Philippines, 27 Nov 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Find Your Center


PhilBoxing.com




A friend of mine told me about something he'd read, that to find peace and be settled in life one has to figure out what it is one is running from. Not being much of a runner myself I rather look at the same view from the stance of a fighter. Always find your center. Just as a boxer moves with perfectly equated weight distribution on both sides of his body find out what it is that drives you and hold on to it, and then start moving on from there. Accepting the weight of whatever your center may be gives you stability and automatically gives you an approximation of things around you 'cause each and everyone of us are innately born with logic.

It is an irony, though, with life itself being the biggest among ironies, that I speak of logic when love, being the strongest driving force in the world, is beyond explanation. That part, I don't have the capacity to clarify at the moment. But know your center still and I believe everything becomes clearer for you moving forward or back (in retrospect). For sure, it simplifies matters just as you look across the window and you automatically have a quick estimation of how long it'd take you to walk leisurely down a corner. And you won't keep on waking up in your bed, if you're lucky enough to have a home, wondering what it is you live for and what the main purpose is of your being. Knowing your center, your driving force, you are able to tell if you are going the wrong direction, going past, or not doing good enough to catch up with it. One more thing is that you are able to focus your energy and maximize it with what matters and whenever it's called for. That is how the best boxers don't overdo things. They know when to come in or step back, their punches are committed yet don't get thrown off balance by their momentum, their estimations are lethal with proper training, and discharge with great timing from a relatively safe and balanced ground- thus, the definition of the sport, "to hit and not get hit." And that is why no sport mirrors life like Boxing.

Down at the gym the boxing scholars of The Villanueva Boxing Academy ranging from eleven to fifteen years of age are nearing the middle of their training in preparation for the elimination round of The Batang Pinoy Boxing Competition in Roxas City this coming September. It's a tournament we have previously won Gold and Bronze medals. Their eyes are fixed at the prize, and for a change the prize is not money, at least not directly. It is not how they are trained in this old school type of Boxing gym for the underprivileged youth. The very fact that they are off the streets make them champions. Downstairs, one Harry Camacho works the heavy bag alone in a corner and as he kept ramming his fists the sound of its integrity resounds against the washed up walls that reveal signed photos of boxing legend Wayne McCullough and actor Neil Jackson with adamant expressions of encouragement. On the second floor a ten year old kid with sorry eyes is too young to box and can't wait for the next year to come, and watches the rest practice with coach Estrella dictating the routines. Christian Dave Jumento, 15 years old, a natural counter-puncher shadowboxes. Brothers Jules and Justin Victoriano works a drill with John Paul Alapar.

In a sport stricken with corruption, these kids are armed with character and traditional values, but they don't know it yet. It is a place a once poor Manny Pacquiao might have hoped existed in a time when nobody else was there for him. And now each time he wins Billions of Pesos from a single prizefight the government ushers him a redundant million.

Outside the gym one could hear the sound of simultaneous punches, skipping sound of the rope, rattling of the speed ball and the heaving of the upper floor. The Villanueva Boxing Academy beats life.


Mark F. Villanueva
BoxingInsight.Blogspot.com

Mark owns the Villanueva Boxing Academy for underprivileged kids in Iloilo City. Follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/markfvillanueva

Like the Villanueva Boxing Academy Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mark-Villanueva-Boxing-Academy/525918080779632?ref=hl


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mark F. Villanueva.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Past Week in Action 25 November 2024: Papot KOs Wagner; Guerfi Stops Le Couviour
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • El Presidente, Grand Maestro, Kamatyas, Flash Arca and Gwapings to grace the 49th IIEE ANC and Golden sports on November 28 to 30 at SMX Pasay City
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • DC judokas win 3 golds, 1 silver in Batang Pinoy
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • Emirates NBA Cup Updates: Warriors Only Team With Clear Path to KO Round
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • Taduran defense in limbo
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • Nisa Rodriguez to return to ring Dec. 17th on “Holiday Fight Night 3” at Sony Hall in Times Square
    , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • Lopez-Ataev main event leads international spectacular at IBA Champions’ Night Dubai
    , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • WORLD NINEBALL TOUR ANNOUNCES THREE RANKING EVENTS TO CONCLUDE 2024
    , Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • HIGHLY COVETED TEAM GB OLYMPIAN PAT BROWN SIGNS WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
    , Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • NM Inigo rules Philippine Batang Pinoy Blitz chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • SPORTS SHORTS 285: AMIR KHAN ACCEPTS OFFER FOR AN EXHIBITION MATCH WITH MANNY PACQUIAO
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • FOGOUM, TOSHIHIKO, KIM, RATTAWUT, RUF, CHUTINAN IN ACTION IN HIGHLAND’S EXCITING “SHOWDOWN” NOV 28 AT SPACEPLUS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Gil Robiego Co Elected New APPBRO President for 2025-2027
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Garma wins, climbs to 8th place
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Davao futsal scores 1st win
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
    , Sun, 24 Nov 2024
  • Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
    , Sun, 24 Nov 2024
  • World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
    , Sun, 24 Nov 2024
  • The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
    , Sun, 24 Nov 2024
  • OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
    , Sun, 24 Nov 2024
  • Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 23 Nov 2024
  • SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sat, 23 Nov 2024
  • RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 23 Nov 2024
  • Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 23 Nov 2024
  • Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 23 Nov 2024




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2024 philboxing.com.