June 30 109 PA - Last boxing basics covered

From Chronicles

This time, Sage has staked out a spot on a mat area where people have been known to practice moves before actually going into a ring to try them out on more serious competition. This time, there'sa little more equipment than last time. There are two big strange looking gloves that look more like two cushions, a set of head gear, and a couple other things.

Tek comes into the gym in his same git up that he had on last time. Loose shorts, a white t-shirt and sneakers seeing Sage and the gathered equipment, "Hey Sage, what's all this?"

There is also a ring on Sage's finger as well as a bracelet that haven't been there before. Otherwise, she is dressed largely the same as the other times. "Today, we will be putting the first two lessons together and adding a new wrinkle that you probably won't like much at first." She comments before taking up the head gear and offering it over to the man. "This is typical boxing safety headgear. As you can tell, there isn't much protection for the face itself, but for what we will be doing today... you shouldn't need it." She adds, "If something goes wrong, I will simply heal you."

Tek smiles and as he is nodding he is donning the headgear just in case, "Heal me? Ok umm so what is it I am learning this session?"

Sage takes up the two strange gloves, "These are gloves designed to take the impact of a punch." She explains, "You are only allowed to punch these... lest you anger your instructor." She adds, "But, to make sure that you don't just get into a rhythm of standing there and throwing punches, I shall swing one these gloves in a similar manner to a cross-type punch." She comments, "You may either duck, step back, try to block or otherwise avoid these blows." She instructs, "But, first let's touch on some basics before we begin."

Tek nods with a smile paying close attention as instructions are being given, "Ok I am not to punch the instructor very hard, got it." winking Tek smiles wide but you can tell he is paying attention still.

Sage raises a brow faintly at the response, before shaking her head a little. A faint curl to her lips come to show she's gotten the joke. "Alright, hold up your arms like you would in your stance..." She comments, letting the man take a moment to get into a rough stance. "Holding the gloves up in front of your face is to prevent someone from jabbing you right in the face... assuming you're holding them corectly in place. But, the goal of a cross is to go around this defense. So, instead of a long, straight punch with the jab... you'd have a more rounded approach." She takes a moment to set herself, "You throw the punch deliberately outside..." She moves through the motions very slowly for the man to see, "Don't react, just watch." She instructs, "Nothing there's more of an angle to this punch as it goes around the normal defense..." She further explains, "So, you're likely going to be struck on the side of the head or face." She concludes, but she doesn't end up touching the man. She just holds the fist near where it would strike. "This is a punch you will have to learn."

Tek gets serious as the instructions start to come. He pays close attention to not only the punch you are showing but how you are standing and moving as you are throwing it, "That would not be a good one to get hit with I am thinking. Do you want me to try?"

Sage nods, "Let me just slip these gloves on." She comments as she slips on the gloves. They are more slip-on than the boxing gloves as there is no gripping ability with them. "It can be a nasty punch for sure, but it does have less range than the jab. It isn't until your opponent is closer that he can start throwing them. And, whoever has the longer reach will generally have an advantage over the opponent. Its all about strength and weaknesses." She explains, before she holds up a glove that isn't facing directly towards the man, but at an angle that the punch would likely come in at. "Here is your target." She says before holding up her other glove in a blocking position to keep a straight on punch from working to hit the other glove. "Give it a shot." She advises. She has a long enough reach to give herself some reaction time in case the man should miss.

Tek Raises his hands and starts moving his feet as previously taught. Before stepping forward he tries a couple quick jabs into the air and then a quick side punch for practice. Then while keeping in rythem with his foot work he moves in and takes a swing at the glove Sage is holding up. He manages to get a piece of it but not much of one, there is almost no connecting power. His footwork takes him back a bit and he looks to you for suggestions on his total lack of success.

Sage considers the man's form and attempt, watching the mechanics that the man shows. He certainly doesn't look like the next heavy weight champion. She keeps lively when the man tries his punch in case he should falter and throw the punch in the wrong spot. "You'll probably need to lean a little bit more towards the side you're going to throw to give yourself a little more space to curl the punch in... make sure to plant the foot on the side of the punch to drive forward with the power... and rotate your hips to make it easier..." She explains, running through the motions for the man's benefit.

Tek pays close attention as Sage tells him what he is doing wrong and then he watches her form. Trying his best to replicate what she showed him Tek steps into the punch one more time oince Sage is ready for him. He gets alot closer to the mark this time and the punch is a bit more solid but still does not have a whole lot of ohumph to it. Stepping back he tries it several more times before saying, "I think I have it. You just have to make sure to plant and swing whenever the distance is this or closer it seems."

"Yes, distance is important... but that's something you'll pick up on as you become more experienced." Sage replies, "And, it does look like you're starting to get the hang of it." She adds, "Now then, one possible way you can defend against the the cross is to move your defending arm out to mess up the angle." She comments, demonstrating by holding her hands up in defense before moving one of the arms out in demonstration. "If you get get your opponent to hit more glove or arm, they won't be able to hurt you much... and, it gives you the chance to exploit the opening they're present with a jab." She explains, "But, we'll get to that later." She comments, "Now, I think we better go over the uppercut before we get used to someone taking swings at you."

Tek smiles and nods eagerly, "I have heard of an uppercut." He does a terrible demonstration of his version of a TV upper cut into the air.

Sage nods, before looking a little amused. "Well, then you'll probably know this is a rather close-quarters punch. Your arm will generally be bench when you're unclose... all you really need to do is lean forward to try to get under the defensive, and explode upwards with the punch to catch the chin." She explains, "Again, don't underestimate the power that a good plant can bring." She comments. Given the way the man demonstrated it, she runs through the punch twice. Once in slow motion and once at full speed. "Now then, let's see how you do with this one." She comments, before re-arranging the target glove and the defensive glove that's more around the level of where elbows might be.

Tek pays close attention as Sage demonstrates and then after she rearranges the target into position Tek moves in with determination and takes a swing. After connecting solid and almost suprizing himself when he does so he repeats the move several more times each one getting a bit harder, "I like that one, but again it seems a close ranged punch. Good for a finishing maneuver it seems possibly, right?"

"It can be a finshing move... but, don't underestimage any punch. If someone has what they call 'heavy hands', they can lay you out with any of them." Sage replies, "But, this is the simplest and can be one of the more dangerous ones." She adds, "You can try to avoid it by moving your head, creating some space between you and your opponents... or just make it impossible by getting your opponent in the clinch. Again, we'll get to that." She explains. "Now, then, assume the stance... and show me some jabs." She commands as she holds up her gloves for the man to punch straight on. "But, remember, I can strike at any time." She adds.

Tek nods and gets his feet moving in a good rythem. Moving in Tek throws a jab and then another. His eyes seem focused on your eyes and his movements seem to be such as if he is trying to guess when the puch might be comming though he keeps working jabs in as he sticks and moves, sticks and moves. Sage doesn't seem to be inclined to strike right away as she figures the man would be too watchful to begin with. It isn't until he's gotten in some punches that she finally goes for the first move. To start with, she just tries a simple cross to see how well he'll handle the large mitt coming for his head.

Seeing the big mitt comming his way, Teks hands go up in a defensive manner as he steps back and trys a sway back out of the way and then come right back in to jab at the other target glove and continues to try and keep his rythem.

Sage seems satisfied for now, but she begins to work in lefts and rights of her own. So far, she remains where she is, not really going after the man. She mixes up when she throws one to keep the man on his toes. Its really just to get the man accustom to the thought of movie body, arms and heads to defend himself.

Tek keeps doing the stick and move routine and does fairly well at avoiding the glove at first but then he gets just a little bit out of rythem and takes one to the face. Not deterred he keeps right in there but soon takes another hit. His breath is commign out a bit labored though he seems determined to stick it out through the whole lesson.

When the man seems to be becoming tired, Sage decides for the last part of today's lesson. "Here I come." She warns before she begins to move towards the man, on the agressive for the first time. She uses the gloves to protect herself, but she also works in a swipe or two to see how the man reacts to a non-static target.

Tek tries to keep his head and hold his ground, only stepping back right at the beginning before turnning on a series of jabs ending with an attempted uppercut when pressed.

Sage doesn't press enough that she'd be in any danger of the uppercut, before calling a stop to things. "Enough." She comments, "There will be a time to stand your ground and a time to just keep moving." She comments, "If you're going to hold your ground against an opponent that charges, you better be sure you can handle it if it comes to trading punches." She explains, "But, you didn't get ruffled too much by my moving... so that's good." She adds, "Now then, we're going to work on situations next time... in there." She comments, pointing to the sparring ring. "So, make sure you're comfortable with the basics we've gone over."

Tek nods with a smile, "I will be sure to continue practicing so I will be ready. Thanks again." moving over to a water fountain Tek begins to pant and drink deeply. He is obviously tired from todays workout.