How To Train A Winner?

Muhamand Ali Vs. Sunny Liston 1965

 

How To Train A Winner? By Mr. Giovanis 

 

       Somebody asked me once; “how do you train a winner?”  The immediate response would have to be, “you have to be able to identify a winner.”  Many cosmic things have to go right in order for a trainer and a “winner” to run into each other at the right time and place in a rare and harmonious manner.  But beyond that, and so we don’t take an elitist approach to this very democratic matter, sometimes as a trainer –you have to make somebody a winner.   You have to understand that the pursuit of happiness starts with the pursuit of fitness.  

 

      The most important aspect of training a winner is to train their mind.  But in a world where people are constantly nourished with emotional cliches and their bodies are used to the convenience/comfort of lazy living; it is very difficult.  You might have already tuned out and popped a pill of some sort.Being in shape is “another world.” Initially this world seems unreachable…even with a space ship that takes off in our imaginations and needs no fuel.Broadly speaking, I would say the biggest ingredient of this mission is sweat.  Honesty hides in sweat. 

 

      Start off small, and reduce everything to this quality. In this introduction, I like to learn about the student.  The less they tell me and the more I infer from their behaviors; the easier things become for me.  I look for strengths and weakness and I attack both with tough love.  This is tricky stuff.  Looking at a boxer punch with their arms and hands, it is hard to explain that what we are actually seeing is power coming from their legs.  One way or another, I must make my students believe in me - so they can ultimately believe in themselves…they are looking to me to learn something - not just spend money or act like they are taking a class (those ones drop out quickly).  Making someone believe in themselves, believe that they are truly able to learn what I am truly able to teach, is sometimes difficult because some of the things they are looking to “learn” are already in their DNA; and so a student may not forgive the subtlety of progress - intentionally.  Growth and bigger ordeals are soon to follow and excuses come in handy. 

 

      Being unfit is essentially, and for the most part, a choice - it is a person ignoring the health inside them. The only comfort we have in that scenario is that obesity and unhealthy living are so widespread and so omnipresent in our society - that somehow it makes it OK?  Somehow we are all like greasy chips in a bag instead of people in flesh?  I’m not sure.  All I know is that students can lie to me all day long, but I resent it when they lie to themselves.  I punish them for this.  Eventually, when they work through this “adolescent” mind frame - I make them look into this invisible mirror constantly, to the point of some “gym rat” narcissism; I try to get them to love their image and ultimately the self, this new ego emerging as if a stranger, for there is not much of a greater feeling.

 

      Learning a martial art is a painful process to eradicate this ignorance.  Sometimes putting ignorance in a lock till it taps out, or punching it in the face till it bleeds - is necessary.  Fitness is an unforgiving honesty…one that requires a loyalty, dedication and fortitude that is a basis for this complicated relationship. Try and get your boyfriend or girlfriend to understand that!  Not quite a “voyeur,” but I love to watch the progress in this struggle.  After a while, a student will often get to the point where they “choose” whether or not to continue on the path that leads to the next level of physical enlightenment.  The irony is - and it took me years to figure out - that many quit, right as they reach an easier threshold in this journey.  Why?  Maybe the answer lies somewhere in the details of why they came to the gym to begin with, a type of confusion that might easily be like a tag on a key chain being scanned for absolutely no reason at all.  So in essence, a big part of my job is to try and knock the quit out of them.  It is in this phase where “winners” and “losers” are discovered or promised like diamonds.

 

       As they stick around and put roots into the mat where they jump, kick, punch, grunt, scream, push, lift, resist, fight, befriend, adapt, sweat and breath till they run out of breath; I try to show them that being fit is a two tier system very dependent on a balance and extremely more fragile than it seems – a true mind and body convergence or experience; a type of ecosystem with living and nonliving rewards. 

 

       But so you don’t think it’s all work and no play, I will tell you that I feel it is important to LAUGH.   I try to make my students feel the pain of a good workout but also the joy of laughter in that process.  I give them reasons to be happy and I make them understand that things of this nature take time (this is where you sign up for a 6 month membership). 

 

      Still don’t believe me?  Did you know that laughing burns 1.3 calories/minute while working the muscles of the abdomen, diaphragm, back and shoulders?  That might not seem like much, till you consider that laughing also burns 100 calories/minute of emotional stress.  Always remember that emotional stress causes weight gain (especially around the abdomen).  Working out and becoming addicted to this process of health leads to a laughter that ultimately relieves pain, brings greater happiness, and even increases immunity.

 

      If you enjoyed any, or this entire little essay on “training a winner” please join us at XTC gym.  Whether you like it or not, in reading this, we’ve already begun to exercise your eyeballs.  As a trainer, I’ve come to learn I need to instill all these things to students and people willing to learn - or I feel out of shape.

Well, did you think it was “wax on, wax off” and have them chase a live chicken?

The Power of Multiple Martial Arts!

George Giovanis:
He started boxing at the young age of 12 where he became a member of Rhode Island Boxing.  This east coast gym was the home of legendary five time world champion Vinny Pazienza.  During his many years training, George learned the importance of belonging to a gym environment, acquired the discipline to excel and experience to teach. 
  
As time passed, George’s interests expanded into Kickboxing and Muay Thai.  He devoted many years to these sports and he fought out of the Sampalis Kickboxing Academy where he helped train professional fighters.  In his spare time, George also made three feature films that went on to screen at various film festivals and win many accolades by critics and judges alike.  

He moved to California in search of the sun and the pursuits of all his passions.  He happily works at XTC Gym.  George loves to see his students mature, hour by hour and week by week - while they achieve their own personal fitness goals, and gain the knowledge of personal protection.

Johnny Action Jackson

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XTC is the place to be to learn Muay Thai. This martial arts sport is rarely offered at other gyms. Take advantage of learning Muay Thai.
Like most competitive full contact fighting sports, Muay Thai has a heavy focus on body conditioning. Muay Thai is specifically designed to promote a higher level of fitness and toughness required for ring competition.


XTC is proud to have Johnny Jackson as one of the pioneers of the facility and the training program. Muay Thai has been a passionate part of Action Jackson’s life for more than a decade.  As a student he has learned discipline, respect, courage and found an inner purpose that is a constant driving life force.  His experiences as a proven fighter has lead him to excelling his skills and finding his gift as a teacher.

Possessing a true natural ability to inspire and create achievement within others, his method is sought by his loyal students to continue with traditional teaching from Thailand.  Mixed with modern techniques and regime, students experience a stimulating work out ethic and core training.