BOXING: Doug Ward - When All Else Fails ... Jab

When All Else Fails ... Jab

By Doug Ward

During the 2001 championship fight between Floyd Mayweather and Diego Corrales, George Foreman, as part of HBOs broadcast team, said “If you want to be a good fighter, forget about the left jab, but if you want to be a great fighter, that’s the best punch in boxing.”   Although you could argue whether it is THE BEST punch in boxing, you can’t disagree with Big George’s sentiment about its level of importance in the ring.

The jab absolutely separates the good from the great.  When used and used often, the jab can single-handedly control and, ultimately determine the outcome of a fight.  Executed effectively, it can dictate the distance a fight is fought at, it can set the pace of a bout, it can discourage an aggressive fighter, weaken a brawler, it can nullify a puncher by creating space, the jab can help establish control and put any fighter in the power position. There are a few qualities you can take advantage of in order to make your jab one of the best in the game:

1)  Throw it long.  Extend it out, roll your shoulder and turn your knuckles over to take full advantage of every inch of your reach.  Your power is on the end of your punch, when all of the joints are locked out. Don’t sell yourself, and the importance of your jab, short by being safe with it.  Get it out there and make a statement with it.

2)  Mix it up, the jab that is.  Throw it at a slightly different angle, fake with it, use it to the head and down to the body and vary the speed you throw it at.  The jab is most effective when you use it often, but also when you’re not predictable with it.

3)  If your jab is getting countered or easily blocked, don’t stop using it.  Instead, double up on it.  It’s harder to counter a double or triple jab (if they’re thrown correctly).  Either that, or fake it before you throw a real one.  Whatever you do, don’t abandon it, just use it more and mix-up your approach.

4)  If all else fails…jab.  If you don’t know what else to throw or what counter to make – jab.  It scores points, it is a relatively safe punch to throw, in terms of exposing yourself too much and, in the process, it will likely create other openings.

5)   Above all, throw it like you mean it!  Too many fighters paw with it, like a cat, toying with a ball of yarn. Be a bulldog instead. Throw it to land and make a dent in something.  A good, hard, power jab sends a strong message.  If you’re tentative with it and non-committal, that sends a message too.  If you’re in the ring to fight, then let it be known from the very first jab you throw.

The key is to strengthen and use the jab as a power punch.   Don’t just treat it like a set-up shot or smokescreen, but use it as a valuable weapon that can lead the charge and rally the troops.  Capitalize on its versatility.  The jab can do everything from providing time to feel your opponent out, to breaking him down by peppering him with a stinging chin-checker round after round.

Unless you’re throwing it incorrectly or in a predictable way it’s not possible to use the jab too often.  If you throw it right, throw it hard and throw it fast, you simply cannot go wrong. Dedicating yourself to the simple philosophy of having the best jab you possibly can, may help you make that leap from good to great.




NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/when-all-else-fails-jab/

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - Boxing's Exceptions

Boxing's Exceptions

By Doug Ward

The old saying that “Rules were made to be broken” has some truth in it, even when it comes to boxing.  As important as proper fundamentals are, how much good technique can serve you and how valuable it is to master the rules of the ring, there are some unorthodox moves that work for certain fighters.  There are a handful of select fighters, elite athletes, who incorporate bad habits into their repertoire and they not only get away with it, but are able to actually make it work to their advantage.  They might be ignoring some basic, sound principles of boxing.  They may be breaking a fundamental rule, or doing something flat-out WRONG and it still works…for them.

As an example, Floyd Mayweather regularly, albeit selectively, utilizes a lead, leaping left hook – which is a no-no in almost all cases.  Yet, he is able to get away with it because of his speed and ability to mask it within other movements.  He also uses a shoulder roll-style defense.  Other fighters have tried to mimic this technique, but none do it as effectively as Floyd.  His speed, awareness and how naturally he executes it, is what sets him apart.  It is a part of his inner-fabric and was woven into his defense organically, because it suits his individual ability and fighting style.
 
Andre Ward is another example of disobeying a basic boxing rule of thumb.  He regularly picks his back foot up and ends up squaring-himself off when he delivers a right cross.  This is bad because it typically takes you out of position to quickly throw again or defend.  His purposeful use of this technique is so that he is throwing and then smothering his opponents return punches.  Many other fighters have been caught with a punch as they are falling-in, attempting to employ this technique, or are just ineffective in working it into a next move.  Andre, on the other hand, is able to get away with it because of his natural athleticism and sense of timing.  Manny Pacquiao does the same thing, but he is able to pull it off because of his aggressive style, his unorthodox punch variety and high volume output.

Then, there’s the oldest rule in the book of keeping your hands up.  Similarly, although more blatantly than Muhammad Ali, Sergio Martinez regularly drops his hands and avoids incoming punches by slipping and ducking. He ignores the fundamental rule of keeping your hands up, but is able to do it effectively because he has fantastic reflexes and coordination.  Like Ali, Sergio relies on his ability to see the punches coming, avoids them or takes the shot in stride.  For all the good he’s brought to the sport, Muhammad Ali ruined a legion of young fighters who thought they too could fight with their hands low, only to wake up on the canvas to the sound of “….8…9…10!”

That being said, the point is really to be careful when emulating or idolizing specific fighters and their unique styles.  Some departure from the basics and what works can only be accomplished by certain individuals.  Some fighting attributes are unique to their personalities and strengths.  What worked for them, may not work for you because you are not them.  You were born an original.  There is only one you.  So while it’s great to learn, take characteristics and mimic fighting styles, there may be attributes you can’t and shouldn’t try to replicate, even if it makes that particular fighter look successful or is effective for them.

The basics may be boring, but they work.  The best fighters excel from doing the basics better than anyone else, not by blatantly disregarding traditional technique.  Take Sugar Ray Robinson, arguably the greatest fighter of all time, as an example.  He had great hand speed, kept his hands high (for that time period anyway), utilized a tremendous jab to set up combinations and possessed knockout power in both hands.  What did he do that was out of the ordinary?  He performed the boxing basics to their ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.  Now, that’s a good example to follow.  Executing the basics of boxing, to the best of your ability, will not only look different on you, but will ultimately set you apart from the pack.  There was only one Muhammad Ali.  There is only one Floyd Mayweather.  There is only one you.  Do what you do best and if a stylistic departure from the basics comes, it will evolve naturally, not because you tried to do what so many others have already done.

Focus on developing substance more than creating style.  Do what’s right before what looks good and your signature move will materialize on its’ own.  There are worse things than winning a world title from doing all of the basics exceptionally well.  Being correct is sometimes better than being different.





NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/boxings-exceptions/

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - The Golden Rules of Boxing

The Golden Rules of Boxing

By Doug Ward

Just like there are Cardinal Sins of Boxing, those things you should never do inside the ring, there are also the Golden Rules of Boxing.  These aren’t basic tips that reinforce good boxing form, like using your jab or keeping your hands up.  Those are techniques.  The Golden Rules of Boxing are ring philosophies.  They are approaches and attitudes.  They are the principles you should live by in the ring in order to survive and thrive.

Rule #1:  Be unpredictable, both on offense and defense.  Habits, good and bad, are engrained from repetition and boxing training is one of the most repetitious sports on the planet.  However, in spite of the monotony, you can’t let your mind and body go on auto-pilot or you will always throw the same punch, the same combination, act and react in pretty much the same way.  Instead, you have to condition yourself to think as you go.  Don’t allow yourself to just go through the motions.  Mix up your attack, vary your defense and make yourself unpredictable.  Change-up your lead punch, the intensity you throw it with and the speed you deliver it at.  A large part of being effective is based on variety and unpredictability.  Keeping your opponent guessing will keep him on the defensive.  Variety may be “the spice of life”, but it’s the main course of boxing.

Rule #2:  If you make your opponent miss, you have to make him pay.  Otherwise, what does he have to lose by throwing punches?  There’s nothing discouraging him from being aggressive and taking chances, unless you make him pay a price for the mistakes he makes.  A good defense is only as valuable as the openings it creates.  If you block, slip or parry a punch, be sure that you’re in position to come back with something in return.  Standing around, admiring your masterful defensive skills scores no points and gets no knockdowns.  Be elusive, but be aggressive in return.

Rule #3:  Step with purpose.  Too many fighters waste energy, miss openings and are not in position to punch.  Their feet are moving all over the place; before they punch, while they punch, after they punch and even when they aren’t doing anything at all.  They’re moving, dancing, hopping, bouncing, jittering around, but never really take a meaningful step.  Move when it is meant to accomplish something; when it puts you in range, gives you a better angle, gets you out of danger or places you in the optimal position to land.  Step with authority, with purpose and a clear intention to gain an advantage.  Anything else weakens your position and robs you of energy.

Rule #4:  The same rule that applies to footwork and movement, also applies to punches.  Don’t throw them if you don’t intend to land them.  No one wants to watch a fighter paw, poke, and stab or slap with his punches.  Pointless punches are for hesitant fighters, unsure fighters.  You send a message with every move you make.  If you are not confident enough to throw with the intent to land, then you are not in the fight and pawing at the air will not put you there.  You can fake with the strategic idea of masking a second shot and you can punch with a purpose to connect, but purposely punching the air and poking at nothing, just to stay busy and create the illusion of activity is BS and EVERYONE knows it.  You are not confusing your opponent and you’re not fooling the crowd.

Rule #5:  Move your head before and after you punch.  Perpetual movement is hard to deal with and adds an unknown that makes most opponents uncomfortable…and uncomfortable = hesitant.  The unpredictability that you gain from constantly punching and moving sounds basic, but requires focus and energy.  Commit to the constant movement and you’ll wear your opponent down.  You will find yourself punching while he’s waiting and forcing the action because he’s expecting a stationary target that never materializes.



Rule #6:  Accept responsibility.  Win, lose or draw, you only have yourself or your opponent to blame.  Contrary to what some high paid, well-respected trainers would like everyone to believe, a cornerman seldom wins or loses a fight for his guy.  Can they have an impact on the outcome?  Sure.  Do they determine it?  No, they don’t.  Tinkerbelle can make everyone clap as loud and as hard as she wants to, but the magic is in you.  When you place the blame on someone else, you are only disempowering yourself.  When you own up to your mistakes, your shortcomings or poor choices, you can change.  When you don’t, you can’t.  Take your losses like a man and you’ll be surprised at how much of a better one you become.
The Golden Rules of Boxing are kind of like life’s golden rule; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” except boxing’s version is “Do unto others.”  Letting them do unto you is the part you want to avoid.






NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/the-golden-rules-of-boxing/

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - The Cardinal Sins of Boxing

The Cardinal Sins of Boxing

By Doug Ward

There are some very specific things you have to do inside the ring to be a good boxer, but there are also some very specific things you should NEVER do in the ring in order to be a good boxer.  Of course, there are the basic rules, like…don’t drop your jab when you bring it back, don’t step with the wrong foot first, be sure to keep your hands up and so on.  Aside from some of these types of common, basic mistakes, there are a few more advanced ones that should be taken very seriously.  Consider them the Cardinal Sins of Boxing.

Sin #1.  Never, ever drop your hands when you are coming out of an exchange.  If you step back with your hands down, you are almost always guaranteed to get clipped.  Instances where this has come back to bite a fighter are endless, but for a perfect example, type Mike McCallum versus Donald Curry into YouTube and, at least, watch the fifth round to see the last, biggest mistake a once-promising fighter ever made.

Sin #2. Never step straight back when you go on the defensive.  Step side to side, give your opponent angles and force them to adjust their attack to find you.  When you move straight back, you are staying right in the line of fire and right on the end of your opponents punches…the last place you want to be.

Sin #3.  When you have just ducked and slipped a combination and are coming up from a crouched position, come up throwing.  Don’t just expect your opponent to stop throwing and let you stand up to engage again.  Transform it into an offensive move by immediately retaliating from your defensive position and turning the tide back in your favor.

Sin #4.  Never reach out to block punches.  Make your opponent come to you.  Make him commit to the punch, commit his weight and then counter. When you meet the punch half way, you make your opponent’s job too easy.  Again, if you want a perfect example, look at the fourth round of Lennox Lewis versus Hasim Rahman on YouTube.  The third round says it all.

Sin #5.  Don’t lead from the outside with an inside punch. The uppercut is an inside punch.  The hook is an inside punch.  Floyd Mayweather has a slick and effective left hook lead, but only because he uses it correctly.  He uses it sparingly, he uses it selectively, but he is also Floyd Mayweather and there’s only one of those.  As a general rule…don’t do it.  Don’t lead with a hook or with an uppercut.  They are outside punches and take too long to reach their mark.  Instead, properly set them up with lead punches and sprinkle them into your combinations to make them most effective.
 
Once you’re inside the ring, there are a myriad of mistakes you can make.  Any one of them may be minor and have little or no effect on the outcome of the fight.  Then, there is the other kind.  It is major.  It can be dramatic and it can work against you, sometimes spelling your defeat.  No mistakes are good, but breaking any one of the Cardinal Sins of Boxing and you’re opening yourself up to making a major faux pas.  It is usually unforgiving with bad consequences and you won’t get away with it very often.  Confess to yourself or to your coach that you will never be tempted to do any of these.  There is no good in them.  Now go and sin no more.




NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/the-cardinal-sins-of-boxing/

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - Finding the Winner in You

Finding the Winner in You

By Doug Ward

What made Michael Jordan unquestionably one of the greatest basketball players ever is that, aside from an unwavering will to win when the game was on the line, he always wanted the ball.  His supreme confidence and extreme competitiveness allowed him to rise to the occasion.  More often than not, his single- mindedness paid off.  He understood how to embrace the anxiety that comes with pressure, how to exploit it and feed off of it.  If you want to succeed in boxing, one of the first things you need to do is perfect the art of performing under pressure.

Our bodies were naturally wired for performance.  They were made to hunt, gather and live under extreme conditions.  As far removed as you may feel from your caveman ancestors, there’s no escaping the generic blueprint you still work from today.  Then and now, you were born to fight.

In the heat of the battle, in those pressure-cooker situations, your body is built to funnel all of its reserves to only those select activities and emotions that are crucial to survival; necessary for winning.  If you let your body do what it does best, without trying to over-analyze it or work against it, it will channel all that is vital to your success and work towards helping you achieve it.  Don’t fight the feelings of being under pressure, but instead allow yourself to be under the gun and welcome the physical response that comes with it.  That means not trying to keep the butterfly wings in your belly from flapping, but use them to propel you onward and upward.
 
The key to performing to your potential, not “choking” or freezing-up is focusing on the activity, not the outcome.  How many times have you effortlessly wadded up a ball of paper and sunk it in the wastebasket for an easy two points?  Then, when someone challenges you to match their toss or do it from the three point zone, every muscle tightens, your breathing becomes labored and all you can think about is “I hope I don’t miss.”  It’s right then when you are acting against your natural inclination to simply perform.  You started thinking.  You started analyzing and you started worrying about whether you would make it or not, instead of zeroing-in on the target and letting it fly…just like you’ve done a thousand times before.

Since the classic 1990 fight between Chavez Sr. versus Meldrick Taylor has been a hot topic recently (on the heels of the Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez fight), let’s use it as an example.  Chavez was clearly losing that fight.  Going into the last round he needed a knockout to win.  Do you think he tensed-up, began worrying about losing and started the round by throwing all he had with every punch?  Nope.  Instead, he hunkered down, focused on tightening-up his technique, became more intent on delivering every punch as efficiently as possible and zeroed-in on his target.  He stayed the course and continued to do what he had for the previous 11 rounds, only with a little more resolve.  He intently walked Meldrick Taylor down with the sole focus of landing meaningful punches.  A perfectly timed, well-executed right cross ended the fight.  Chavez didn’t fight desperate or over-anxious.  He just fought determined.  The knockout came, not because he was focused on the outcome, but because he focused on execution.  He relied on his skill set and trusted his instincts.

Like anything in boxing, developing that type of confident mindset takes practice.  Make it a goal, every time you walk in the gym or step into the ring to focus solely on the task in front of you.  Embrace the nervous energy.  Acknowledge the head games you play with yourself.  Taste the fear and then let all of the nonsense give way to focusing on doing what you want to do.  Don’t focus on how you feel or what you don’t want to happen, but simply focus on what has to be done.  Don’t think about how you just missed a punch.  Instead, try to fine-tune your technique with every combination.  Don’t get mad at yourself because you just took a clean shot.  Instead, improve your defense each time you get hit.  Concentrate on what you are doing, put forth your best effort and let the results be what they are.  You’ll learn more, perform better and feel better about the activity overall just by living in the moment.

The adrenaline rush you feel when you walk into the gym or step in the ring is part of the thrill of boxing.  If you always remember that’s one of the reasons you compete, and don’t let that emotionally-charged moment become your adversary, the paralyzing bright lights of expectation can instead become a spotlight for your best performance ever.




NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/finding-the-winner-in-you/

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - Mean What You Say

Mean What You Say

By Doug Ward

It has been stated a hundred different ways;  what you confess you possess, your thoughts become actions, what you think about you bring about, but no matter what clever spin you put on it, the simple truth is your mind and mouth have a tremendous impact on what action you take.  You are most likely to do exactly what you think about most and what you say you’re going to.  It’s part science, part psychology and all up to you.

Whether you like him or not, respect his ring generalship or despise his arrogance, think he’s a marketing genius or genuine punk, make no mistake about it…Floyd Mayweather applies some of the best psychological warfare in boxing (or any other sport for that matter).  Either instinctively or well-calculated, Floyd has found the perfect formula for tapping into his own psyche and has transformed it into a boxing dynasty.  So, for one article, put your emotions aside and, love him or hate him, learn something from the five-time world champion.

With the birth of HBOs ground-breaking behind-the-scenes series, 24/7 and Floyd’s own flamboyant personae, boxing fans are getting a look at one of athletics secret weapons like never before.  Other fighters have done this.  It’s not new and may not be as secret as it is just underutilized and misunderstood.  Simply put, It is the power of talking the talk and walking the walk.

KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT

KNOWING WHAT IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE IT and then


PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH

What Floyd Mayweather does…the power of saying and doing…is as easy as one, two, and three:

1. Know what you want.  Floyd makes his desires abundantly clear, through his words, actions and even right down to is ring name, “MONEY”.  Decide early on what your ultimate goal is.  It will be your fuel when you’re tired, your will to fight on when you are getting pounded and it will be that one thing that will drive you on to do what others can’t or won’t.  Dig deep and do some soul searching to really tap into what your “emotional driver” is.  It may go deeper than just wanting “things” and almost always does when you look deep enough.  For example, you may say “I want a new car.” When what you really want, if you get to the heart of it, are the feelings that a new car brings.  It isn’t just the leather seats, the chrome bumpers and that new car smell that you hunger.  It’s actually the attention the girls give you, the feelings of self-worth and sense of accomplishment that comes with it.  Sure, the idea a new car is cool, but it’s really the feelings it brings that will motivate you to go that extra mile.  Floyd talks about money, flaunts his money and is eager to show what his riches have bought him, but if you listen to him close enough, what does he talk about at the end of the day?  He talks about providing a lifestyle and level of security for his kids, for his family.  He places his goal in the form of a tangible “something,” but the root of what pushes him has much more substance.  Don’t let his over-the-top personae fool you.  There’s a method to his madness and it works!  Whether Floyd is actually applying science to his approach is questionable, but intuitively he knows what stokes his coals.  The fact is, money actually acts like a drug.  It lights up the brains reward centers just like a drug does and physically changes the way you think.  A study conducted in 2006 found that people reminded of a monetary reward, worked 70 percent longer than their counterparts did, who were only offered “general compensation”.  The study went on to conclude that the visualization of money also aided in boosting the participants self-confidence and provided a level of protection from the pain of rejection.  Money may not be your external motivator, but Floyd Mayweather is onto something that works for him and it makes scientific sense why.  The bottom line is, know what you really want, tangible or not, and you’re more likely to endure what it takes to succeed where others do not.

2.  Know what it’s going to take to get what you want (and be realistic about it).  You can’t spend two days a week at the gym and want to be world champion.  That ain’t happening!  How many times have you seen Floyd Mayweather in the gym training, on TV or in person, leading his team in the mantra “Hard work.  Dedication.”?  He says it, they say it, over and over and over.  He burns that mantra into his brain and creates the neural pathways that he’s going to travel through every time he steps into the gym or hits the road running.  Hard work.  Dedication.  Forget the specific actions, how many rounds, how much sparring, when and what takes place.  They all require the same thing.  Hard work.  Dedication.  Floyd knows what being the best requires, constantly tells himself that and realizes it’s the only way he’ll get what he wants.  Then, he speaks it into reality, time and time again.  Hard work.  Dedication.

3.  Finally, the most important step of all…you have to practice what you preach.  Floyd’s work ethic is unquestionable.  He’s an extremely gifted fighter, but he backs that up with pure hard work and tieless devotion to his sport.  People have some strong opinions and say many things about Floyd Mayweather the person, but have you ever heard anyone say that he is a lazy fighter or that he cuts corners in the gym?  He absolutely doesn’t, if for no other reason, he knows he’s done a lot of talking that he has to back-up with action and that won’t happen with less than all he’s got to give.  So, no matter how bold of a prediction you make or simple statement you make about what you’re going to do, don’t say it if you’re not willing to do it.  And if you are, then go all out and put in 100% effort, 100% of the time. Forget 110%. That’s a stupid, overused cliché.  There is no magic, extra 10%, but by doing ALL that you’re capable of, ALL of the time, what your 100% effort is will grow and so will what you’re then capable of.

The steps to success are not easy to climb, but they are simple.  By knowing what you want, what it will take to get there and being willing to endure whatever stands in your way, you can reach the pinnacle.  Once those decisions are made, the events and how they materialize are secondary.  Whether you want more “stuff”, the respect of others or just a sense of accomplishment, be willing to put your money where your mouth is.




NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/mean-what-you-say/

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - Don't Hold Back

Don't Hold Back

By Doug Ward

If you’ve spent countless hours toiling-away in the gym, left gallons of sweat on the ring canvas and have gone through more ice healing your wounds than 7-Eleven sells for Big Gulps in a week and you still aren’t any closer to becoming the fighter you think and know you should be, then it’s likely that there are one of three things holding you back.  You are either being suppressed by the internal, limiting beliefs that you and only you have placed on yourself.  You are succumbing to, or are allowing yourself, to be restrained by external influencers, the people you surround yourself with.  Or, the people around you are actually physically and mentally operating in a way that is holding you back.

If it’s you that’s placing your own limits on your ability, how you see yourself and what you truly believe you’re capable of, you’re not alone.  Self defeating behaviors and thought processes are a common trait in most people, not just fighters.  Some people just inherently figure out how to overcome them or have a desire so strong that it diminishes the power of their own negative thinking.  This goes back to your ongoing inner dialogue, a set of fixed beliefs you have about yourself or what you feel your worthy or not worthy of.
It gets fairly involved to go too much in-depth into each characteristic, but you need to be sure that the scenarios you play out in your head and the way you react to yourself are benefitting you.  You will become what you think about most of the time. Good thoughts about who you are and what you do will manifest themselves by producing good, positive actions.  On the other hand, constantly being down on yourself because you’re not fighting the way you think you should be will keep you doing just that.  Good or bad, you will subconsciously fulfill the image you have of yourself.  “What you think about, you bring about.”  It’s as simple as that.

You also have a set of fixed beliefs about who or what you are and those beliefs can play a crucial role in what you allow yourself to accomplish.

“I’m too old to be an elite professional fighter.”

“I don’t have the connections to make it big in this sport.”

“I’m the wrong color, nationality, social status, religion, race, size, shape…to be a successful fighter.” The list of reasons “why you can’t” are endless, but they all lead to a negative outcome.  So why not let go of a few rules and just believe that it is possible. Belief is the most important attribute of success and, once you figure that out, the details don’t matter.  How much weight you give your life rules is what makes the real difference.

A second possibility is that you are letting others create your world for you.  Consciously or subconsciously you are allowing their perception of you to dictate your environment.  Consider this:  Although most goldfish you see are relatively small, they are actually capable of growing 100 times their normal size.  Because they are confined to the limitations of a small bowl, they adapt to their surroundings?  Their normal, average size becomes far less than their potential and it is all because they adapt to the environment that is created for them.  They become as big as they are allowed to…and no more.  If a goldfish thought bigger and filled its confining bowl to capacity, do you think his or her owner would get a larger bowl?  If you’ve heard the expression “Never let someone else create your world because they will always make it too small.”  Guess what?  It’s true, but only because you allow it.  Don’t let others program you to believe that you have limitations and that you only possess a certain amount of control over your life. You own every part of it.

The third limiting behavior is much more blatant.  It has been called numerous things, but the most common is Crab Mentality.  It is intentional and it emanates from the people you surround yourself with. Crab Mentality is a metaphor, but it’s real.  This reference is typically used to describe people who subscribe to a holding others back for no apparent reason, other than selfishness and jealousy.  Did you know that if a crab is alone in a pot, it can easily escape?  But, if you put that same crab in a pot with several other crabs, the others grab him and pull him back, preventing him from succeeding. This doesn’t save them or improve their chances for survival.  It only ensures their collective demise.   Do you share your “pot”, your environment, with other “crabs”…people who diminish your successes, remind you of your failures and do everything they can, verbally and mentally, to hold you back?  If you have the desire to succeed, be better and do better, be sure you have people around you, business and personal, that share and support a healthy, unified desire to achieve more.

Whether it’s in business, athletics or life in general, successful people work through a mindset of belief.  They don’t try, they don’t think, they don’t hope.  With 100 percent commitment, they BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED.  They remove all obstacles, physical or mental and then reap the rewards of their commitment.  If you are willing to examine what might be holding you back and keeping you from experiencing success for yourself, then all it takes from there is letting go of anyone or anything that is in the way of your ultimate goal.  The short time pain might be worth the long term gain.  It almost always is.




NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/dont-hold-back-2

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - A New Year, A New You

A New Year, A New You

By Doug Ward

The New Year typically symbolizes a time to create a fresh set of resolutions, a list of goals you want to accomplish the coming year or even some bad habits you may want to leave behind.  Unfortunately, in many cases, these resolutions slowly fade as the NEW of the New Year wears off and the routine of life settles back in. So how do you keep the fire alive? How do you stay on track to keep your fitness goals intact or your boxing career aspirations in sight?

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