It’s been a good week training this week. Being honest it’s always a good week training and like everyone else I’m always learning. Over the time I’ve been training for I’ve been lucky enough to train with people of all different levels and abilities. This is ranging from guys and girls that are exceptionally good to those who are teetering around average with the potential to get really good if they put in more work, and those who have just started out but have a raw enthusiasm that puts a big grin on my face to see.

And as for me? well some days I think I’m probably a little better than I think I am, sometimes not as good as I should be. I get in the gym and train hard and do my best. I guess really that’s all anyone can ask of me, and when something’s your passion you stay with it through the highs and the lows. I’m becoming more aware of my own limitations but I’m understanding that I can counter these by building on my strengths. I know what I need to do, I know what my trainers keep telling me to do, it’s just a case of getting in there and doing it. But hey, that’s what the training is there for right?

I’m a firm believer in putting in the time with my boxing, although of late circumstances haven’t always allowed me to train as much as I would like,I slowly seem to be getting back to where I want to be. Four or five sessions a week is a happy place for me (always five when I have a fight coming up) and I know if I’m keeping  it consistent then I’m going to get somewhere.  It’s always been a pet peeve of mine when people have said ‘that so and so.. he or she is so good. their a natural at this.. ‘. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really believe in ‘natural’ talent. What I do believe in is  hard work and practice. And those that are good at what they do have taken the time to put in the work.

They say it takes around ten thousand hours to ‘achieve mastery in a field’, so when watching the top fighters who are at a professional level and have been for many years it’s worth remembering what they had to give to get there.I think what’s inspiring is that anyone can get to the level they really want to in anything they choose to do, if they are prepared to make sacrifices (sometimes there’s a lot of them) and they commit themselves to their goal. When it comes to myself I’m always setting  goals with my training. There is always something that needs to be worked on, and it’s good fun learning too. At the moment I’m enjoying getting back into my training and I’m taking quite a lot away from pad work drills. They get me thinking in combinations which is how I like to fight. But that’s a subject for a totally different blog.

So next week just like this week and the week before I’ll be back at the gym putting in the work and kind of doing my best not to wish the summer away thinking about my fight in October. For now it’s good to be back in it and training hard. And as always I’m loving the journey of a thousand miles. After all, it started with a single step. Have a good week and I’ll see you on the road.