men who do the SAME thing).  I’m talking about women who have committed to the sport, who are constantly looking for fights, getting up at 6am to run every day, working till 6pm then going to the gym to work even more.  I’m talking about the women who spar with the guys and who push them!  I’m talking about the women who aren’t afraid to lose because they will learn from it and work even harder the next time and when they win they are gracious and learn from that too. Read more