Boxing 'II'
As young children we may encounter 'boxing' quite early on. This first experience, which we may or may not wholly remember is undoubtedly critical to our personality and subsequent psyche. Such early experiences influence our ability to 'look after ourselves', how we deal with bullies, anxiety, the potential for conflict and develop assertiveness skills. When a 'scrap' happens it can be quite sudden, that total impact of everything out of control, sheer danger and literal impacts. The environment might be nursery, playground, cloak room and the presence of peers as onlookers can be another key factor.
In the late 1960s early 70s I found some old boxing gloves under the stairs at my nan's. I had a handful of uncles on mum's side (just two now - Uncles Tom and Ken!) and the gloves had clearly been swung and jabbed down the line. I don't count myself as a fighter, unless someone tries to push their beliefs - without invitation - down my throat. Then it will be more a case of a reflex action. The 'arc' being comprised of vomit. In the school playground I learned to talk my way out of trouble, resorting to humour at times; as you learn to deploy whatever intellect you might have judiciously. Legs are essential to a boxer:
My legs helped me a time or two.
Not too many years ago, so a new generation is in the frame and a nephew had boxing gloves of his very own. He trained with a local club and had some fights. I didn't go watching, but didn't make too big a big fuss either. He doesn't box now as it happens; he's married with family and busy earning a living. Over four decades I've cared for several gentleman, former boxers who developed dementia. Hence, my lack of enthusiasm. (Although the selective literature listed below does not reflect it, women's boxing is of course also well established.) The extent to which boxing caused their dementia is not the point here. It's trying to acknowledge the ongoing debate: the risks, the history (Ancient Greece 688BC), the discipline, sense of belonging and self-respect it can instill. Of course a great many sports can do this. Of course, I listened very attentively as one gent could still relate how perhaps he had been 'used' in terms of the fights and purses back in the 50s-60s. Vulnerable adults of today and yesteryear. Today American Football is concerned about head injuries, in football heading the ball repeatedly is in the news. Technology should be able to reduce the risks even more and protect individuals from injury that is obvious and more insidious in nature.
Some of these points I've considered in Hodges' model as follows:
SELF self-awareness Identity self-belief way-finding dementia - cognitive damage personality change aggression tactics strategy motivation training attitude self-discipline ethics mental health - mental capacity emotions mood Personal safety | boxing technique reflexes speed movement balance punching fitness weight, reach, statistics THE RING stamina nutrition hydration concussion sub-concussive exposure models unconscious knockout Head - Brain injuries physics: force time (duration) momentum technology - sensor equipped gloves Sports Medicine Research Headgear Safety - Evidence Medical risks |
OTHER Ethnographics Coaches <-> Boxers Mentors Support network THE STREET personal history-family History sports history trainer friends club Sporting behaviour family friends
Socio-
| Rules (changes) Conflict Power promotion media finance codification rules Amateur Professional Refereeing Regulating bodies Governance Law Contracts
Economics
|
Selective reading:
Sacha, J. (2017). Fighting Feelings. Sociological Perspectives, 60(1), 77-94.
Erlanger, D. (2015). Exposure to sub-concussive head injury in boxing and other sports. Brain Injury, 29(2), 171-4.
Falvey, &., & Mccrory, P. (2015). Because not all blows to the head are the same. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(17), 1091.
Mcintosh, A., & Patton, D. (2015). Boxing headguard performance in punch machine tests. British Journal of Sports Medicine, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 14 July 2015.
http://www.welshboxers.com/quotes/
See related post 2016: 'Boxing' I
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