Mon May 20 109 PA - Boxing lesson 1: Footwork

From Chronicles

Kingsdale - Harry's Gym - Sparring Room Mon May 20 109 PA.

Looking like she's been working out a little already, Sage has made her way into the sparring room. Some traded correspondence leading to this meeting with Tek. It doesn't seem likely that Sage will be throwing the man into the boxing ring today as its already occupied with some experienced people. Instead, she has taken up position near some of the punching bags to await the arrive of her pupil-to-be.

Tek comes walking in wearing a pair of bright white tennis shoes, with grey sweat pants that seem a bit too big for him. His tee shirt also seems to almost swallow the small mechanic up. On the front of his shirt says in big gold letters Goals Gym, a picture of a muscular man lifting a large barbell just underneath the lettering. His head has a sweatband streached around it that is white with a red stripe. Matching sweatbands adorn each of his wrists as well. A huge smile spreads across his face as he sees you, "Hey Sage, I must admit I am a bit nervous. Do I need a cup or somethign to protect my teeth or head or anything?"

Sage's gaze holds a small measure of amusement when she sees the man's attire, but offers a small smile. "Hey..." She replies, before the amusement briefly deepends at the question. "I'm not sure that you would be ready even if you had all that." She replies, "But, we won't be sparring dirty when we do... which means, no blows below the belt." She assures the man, before tossing the man a pair of gloves to put over his hands. "But, for now, we need to consider some basics."

Tek nods enthusiastically as he begins to put on the gloves. The left glove goes on lickity split without much fan fair at all but when he tries to get the right glove on the right hand he can't seem to figure out the concept of using the already gloved hand to make it work. "That sounds perfect. Umm is there some trick to putting the second one on I feel like I am an imbocile."

Sage makes a soft noise in amusement at the man's trouble with the second glove, "I could help you if you like... but, the opening is adjustable so that you can use the thumb of the other glove inside and close your glove hand on it, then try slipping you other hand inside... once your hand in far enough, it should be easy enough to settle your hand into place."

Following the directions Tek does manage to then get his hand into the glove by himself, "Ahh see now that makes sense, cool. Ok so what should I do now?"

Sage purses her lips as she considers the man, "Well, I think I'll give you a choice..." She comments, "We can either start working on footwork... or we can see how well you throw punches." She gestures to an open spot then the heavy punching bag as she offers the two option.

Tek considers the options for a moment before saying, "Well I am thinking the foot work would be a good place to start. After I learn to stand then we can work on punching." the notion of working on the non violent stuff first seems to appeal to him.

Sage nods faintly to the man's choice, "Come over to the mat then." She replies, as she moves over towards the earlier indicated open space. "Let me see what kind of stance you'd use when you're about to fight." She adds, "I might as well see what I have to work with first." She explains.

Moving over to the specified mat Tek is definately motivated and enthusiastic but his stance is all wrong. He really is a sight to behold with his baggy clothes and sweatbands. His hand are by his sides and toes and heels are parralel to each other. One wonders how he keeps his balance just walking. "Stance? You mean like this?" He shifts into a pose like he is about to start running.

Sage takes a moment to consider the man's stance, before she begins to moves over to the man. She begins to shake her head before she simply goes to push the man. Her main goal being to push him hard enough to stumble and perhaps fall. It seems even something as practicing stance and footwork isn't going to get the man out of physical contact of some kind. Should the man fall, her question will be simply. "Why did you fall?"

Tek stumbles to the side but does not quite tumble over. A confused look crosses his face? "Well I am not trying to be a smart ass but the only thing I can think of is that you pushed me. But that does not seem right. Right?"

Sage chuckles at the response, "Yes, I did push you..." She concedes, "but, you do seem to think there's a point to it... and you would be right." She continues, "Balance is everything when you're in a boxing match. Last thing you want to do is get hit once and end up a pile on the floor." She'll offer her hand to help the man up. "Now then, take a look at the two in the ring... see how they keep their feet moving unless they're trying to set something up? ... and see how they use mainly the ball of their feet..." She explains, pointing out the finer points. "It can be hard to see the finer points when they are moving so naturally... so that is what we will be working on." She comments.

Tek looks to the feet of the men in the ring watching intently for a while before trying to mimic it. He seems to do a fairly good job concidering, but still needs lots of work.

Sage purses her lips as she watches the man's mimicing, "Easy now, we won't be getting to that level right away." She comments, before she begins to point out little flaws in his stance and foot movement. "Here, let me show you something.." She comments, as she moves into a stance with her hands raised in a classic sort of ready to defend or attack position. She introduces a basic hopping little step to her motions.

Tek watches Sage as she shows him the new stance and then he does his best to copy it. "Ok I see... like this then right?"

Sage stops her motion as the man moves to take the stance, and comes to walk around the man to consider the stance. She makes little corrections like bending a knee a little more, moving a foot a little, shifting a shoulder slightly before seeming to be content for the time being. "Okay, now, we need to work on moving and being light on your feet." She comments before placing a hand on the man's shoulder, "Don't overthink it... just move your feet in short motions... I'm going to nudge you backwards now, just concentrate on balance and staying on the balls of your feet..." She gives a brief pause before she applies a little pressure against the man's shoulder as a signal to move. Not really a push, and Sage doesn't rush.

Taking the cue Tek starts moving his feet back and forth, his eyes are locked straight down at his feet as he is moving them like lead bricks back and forth. He is trying to mimic but it is more like a Stomp show than a boxing movement.

Sage watches the man's focus on the feet and how they don't seem to be moving naturally. "Alright, that's enough." She replies, "It seems we'll have to resort to the tried and true method of making someone use to being light on their feet..." She comments, "You may regret your choice of sweat pants, though." She points out before she walks over to grab something she set away. A skipping rope. "The more your practice, the better you'll get." She adds, "Do you need me to demonstrate first?"

Tek shakes his head and takes the jump rope, "I have not done this since I was a kid but i know how it works." with that he starts jumping rope getting a rythm going. He messes up here and there but does nto let it effect him just gets it going again.

Sage nods as she offers the rope over, "Remember that the balls of your feet will allow you the quickest movement, the rest of your feet don't help you move about as much." She comments simply, "We'll do this for a bit because its the best way to learn without focusing too much on your feet." She instructs, "But, I'll want you to practice that stance and moving a little even if its just hoping from one foot to the other."

Tek nods in understanding as he continues to skip rope.