Can You See the Science?
Boxing not so narrow as some trainers would have you think.
by Gabriel Charboneau
Boxer,Counter puncher, Brawler, Inside or Outside fighter. 5 different styles of pugilism each with ranges and points where one counters the other. High Guard, Philly, Crab Shell, Peek-aboo. Different guards and hand positions each with a value that one may employ to effect a successful counter or offense. Those who are stuck within one method of doing, teaching or even understanding because it is all they've ever experienced will never know the true beauty of whats possible within boxing whether it's their preferred style or not.
I have the fortune of being of mixed decent which allows me to appreciate topics or ideas that often cross the boundries of norm. I also share the good fortune of living in Colorado which due it's Mexican roots has spawned generations of the style that bears it's namesake and made popular by it's most beloved of hero's Julio Cesar Chavez.
While a lifelong fan of the sport who has trained under various coaches over the years, my background is practicing in the Filipino style sometimes known as "boksing" or "Suntukan" which more often than not means triangle based footwork, often strong side forward and sometimes with an off angled false lead. These principles ingrained by the Filipino people were born out of centuries of weapons work within their native martial arts and perfected when early Naval bases established themselves in Phillippine ports. Without getting into the controversial topic of how this style affected what we know as the sport of western boxing today it can be surmised that at the very least it had an influence in it's modern development. To this end, Pinoys or Filipino's have had a long history of producing high level boxers each brilliant in their own right. This list which is obviously headlined by Manny Pacquiao includes the lesser known but equally deserving, Nonito Donaire, Speedy Dado, Small Montana, Gabriel Flash Elorde, Pancho Villa, and middleweight champ Ceferino Garcia respectively.
It is this pursuit of continued pugilistic knowledge, my responsibility as a coach and love of history, not just the how, but the when and why that has led me to continue my analysis of the various structures utilized by the masters of ring and sport. A few years ago I had the profound pleasure of meeting brother Daniel Farisi of Constellation and the 52 Blocks/Jailhouse boxing movement. An authority on Afro-Diasporic martial culture it was his in depth knowledge of the black experience and unmistakeable contributions to the sweet science that led me to see the truth. And furthermore, that what the untrained eye may see as a stylistic shortcoming i.e guarding arm down around the hip, or both arms crossed in front etc. is actually a deliberate and well thought out piece of a bigger picture with a proud legacy.
Over the next several issues I will attempt to expand and break down aspects of boxings various guards and positions as well as offer supporting statements and examples of thier usage by fighters like Archie Moore, Floyd Mayweather, James Toney, George Foreman, Zab Judah, Joe Frazier and others.
Til Next time,
Kuya.
