I stand at the edge of myself
United with the world around me
Things aren’t the way I envisioned
Because I have not found peace
I see a reflection of my heart
In all of my surroundings
The good parts and the bad parts
Cover the soul of the county
The voice of my conscience
Revealed all things are my doing
The separation and despair
Flowed from thoughts of my choosing
I care for my country and generation
Because it is my body
Lord, help me to better myself
And the world around me will copy
I thought I was doing something unique when I decided to use boxing to help me prepare for the upcoming basketball season in the Destin Adult League. Through some research, I found there are many basketball players using boxing to help them prepare for basketball. Most of them are in the NBA, and that says a lot.
“Basketball and strength conditioning is not just weights and a court—boxing is a great off-season workout for NBA players,” Felipe Eichenberger, the head strength and conditioning coach for the Denver Nuggets, tells Men’s Fitness. “It has the cardio aspect, and you’re moving in all directions and using a lot of footwork in training. All the handwork, footwork, and directional movement can transfer to basketball.”
Boxing training can help boost players’ mental agility, hand-eye coordination, and (of course) help sculpt musculature, too. “Boxing is the only sport where you have to stay on your feet the whole time to be successful,” Eric Kelly, a former amateur national champion and trainer “It requires [working] every muscle in the body.”
One of my favorite basketball players, John Wall, uses intense boxing training to help him prepare for a long hard NBA season. Damian Lillard and Carmelo Anthony also use boxing for mental agility, hand-eye coordination, and (of course) help sculpt musculature, too. NBA players inspired me to continue using boxing as my go-to for conditioning.
In Fort Walton Beach, Fl, the most famous boxing gym is Walkers Boxing Academy. My friend Nick Evans invited me to watch him workout then by the next week I was in there sweating punching the bag myself. I noticed after a couple months of doing boxing, my core was stronger, and I could make more explosive movements on the basketball court. I liked the boxing workouts so much, I decided to get a monthly membership and train up until my first Basketball game.
After six months of conditioning, we had our first game in the Destin League. I was impressed with how in shape I was. I could pick up full court playing defense and then turn around and have the energy to push it on offense. I’ve gotten a lot of comments on how much I run on the court non-stop. I have to say that boxing is an excellent way to get in shape for basketball. Visit Walkers Boxing Gym and get your first workout for free.
Me after my first boxing workout.
Coach Walker, Former Golden Gloves Champion
After my exhibition match at Chester Pruitt Park
My Jesus and my faith
is all I put my heart into
I have nothing else
When my parents showed they were human
God became my only friend
I have no one else
I wanted to drive off a bridge one night
But I survived because of him
I used to be lost
Without money to lend
But God sent me some friends
They were willing to give
The stars cherished my tears
attended my prayers
I just wanted to be righteous
Wanted to see God
And grow in his likeness
While evil is blurry in the mind
A reservoir of hope appears from the heart
The heart was a fighter who lit up the path
A soldier who accepted his love wholeheartedly
Before evil could conquer the soul,
It asked did you show love today?
I said, yes with fear squeezing my chest
Then the city spoke for me,
For it is apart of me
To see my heart on the outside
Break through the evil of my flesh
People helping one another living in harmony
Becoming the spirit whose purpose is guarding me forever
The greatest day for me is when love swallows my sins
And I forget my wrongdoings
I’ll become one with my enemies
Yeah, they’ll befriend me for the better
AGAPELIFE 