The spirit of boxing lives within

ASHEBORO Lewis Baldwin strapped on a pair of boxing gloves for the first time when he was 14 years old.Nearly half a century later, he does not don the gloves much anymore.But thats not to say he never does.Ever since he stopped competitive boxing in his early 20s, Baldwin has been passing on his knowledge of the sport.I got it right here, he said in an interview last week, tapping his fingers to his head. I want to give it to them that way. But if I had a kid come in here wasnt learning certain things, I might put the gloves on, show em a few things.Every Monday and every Thursday evening, Baldwin spends a couple of hours working with young boxers in the Central Gym on Watkins Street in Asheboro.I dont charge anything for this, he said. I dont get paid anything for this. I do it because I love it. I really want to make a difference. I would like to get more kids to come in off the street, so to speak.Boxing balletOne night last week, Baldwin watched his boxers with eagle eyes black, white, Latino, mostly guys, but there were a pair of females, too as they went through warm-ups, attacked the punching bags, sparred.He moved from boxer to boxer, offering words of instruction or showing the proper way to put ones shoulder into a punch.When he demonstrated the proper technique for skipping rope, Baldwin slowed the motion to a fraction of real-time speed to make it easier for his young charge to follow.His movement was precise, graceful, like ballet, belying the fact that Baldwin was in his work clothes the long blue pants and brown boots he wears as a concrete truck driver and that he is 62 years old.Hes a very good coach, Lee said. Hes right behind you, showing you techniques and ways to do things. Hes big on perfection.David Perez, who is 24, is one of the old-timers in the program. He started at 16.He said he signed on to box to keep himself out of trouble. These days, he works as a chef at an Asheboro restaurant, operates his own catering business and goes to school. He is one credit shy of earning an associates degree in business administration from Randolph Community College.He said that, like Baldwin, he wants to stay involved in boxing for the rest of his life.Hes a patient man, a very moralistic man. He doesnt charge anything he does it out http://www.top-boxing-gloves.com/ - http://top-boxing-gloves.com/ - of his heart. You can tell http://www.top-boxing-gloves.com/cleto-reyes-gloves/ - http://top-boxing-gloves.com - the spirit of boxing lives within him.In deed.Coach saysBaldwin gets together with his boxers twice a week, if they show up twice a week, but he tells them if they are intent on improving, they need to work every day.I always tell the guys, You never stop learning. You learn every day. Keep an open mind. Theres always room for improvement. Dont think youve got it all. Just continue to learn.Among the many lessons he imparts, Baldwin said, is that a boxer who tries to knock out his opponent with every punch is doing himself a disservice.Punching power is good, but theres much more required to be successful: Footwork. Bob and weave. Use your whole body.You dont just throw a shot and stand back and admire your handiwork, he said. Capitalize. Capitalize. Create different angles. Throw punches in bunches. Youve got two hands. Use them. All that stuff has got to work simultaneously. Once you learn that, you practice it. You perfect it. Its easier said than done.One pitfall many bring to boxing is that they like to hit, but do not like to get hit.Another is putting in the work to get in fighting shape.Endurance is key.Youve got to be able to go the distance, Baldwin said. To be out there when that last bell rings, youve got a chance.