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Vigilante Justice: The Attacked Strikes Back

Posted by on May 27, 2011 in Blog, Bullying, Self-Defense | 2 comments

Bullying is a major concern in today’s educational facilities and the situation is escalating as time goes on. Worse than bullying itself is the idea that the reports of bullying are largely being ignored or not given sufficient emphasis by administrators and others given charge over students’ welfare and safety.

It didn’t take long for viral videos to surface on YouTube and Facebook of bullies being served their just recompense, all to the cheers from those applauded the underdog. Those videos, of course, never tell the full story: we’re informed, primarily, by the rudimentary description in the video and the lore recounted by others who claim to know the truth.

One unnamed high school student from Bridgeport, Connecticut, found himself the victim of bullying and believes that his ordeal was largely ignored by school administrators. There are no videos of his ordeal, just a lawsuit. The student was charged with second-degree assault for attacking his alleged bully with an aluminum baseball bat, vigilante justice style.

Read more about the story on the Connecticut Post’s website: http://www.ctpost.com/policereports/article/Bridgeport-high-school-student-attacks-alleged-1372336.php

Connecticut Post

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Husband Brutally Beats Wife in Courtroom

Husband Brutally Beats Wife in Courtroom

Posted by on Apr 21, 2011 in Blog, Self-Defense | 0 comments

Enraged over having to pay child support, Paul Gonzalez, husband and former Marine, lost all credentials of being a man and brutally beat his wife, Catie Scott-Gonzalez, unconscious in front of the sentencing judge. You can read the full article by clicking here.

It is always unfortunate when someone is victimized and unable to defend themselves, but even worse when the attacker is a presumed “loved one”. Husbands are required, by God, to “love [their] wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”. No husband, irrespective of how irritated he may become with his wife, has any right to lay a hand on her in such a fashion.

Click the image below to discover this poor woman’s predicament:

Husband Brutally Beats Wife In Courtroom

Husband Brutally Beats Wife In Courtroom

I do hope that her husband redeems himself and learns to manage his anger in a productive, mature manner. Nevertheless, self-defense is a must for Catie Scott-Gonzalez, and women across the planet who share the same plight as her.

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An Angry Woman Hit Me in the Face Today

Posted by on Apr 7, 2011 in Blog, Self-Defense, Street Fight | 2 comments

An angry woman hit me in the face today during an argument that we were having about her illegally parking in my driveway. Yes, she hit me in the face. My natural response was to throw a clean, unobstructed right cross to the lower left side of her chin, rocking her brain violently and securing a one-punch knockout. Something akin to this:

But I didn’t. I wanted to, but I didn’t. I was not in danger, so there was no need for self-defense. Her hit was not enough to make me batt a lash. The woman wanted to humiliate me in public, but I have a strong sense of dignity, so the humiliation would not happen.

We, as boxers, have to remember that our training and skill give us tremendous leverage when fighting the untrained wrongdoers. There is no need to use our potentially lethal skill against someone who doesn’t pose a significant threat to ourselves or loved ones. There are times when we should turn the other cheek, instead of giving it to them square on the chin.

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Should I Train at Trinity Boxing Club?

Should I Train at Trinity Boxing Club?

Posted by on Mar 30, 2011 in Blog, Boxing Gyms, Self-Defense, Training | 0 comments

Workout Area at Trinity Boxing Club, New York City

Workout Area at Trinity Boxing Club, New York City (photo: trinityboxingny.com)

Trinity Boxing Club is impressive. They cater to white-collar professionals who want to look fit in their suits, but don’t want to have bruises and scratches on their faces from appointments with 14 ounce gloves. That’s good for me, because that’s what my concern is: I still want to meet with clients after sparring and not look like I was mugged on a back street.

I called their Greenwich Street location to inquire about everything from shoes, workouts, fees, and more. The receptionist was more than accommodating, stating that I was their ideal client and that they catered specifically to individuals like myself.

My visit there was productive and enlightening. I watched a portion of the “Intro to Boxing” session and was mesmerized. It was graceful and aggressive all at the same time, much like a lion on the attack. The viewing gave me the opportunity to see a boxer wearing different types of boxing footwear and how they moved in them. I saw what real boxing gloves looked like, not the $39 novelty items from WalMart. And, yes, I was able to smell the gym.

The Smell
A gym’s smell is a determining factor to me, as I alluded in “Should I Train at Gleason’s Gym?”. Trinity Boxing Club smells bad, yes, but is far more tolerable than Gleason’s. I honestly can’t say why it doesn’t smell as bad. Perhaps it has something to do with the airiness of their gym…they have large windows in the front which open for fresh New York City ventilation.

The Location
Image is everything, and Trinity Boxing Club has a stellar image. While it is a dedicated boxing gym, their attention to details and style elevate their location over other boxing gyms. I was particularly impressed with their wooden floor, as strange as that might sound.

The Trainers
I didn’t meet any of the trainers personally, but observed a few at work. They appear knowledgeable and genuinely interested in their clients, at least at face value. This observation is based on watching the “Intro to Boxing” session, so I can’t say with certainty what a one-on-one session would be like.

At this point, my favorite gym is Trinity Boxing Club. It appeals to me from many different angles and I am leaning heavily on attending there. Still, I want to visit other gyms to see what other offerings are available.

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Should I Train at Gleason’s Gym?

Should I Train at Gleason’s Gym?

Posted by on Mar 29, 2011 in Blog, Boxing Gyms, Self-Defense, Training | 0 comments

The Heavy Bags at Gleason's Gym, New York City

The Heavy Bags at Gleason's Gym, New York City (photo: gleasonsgym.net)

The legendary Gleason’s Gym, that famed den of boxing legends, is a mere stone’s throw from where I live and easy to access. Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Holmes, Spinks, and Clooney all trained there. With such a motivating legacy, any fighter would be inclined to train there.

The Smell
I visited Gleason’s several times to get an idea of what to expect in a gym and was startled. The first thing that caught my attention was the smell. The offensive, acrid sweat engulfs you from the moment the doors open. Certainly, I know that gyms will reek of the perspiration of many intensly-training humans, because I’ve trained in bodybuilding gyms before. PowerHouse Gym, Johnny Lats Gym, the school gyms at Pratt Institute and FIT, and others were much easier on the olfactory. Bodybuilders don’t train the same way as boxers do, so the smell in a bodybuilding gym is much more tolerable.

Sadly, I spent much time holding my breath while I looked around. Training, while contending with the smell, would likely prove to be a handicap for me.

The Location
I was impressed with the gym facility, on the other hand. It is very well equipped and staffed. The ring, bags, and other items appear well-worn and time-tested. I know I wouldn’t have to use the cheap stock merchandise from Modell’s, but professional-quality equipment that was built to last.

The Trainers
Can you find a roster of quality trainers under one roof anywhere else in the world? A sampling of their staff trainers includes Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, and James “Country” Thornwell. “Country” was to be my trainer when I went to discuss training and payment.

I’m certain that I would benefit tremendously from training at Gleason’s. Is it the gym for me? I’m not certain of that, unfortunately. Visiting a few more boxing gyms would give me a better insight as to what would suit my needs, particularly the size of the gym, trainers, and, of course, the smell…

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