For the next several sessions we are going to be covering BOXING at Class every week, the next 10 or 12 sessions at least
There are a few reasons for doing this, and this has been discussed elsewhere
We have been covering a lot of WEAPONS including KALI progression, the KRABI drills, and added BOKKEN and JO staff and will continue to do so
We have been covering the Traditional Ryuha, most recently SHINDEN FUDO Ryu, and will continue to do so
When doing this it is easy to neglect KICKBOXING
Last year, while covering KOTO and GYOKKO Ryu, we added more SAVATE sets
This year, we will go back to our BOXING syllabus and look to progressively add BOXING drills and Sparring
Keep in mind, we do not train and spar for Boxing itself, for competition, although it is the same drilling and techniques - we train for Self Defence and Street Fighting
We have trained bouncers who have had dozens of Street KO on the Door but have never put on a glove and stepped in the ring - some have, but most have not, and have had no interest in doing so
When we spar we do not use Headgear or gumshields, because we spar with touch contact and no head shots - it is the attributes we are working towards
In Amateur Boxing, rounds are 3 minutes and fighters wear headgear. Only in Pro matches, when licenced, are boxers allowed to fight with no headgear and lighter gloves. Only in the higher ranked divisions do fights go on longer than 3 rounds - to 6 rounds, and at World level 12 rounds. In the old days, of Ali, the Golden Era, fights went on for 15 rounds.
STMA has a long history with Boxing and I will post links below, some going back to 2009, which will be referred to over the Semester
