Chapter 31: Learning Boxing
Daniel paced around as he spoke:
"In as much as I can tell you that almost everything is important in boxing. I personally believe that there are some things that are called foundation."
Danuel's mood changed, Vincent could feel the seriousness that tamed the air between the two of them. He couldn't even dare to divert his attention as the boxing expert explained.
"...but I think the foundation, the beginning of everything. Where it should all fall in place is your stance. Stance is like the anchor of your boxing technique. It sets the stage for everything else to follow. Without a solid stance, your balance, power, and defense will suffer. Let me explain further."
Daniel gestured for Vincent to stand up and assume a boxing stance. Vincent eagerly complied, mirroring Daniel's instructions.
"First, your feet. Keep them shoulder-width apart, with one foot slightly in front of the other. This staggered stance provides stability and allows you to generate power from your legs and hips. Your lead foot should be on the same side as your dominant hand."
Vincent adjusted his feet accordingly, trying to find the right balance.
"Good. Now, bend your knees slightly. This helps you stay light on your feet and ready to move. Think of your legs as springs, ready to explode into action. Remember to maintain this slight knee bend throughout the fight."
Vincent adjusted his knee bend accordingly, feeling the tension building in his legs.
"Next, keep your hands up. Protect your face with your gloves…well, if you had one on… and keep your elbows tucked in. This position acts as your first line of defense, guarding against incoming punches. It also allows you to quickly block or counterattack."
Vincent raised his fist to his face, silently paying heed to Daniel's demeanor.
"Lastly, posture is crucial. Keep your back straight and your chin tucked. This minimizes the target area for your opponent and helps prevent unnecessary strain on your neck. Imagine a straight line running from the top of your head to your tailbone."
Vincent adjusted his posture, aligning his spine and tucking his chin as instructed.
Daniel nodded approvingly. "Excellent. Your stance forms the foundation of your boxing technique. It provides balance, stability, and a strong base for executing punches, footwork, and defensive maneuvers. Practice maintaining this stance until it becomes second nature."
Vincent nodded, absorbing the importance of the foundational elements Daniel emphasized.
Daniel continued, "Remember, boxing is a combination of offense and defense, and the stance is where it all begins. It's the starting point from which you generate power, move with agility, and protect yourself effectively. Master your stance, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a skilled boxer."
Daniel lingered and continued:
"If there's one thing I observed during our fight, it is that you lack the the basics… because of your bad stances, your attacks were not able to pull through with right amount of power that you could have generated if you had the right stances.
"But that's fine. I look forward to righting this wrongs and fighting you in a months time."
Vincent nodded his head.
Daniel looked at him with a delighted smile parting his lips. He watched Vincent tried to get the stance right on his own even though he had left that part.
After a few seconds, Daniel's voice entered Vincent's ears:
"So there are basically three things we'll be doing in four months. First is practicing stance, second is jab, third is cross and fourth is defense. And it won't be an easy soft ride. You'll want to give up I tell you."
Vincent stared back into his eyes with shards of determination building up in his eyes and said:
"You don't have to worry about me giving up… I want to change my fate. I want to be able to protect my face and most importantly, I want to mop the floor with your face."
Daniel blinked, he opened his mouth but closed… then he smiled and finally opened again:
"That's impressive… I like the energy but keep it at the back of your head that I've been learning boxing for four years… you'd need to work hard like a madman if you want to beat all that in just one month."
Vincent nodded, those shards of determination were now formidable mountains of his resolve that could be seen in black eyes.
Daniel smiled and mused internally:
'I really have a good feeling about this'
He clapped and ushered in:
"Alright then, so that is that… since we don't have all day. I will give you the list of drills that you will do, they serve to build up your boxing stance and I'll give you some to build up your physical power in general."
Vincent watched in silence as Daniel pulled out a notebook from his bag and began jotting down the drills, his pen gliding across the paper with purpose.
"First, we'll start with the stance drills," Daniel began. "These drills are designed to reinforce the correct positioning and stability of your stance. Practice them consistently to develop muscle memory and ingrained habits."
He handed the notebook to Vincent, who eagerly scanned through the list of drills.
There were exercises like stance pivots, where Vincent would practice shifting his weight and rotating his stance in different directions.
Another drill involved maintaining the stance while performing shadow boxing, focusing on maintaining balance and stability throughout the movements.
Daniel had also included drills that incorporated defensive movements and footwork, reinforcing the importance of a solid stance in both offense and defense.
"Now, for the physical power drills," Daniel continued. "These exercises will help you build overall strength, agility, and explosiveness, which are essential for generating power in your punches and movements."
Vincent's eyes focused as he read through the drills.
They consisted of a combination of bodyweight exercises, resistance training, and explosive movements. Push-ups, squats, lunges, burpees, medicine ball slams, and plyometric exercises were just a few of the drills listed.
Daniel placed his arms akimbo.
"You are to practice this drills everyday for the next one week."
"Ehh!" Vincent's mouth fell with a frown, "everything? In one week? What about achool?!"
"I don't know… are you not the one that ones to mop the floor with my face….uhhhhh???"
Vincent gulped… "are you vexed about that?"
Daniel laughed, his shoulders heaving, and said as his laugh receded:
"...vexed? No! I'm pumped up! I too will even take my training more serious so I won't get left behind."
Vincent's lips curled up slightly, shards of surprise reflecting on his face but he said nothing, instead admired Daniel's character in his mind.
As he tucked in the paper, the system appeared in front of his eyes.
[You have received a new challenge]
'...come on!!!'
He sort of already know what it was.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone