My UWCB Journey
Discussion
Ultra White Collar Boxing.
For those that don't know it's a charity boxing event to raise money for cancer research UK, around 20 fights held over one evening with participants all fighting for the same cause.
You get eight weeks free training, twice a week, you will be matched up a week before fight night with someone you have been training with of similar size and ability.
Bit of back story - last the father in law to cancer October 2017, wasn't a dignified or pain free process.
I've always toyed with UWCB after reading a members thread on here it looked like an awesome challenge.
Thursday the 20th September, I was browsing Facebook and a sponsored advert appeared in my timeline for a local UWCB event, a final call for participants, by Friday morning I was signed up! Fight night is 24th November.
Training officially started on 3rd October, so Wednesday just gone. It was all outdoors, and will be for the first few sessions. A bit of a beasting from the instructors to show the team this won't be a walk in the park. Jogs, sprints, burpees, press ups, star jumps, more sprints, more sprints, more jogging, up and down stairs etc etc for an hour. I'm sure there were a few people chundering in the bushes, the main thing is no one dropped out - top effort.
For the past two months I've upped my time in the gym and am doing a lot of cardio and conditioning work so whilst I found the first session tough, it wasn't bad - a bloody good work out. They won't put gloves on us until the team is fit, which I hope will be next week.
The gym offer extra boxing / PT sessions so as of Sunday i'll be doing a few hours boxing / sparring a week extra too.
Tonight is training night and I'm looking forward too it, i'll get my height and weight taken at the gym tonight as well.
If anyone fancies putting a £1 in the jar you can do so by visiting this link; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonjocleary
I'll keep this updated with my progress.
For those that don't know it's a charity boxing event to raise money for cancer research UK, around 20 fights held over one evening with participants all fighting for the same cause.
You get eight weeks free training, twice a week, you will be matched up a week before fight night with someone you have been training with of similar size and ability.
Bit of back story - last the father in law to cancer October 2017, wasn't a dignified or pain free process.
I've always toyed with UWCB after reading a members thread on here it looked like an awesome challenge.
Thursday the 20th September, I was browsing Facebook and a sponsored advert appeared in my timeline for a local UWCB event, a final call for participants, by Friday morning I was signed up! Fight night is 24th November.
Training officially started on 3rd October, so Wednesday just gone. It was all outdoors, and will be for the first few sessions. A bit of a beasting from the instructors to show the team this won't be a walk in the park. Jogs, sprints, burpees, press ups, star jumps, more sprints, more sprints, more jogging, up and down stairs etc etc for an hour. I'm sure there were a few people chundering in the bushes, the main thing is no one dropped out - top effort.
For the past two months I've upped my time in the gym and am doing a lot of cardio and conditioning work so whilst I found the first session tough, it wasn't bad - a bloody good work out. They won't put gloves on us until the team is fit, which I hope will be next week.
The gym offer extra boxing / PT sessions so as of Sunday i'll be doing a few hours boxing / sparring a week extra too.
Tonight is training night and I'm looking forward too it, i'll get my height and weight taken at the gym tonight as well.
If anyone fancies putting a £1 in the jar you can do so by visiting this link; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonjocleary
I'll keep this updated with my progress.
I think I spoke too early on my last post.
The training session on Friday was an even bigger beasting, we started with a jog and sprints outside then moved into the gym for a mass of exercises in HIIT style - 1 minute of one exercise then change, we done this 10 times with no rest. We had a minute rest, then 30 seconds X 10, minute rest and then same again. That was intense, difficult but very enjoyable (In a sadistic way I guess). I was pooped, I had however done a HIIT class Friday morning pre work, a spin class Friday evening post work and then went straight to training...
The coaches offer extra classes to go through some bag work and basic technique, stance, footwork and small combos so I attended the first session on Sunday morning. Of the 50 odd people that attend the free training sessions, only 5 turned up to the paid additional session, of course others might be training elsewhere.
It was good, it sunk it there's a lot to learn if we want any chance of putting on a half decent performance and not give up and go in windmilling.
Back to the free session again on Wednesday!
The training session on Friday was an even bigger beasting, we started with a jog and sprints outside then moved into the gym for a mass of exercises in HIIT style - 1 minute of one exercise then change, we done this 10 times with no rest. We had a minute rest, then 30 seconds X 10, minute rest and then same again. That was intense, difficult but very enjoyable (In a sadistic way I guess). I was pooped, I had however done a HIIT class Friday morning pre work, a spin class Friday evening post work and then went straight to training...
The coaches offer extra classes to go through some bag work and basic technique, stance, footwork and small combos so I attended the first session on Sunday morning. Of the 50 odd people that attend the free training sessions, only 5 turned up to the paid additional session, of course others might be training elsewhere.
It was good, it sunk it there's a lot to learn if we want any chance of putting on a half decent performance and not give up and go in windmilling.
Back to the free session again on Wednesday!
I did my first white collar with UWCB in April.
Loved every minute of it!
Definitely do the extra PT sessions & make sure you get loads of competitive sparring done. My only criticism of the UWCB sessions was their sparring.
Some of the lads who fought on the show I did folded on the night once they took a few digs to the face.
Loved every minute of it!
Definitely do the extra PT sessions & make sure you get loads of competitive sparring done. My only criticism of the UWCB sessions was their sparring.
Some of the lads who fought on the show I did folded on the night once they took a few digs to the face.
Time for an overdue update!
Training has been going well, certainly feel fitter than I have done in a long time. Lost a bit of weight too.
We started sparring with each other last Friday and that was a bit of an eye opener for all I think. There were a few bloody noses and swollen cheeks around the room, the instructors had to remind a few we’re not trying to beat each other into submission at the moment.
Now that my fitness has increased I’m not noticing as much just how hard we’re working in the 2 x 1 hour sessions we get for free. Everyone is visibly steaming in the gym and clothing is fully soaked with sweat…nice.
What I’ve taken from reading other people’s experiences and certainly noticed when sparring is just keep it simple, keep moving, simple combos and I’ll be alright on the night…surely?
I’m doing extra paid sessions to improve on technique, and get punched more plus the extra days in the gym working on cardio.
So far it’s been a really enjoyable experience, I think the group has dropped from 60 something to 40 something now, maybe it’ll drop a bit more after the beatings on Friday night.
4 weeks until fight night – I’m excited!
As mentioned above, if anyone above is reading this and fancies chucking in a few quid to a good cause, feel free.
Training has been going well, certainly feel fitter than I have done in a long time. Lost a bit of weight too.
We started sparring with each other last Friday and that was a bit of an eye opener for all I think. There were a few bloody noses and swollen cheeks around the room, the instructors had to remind a few we’re not trying to beat each other into submission at the moment.
Now that my fitness has increased I’m not noticing as much just how hard we’re working in the 2 x 1 hour sessions we get for free. Everyone is visibly steaming in the gym and clothing is fully soaked with sweat…nice.
What I’ve taken from reading other people’s experiences and certainly noticed when sparring is just keep it simple, keep moving, simple combos and I’ll be alright on the night…surely?
I’m doing extra paid sessions to improve on technique, and get punched more plus the extra days in the gym working on cardio.
So far it’s been a really enjoyable experience, I think the group has dropped from 60 something to 40 something now, maybe it’ll drop a bit more after the beatings on Friday night.
4 weeks until fight night – I’m excited!
As mentioned above, if anyone above is reading this and fancies chucking in a few quid to a good cause, feel free.
Sounds good so far. Sparring being most important.
Take a look at some of Steve Morris's stuff. Ignore most of the kicking/grappling, but it's very useful. He's a very interesting and dangerous man.
https://youtu.be/Q-G8GTo7hCo
Take a look at some of Steve Morris's stuff. Ignore most of the kicking/grappling, but it's very useful. He's a very interesting and dangerous man.
https://youtu.be/Q-G8GTo7hCo
I went for some extra training on Saturday morning at the gym – a group of about 10 of us turned up.
Usual warm up, some bag work and then into the ring to fight each other – and this is where I got beat up!
Two people in the ring, a two minute round, and then they would change one person, but you had to stay in and do 3 x 2 minute rounds so the more and more tired you got, you’d be fighting someone fresh. Then you’d be the guy just jumping in for 2 minutes before swapping over.
There were some good, and big lads there on Saturday. I held me own against 1/3 of the group and got punched around by the rest. I’m sure I almost saw stars at one point. It was an eye opener, but still good fun (overall)
As I type today I’ve got a black eye, a bruised nose and I’m sure whoever copped me in the ribs has done some damage because it bloody hurts!
Under four weeks until fight night and despite my beating I’m still really looking forward too it.
Usual warm up, some bag work and then into the ring to fight each other – and this is where I got beat up!
Two people in the ring, a two minute round, and then they would change one person, but you had to stay in and do 3 x 2 minute rounds so the more and more tired you got, you’d be fighting someone fresh. Then you’d be the guy just jumping in for 2 minutes before swapping over.
There were some good, and big lads there on Saturday. I held me own against 1/3 of the group and got punched around by the rest. I’m sure I almost saw stars at one point. It was an eye opener, but still good fun (overall)
As I type today I’ve got a black eye, a bruised nose and I’m sure whoever copped me in the ribs has done some damage because it bloody hurts!
Under four weeks until fight night and despite my beating I’m still really looking forward too it.
LosingGrip said:
Do you have to raise a certain amount of money? Does look like fun (minus the black eye side of things!)
You have to sell a minimum of 10 tickets to the event at £20 each. I don't think there is a minimum amount of money to be raised, although £50 comes to mind. But it obviously goes without saying the more the better.
Should update this thread.
About 4 weeks before fight night I managed to have two ribs cracked / broken in sparring.
This was in one of the extra (paid) sessions and, without a question of a doubt I just got beat up. Almost got knocked out, and then clopped another in the ribs. In the extra sessions, it was heavy sparring in the ring, no size / weight match up.
2 minutes sparring, then they would send another lad in against you for 2 minutes, and then another for 2 minutes and after that you got a rest. So you're increasingly getting worn down and battered.
All fun they said.
Anyway, I had to drop out due to the ribs, I was in a fair amount of pain, I then caught a chest infection which was pretty nasty trying to cough the crap up with damaged ribs.
After all that I was feeling quite rubbish about myself and my ability to box, after all I'd paid to be beaten up.
I was keen to try again, kept at the gym and signed up to the next event.
I found the training easier this time having had a 'head start' and keeping my fitness at a better level. I still wasn't really a fan of getting punched, I really struggled to find the motivation to go to the training sessions twice a week, but i carried on.
Something clicked by about week 5 and I genuinely started to enjoy it, I found my feet, I was moving better, I was landing more punches and I was taking less.
At the start of the training there were 200 + people who showed an interest, by the week of the fight it was down to 60 people.
Fight night - what a buzz.
I was chuffed I'd made it this far and genuinely excited for the event.
You have to arrive for medicals, checks, and general talks about 5 hours before the event kicks off which was quite boring. Luckily, I was the second fight on so I didn't have to sit around for much longer.
My opponent was slightly taller than me and slightly bigger built but I was happy. The entrance music, the entrance walk, the cheer of the crowd was amazing.
The ring of the bell and it was go time. It's really hard to describe 'being in the zone' but thinking back all I could see was my opponent, I don't even remember hearing the crowd or seeing the ropes of the ring. I could hear the odd shout from the coach in my corner (who was brilliant by the way).
The ref stopped the fight a few seconds before the end of the 3rd (final) round as I had taken some pretty big hits, I hadn't been knocked over though. I didn't argue with the ref as I was happy with my performance but was ever so slightly gutted to have it stopped SO close to the end.
My nose was twice the size and rather purple but my opponent and I really enjoyed ourselves, he out boxed me on the night but I didn't make it easy for him and I was happy I also managed to land some good hits. Physically it's one of the most exerting things I've done, 3 x 2 minutes doesn't sound much but I was exhausted!
I'm happy we both boxed and didn't go for a panic swinging match.
I went and sunk a fair few pints that night and enjoyed the atmosphere and the HUGE sense of achievement.
I lost just under a stone doing this event, I made some new friends and I took myself WAY out my comfort zone and managed to walk out the other side with my head held high.
I would consider doing the event again...
For anyone thinking about doing the event....do it.
About 4 weeks before fight night I managed to have two ribs cracked / broken in sparring.
This was in one of the extra (paid) sessions and, without a question of a doubt I just got beat up. Almost got knocked out, and then clopped another in the ribs. In the extra sessions, it was heavy sparring in the ring, no size / weight match up.
2 minutes sparring, then they would send another lad in against you for 2 minutes, and then another for 2 minutes and after that you got a rest. So you're increasingly getting worn down and battered.
All fun they said.
Anyway, I had to drop out due to the ribs, I was in a fair amount of pain, I then caught a chest infection which was pretty nasty trying to cough the crap up with damaged ribs.
After all that I was feeling quite rubbish about myself and my ability to box, after all I'd paid to be beaten up.
I was keen to try again, kept at the gym and signed up to the next event.
I found the training easier this time having had a 'head start' and keeping my fitness at a better level. I still wasn't really a fan of getting punched, I really struggled to find the motivation to go to the training sessions twice a week, but i carried on.
Something clicked by about week 5 and I genuinely started to enjoy it, I found my feet, I was moving better, I was landing more punches and I was taking less.
At the start of the training there were 200 + people who showed an interest, by the week of the fight it was down to 60 people.
Fight night - what a buzz.
I was chuffed I'd made it this far and genuinely excited for the event.
You have to arrive for medicals, checks, and general talks about 5 hours before the event kicks off which was quite boring. Luckily, I was the second fight on so I didn't have to sit around for much longer.
My opponent was slightly taller than me and slightly bigger built but I was happy. The entrance music, the entrance walk, the cheer of the crowd was amazing.
The ring of the bell and it was go time. It's really hard to describe 'being in the zone' but thinking back all I could see was my opponent, I don't even remember hearing the crowd or seeing the ropes of the ring. I could hear the odd shout from the coach in my corner (who was brilliant by the way).
The ref stopped the fight a few seconds before the end of the 3rd (final) round as I had taken some pretty big hits, I hadn't been knocked over though. I didn't argue with the ref as I was happy with my performance but was ever so slightly gutted to have it stopped SO close to the end.
My nose was twice the size and rather purple but my opponent and I really enjoyed ourselves, he out boxed me on the night but I didn't make it easy for him and I was happy I also managed to land some good hits. Physically it's one of the most exerting things I've done, 3 x 2 minutes doesn't sound much but I was exhausted!
I'm happy we both boxed and didn't go for a panic swinging match.
I went and sunk a fair few pints that night and enjoyed the atmosphere and the HUGE sense of achievement.
I lost just under a stone doing this event, I made some new friends and I took myself WAY out my comfort zone and managed to walk out the other side with my head held high.
I would consider doing the event again...
For anyone thinking about doing the event....do it.
I did this and had my fight on March 30th at the ripe old age of 50. My fighter was 22 and super fit but I won.
Absolutely loved the training, but didn't enjoy getting punched in the face (luckily only a few times).
Whilst I will never get in to another ring, I've continued with the training.
Absolutely loved the training, but didn't enjoy getting punched in the face (luckily only a few times).
Whilst I will never get in to another ring, I've continued with the training.
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