It’s been a long while since my last post. A lot has changed. In business and in my life. I’ve learned so much more. I used to think I knew a lot but now I know, that I didn’t know shit.
In terms of training progress, and expanding my own knowledge, I stumbled into triathlon. Quite polarizing from boxing and yet, I think that boxing could learn a lot from the science that goes into endurance training.
Boxing its self is very anerobic in nature. Quick bursts of extreme energy exertion, with 1 to 3 minute rounds and short rest periods between rounds. Triathlon is much longer, less intense and typically far more aerobic in nature.
As different as they seem on the surface, I believe that the antiquated and archaic training habits of traditional boxing training share more then meets the eye. You’ll need a solid understanding of the two energy systems to see some similarities however, if you spend enough time around boxers, you’ll start to see the similarities.
Some of you may be familiar with the 80/20 training methodology. It is also known as polarized training. This method dictates that 80 percent of an athletes training is conducted at an easy pace, or rate or perceived exertion. The remaining training, the 20 % is executed at a very high level of exertion. This training method is used by the worlds best endurance athletes and teams across all sports, including but not limited too, cycling, triathlon, running, cross country skiing, rowing, and many other sports. However, sports and especially American sports, aren’t typically associated with this style of training. But could they? I think it’s something to consider.
Take football for example. Pick any given team and look at the injuries. Acl and other knee problems plague even the best teams, costing millions in surgery, and rehabilitation, not to mention lost revenue from ticket sales and overall team performance suffering. Injuries like this, are sure fire signs of overtraining and/or poor emphasis on recovery methods.
Being in the boxing industry, I am seeing some progress towards smarter training methods. But it’s slow. The “can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a hard one to kick. I’m beginning to see athletes using the tools, readily adopted by endurance athletes, like heart rate monitors and other data collection items. However, at the same time I still see the usage of sauna suits and other, non scientific based items being used for no reason other then, it’s what has always been used.
Through my amateur program, I’m introducing fighters to a more effective training methodology. Utilizing the 80/20 style of training to keep them in shape, developing their base fitness levels while pushing them further then they’ve ever been able to go. My hope is that this introduction, into scientific based training, instead of just doing what everyone else has done, is something that they can take with them. The change doesn’t start at the very top, I think the change has to happen at the very beginning. Make the training change a generational adaptation instead of an adoption treand in training. Many times, these fitness trends you see may have good structure, but the structure is lost in social media and peoples lack of patience.
I’ve kind started rambling a bit here but, the point of this post is to show individuals that an 80/20 training style will give athletes AND those on weight loss journeys, the biggest gains, keeping your body healthy and ready for more. Yes you’ll lose weight, yes your tone up, yes you’ll execute better. Even if you don’t feel like you’re pushing hard enough, if you stick to your zones, (which’s I can help you set up) then the progress will come.
Stay busy, stay training.
Jon
