So, today was a Fairtex day for me. I decided to really get into a solid boxing session, you know? It’s been a little while since I properly focused just on my boxing technique with one brand, and Fairtex, well, it’s got that reputation. I dug out my trusty pair of Fairtex gloves, the ones that have definitely seen some action but still feel like they just mold to my hands.
First things first, I got to wrapping my hands. I really took my sweet time with that, making sure every knuckle felt supported and the wrist was nice and snug. There’s seriously nothing worse than jacking up your hands ’cause you were too lazy or rushed the wraps. I learned that the hard way a long, long time ago. Was getting ready for some small local smoker, thought I could get away with a quick wrap job. Man, my right hand was sore for weeks. You live and you learn, or you don’t, and you just keep getting sore knuckles, I guess.
Slipped on those Fairtex BGV1s – the classic ones, you know the type. Even though they’re well broken in, that real leather still feels tough and protective. There’s a certain satisfying thump they make when they connect with the bag. Some folks are all about the newest, flashiest gear, but honestly, give me something reliable that just works, day in and day out.
Kicking Things Off
I started off with some light shadow boxing. Just moving around the space, getting the ol’ body warmed up, throwing some easy jabs, crosses, feeling out the movement. Tried to get my footwork to cooperate. My left hook felt a bit like it was stuck in mud, gotta be honest. Probably from all the time I spent hunched over in the garden last weekend instead of actually training. My tomatoes are looking absolutely fantastic though, so there’s a silver lining.
- Then I moved over to the heavy bag. This is where I feel the Fairtex gloves really earn their keep. I did about six rounds, trying to mix up the focus.
- First couple of rounds were just about getting the punches out, focusing on volume, peppering the bag, not thinking too much.
- Then I dedicated a couple of rounds to power shots – really trying to dig in, use my legs, and put some heft behind them. My shoulders were definitely screaming at me by then, but it was that good kind of burn.
- The last two rounds, I tried to put it all together, be a bit more fluid, work on some combinations, pretend I actually knew what I was doing.
The sound of those gloves smacking the bag, that’s my kind of rhythm section. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a pretty sight, me huffing and puffing. I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore, and some days you really feel every single one of those years. Today was leaning that way, a little. But you just gotta push through it, don’t you?
I noticed my breathing was a bit all over the place today. Kept catching myself holding my breath when I was trying to throw harder combinations. Had to keep consciously reminding myself to hiss or exhale with each punch. It’s wild, the basic stuff you kind of forget or let slip when you’re not drilling it into yourself constantly. It’s mostly like riding a bicycle, you don’t totally forget, but sometimes you wobble a fair bit before you get your balance back proper.
It’s funny, you invest in decent gear like Fairtex, and it definitely makes a difference, don’t get me wrong. But then I think back to when I first stepped into a boxing gym. This place was ancient, smelled of sweat and old leather, really intimidating. The coach, an old fella, proper character named Sal, he just squinted at me and grunted, ‘You here to dance or you here to learn to fight?’ Scared the living daylights out of me. But I stuck with it. He didn’t have much time for fancy gear back then; we used whatever beaten-up stuff was available. Fairtex wasn’t even a brand I’d heard of. Sal would probably have a good laugh seeing me fuss over my gloves now. He always used to say, ‘It ain’t the gloves that do the fighting, son, it’s the hands inside ’em.’ Still true, of course, but a good pair of gloves certainly doesn’t hurt the cause, does it?
That old gym, it’s not there anymore. They knocked it down a few years back. Turned it into one of those super trendy coffee shops that sells thimbles of coffee for a small fortune. Progress, they call it. Shame, though. That place had soul.
Wrapping Up The Session
Anyway, I finished off my session today with a bit of jump rope, just to cool down and keep the feet moving, then a decent stretch. My arms felt like cooked spaghetti, but it’s that satisfying kind of exhaustion. Peeled off the Fairtex gloves and the wraps. The gloves held up perfectly, as I expected. No issues there at all. Gave them a quick wipe down; you gotta look after your tools if you want them to last.
Felt pretty darn good afterwards. Always does, clears the head, gets the blood pumping. Even if I wasn’t breaking any personal bests or looking like a world champion, just the act of showing up and putting in the effort, that feels like a win in itself. That’s the main thing, I reckon. Just keep showing up and doing the work.
