Mouthful of Stones

Posted in Fiction, Writing on August 29, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

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Chapter Forty One

The Calder Freeway passed within 200 meters of my parent’s house. Technically, I was breaking the conditions of the restraining order, but eight months’ ago seemed like a different time. I was a different person.

It’s always colder out of the city. Apparently, the buildings hold the warmth. Out here in the country, everything’s flat. Acres and acres of land with the occasional tree and stands of prefab houses – new suburbs cropped  up like toadstools. The Digger’s Rest pub stood beside the Old Calder Highway, which ran parallel to the freeway.

“How far we going?” I asked Sil.

“Gisborne. Another twenty.”

Daisy’s outline was visible in the rear view. A canvas tarp was tied over her cage to keep the wind out. Continue reading

On Fighting

Posted in Journalism, Kickboxing, Writing on August 29, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

I waited for Phil to hit me, thinking it would help me get past the taboo of sparring with my friend – that is, someone I didn’t really have a reason to punch. He threw out a jab. I caught it, but when he threw the next, he doubled it and the second punch sailed over my mitt. I got a face-full of cold and wet.

Phil’s glove was almost dripping with Clay’s blood. Clay’s blood was now smeared across my skin and over my eyes and mouth.‘Revolting!’ I thought. ‘Hepatitis! AIDS!’ Then I saw Phil’s eyes above the shining leather of his gloves and everything was reduced to survival. Continue reading

Courage

Posted in Kickboxing, Reading with tags , , , , , , , on August 28, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

“Cowardice… is something a man does. What passes through his mind is his own affair.”

-Lord Moran

Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel, The Last Temptation, remains wildly controversial. Black-listed by the Vatican shortly after publication in 1960, Kazantzakis took a number of significant liberties with the ‘official’ story of Christ, as told in the gospels. Judas is a very close friend; the only disciple with the strength of character to betray a Jesus who instructs him to do it. Agonising death on the cross has been revealed to Christ through a premonition as the will of God.

While we all know the story of the crucifixion, the raw facts have been obscured by accretions of sentimentality and tradition. The fundamental fact is that Christ was tortured to death. Continue reading

Inside a Dutch ‘A Class’ Training Session

Posted in Journalism, Kickboxing with tags , , , on August 26, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

Errol Zimmerman showing Bjorn Bregy who’s boss at the K1 Europe GP in 2008

International Kickboxer Magazine, Volume 16, Number 3 May 2008

Australian Heavyweight Jarrod Boyle lives in Breda, Holland, where he trains out of the world-renowned Golden Glory Gym, home to such champions as Semmy Schilt and Stefan Leko. In the following story, Jarrod takes us inside a typical Dutch ‘A Class’ training session. Continue reading

'Catching Cannonballs!' Aussie jumps into Dutch Training Cauldron

Posted in Journalism, Kickboxing with tags , , , , , , , , on August 25, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle
 
 
 

Me and Chalid 'Die Faust' Arrab, shortly after he almost punched my head off.

International Kickboxer Magazine, Volume 16, Number 2

March 2008 

Melbourne Heavyweight Jarrod Boyle jumped on a plane at the end of February and headed to Breda, Holland for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – to train at the Golden Glory Gym of K1 stars Semmy Schilt, Stefan Leko and Chalid ‘Die Faust’ Arrab under the auspices of legendary trainers Cor Hemmers and Ramon Dekkers. Here he talks to MICHAEL SCHIAVELLO about life in the cauldron of one of the world’s most successful and toughest gyms. Continue reading

World Champion of the Western Suburbs

Posted in Kickboxing with tags , , , , , , on August 22, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

I called the editor of Inside Sport Magazine, Graem Sims, to pitch him a story about a famous Australian kickboxer a month or so ago. I felt that being published in Inside Sport would be a real coup; the magazine features some of the highest-quality writing you can buy on a newsstand. It also sets a benchmark for what Australians view as quality sport. I rang his Sydney office and left a message, and to my considerable surprise, he promptly rang me back. Continue reading

Posted in Kickboxing on August 17, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

Powerplay Promotions, October 17.

Fighting

Posted in Kickboxing with tags on August 15, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

My next fight is slated for October 17, three days before I turn 35. I think my opponent is TBC, but I will be fighting on the undercard for John Wayne Parr vs. Yodsanklai, very possibly the best fighter in the world at his weight.

I am about nine weeks’ out, so I am currently focused on general conditioning and brute strength. I sparred yesterday with my mate, Gul Pohatu; we did 3X2 minute rounds and I came out of it feeling okay about my performance.

My general strength and fitness benchmarks require:

1. 170kg deadlift

2. 170kg squat

3. 100kgX10 bench press over three sets, and

4. Running one kilometer in 4 minutes. I’d like to get this down to 5km in twenty minutes, but I’m currently shambling around at 110kilograms. Which, for me, is very heavy!

I’m also working on conditioning my shins; at present, I know that I’m kicking properly because I feel as if my shin is going to snap when I make solid contact with Gul’s leg.

I’ll keep you posted as to the progress of my training and the change in activities as I taper down to the fateful date.

Discipline

Posted in Kickboxing, Reading, Writing with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 15, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

dis·ci·pline //  (d s -pl n)

n.

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.

2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.

3.

a. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.

b. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.

c. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.

4. Punishment intended to correct or train.

5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.

6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

tr.v. dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing, dis·ci·plines

1. To train by instruction and practice, especially to teach self-control to.

2. To teach to obey rules or accept authority. See Synonyms at teach.

3. To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience. See Synonyms at punish.

4. To impose order on: needed to discipline their study habits.

Definition taken from the free online dictionary

(Please ignore the aspects relating to compliance or submitting to authority, because I certainly don’t advocate or believe in that).            

I am endlessly fascinated with the development of skill as the means for undertaking the profound existential journey. Regardless of what it is, almost; whether it’s building a wall as in Solzhenitsyn’s ‘One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich’, reaping a harvest as in Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’ or even a seagull obsessed with flying, as in Richard Bach’s ‘Jonathan Livingstone Seagull.’ Continue reading

INCEPTION

Posted in Statement of intention with tags on August 8, 2010 by Jarrod Boyle

I am going to tee off with a definition and a quotation:

in•cep•tion ( n-s p sh n)
n.
The beginning of something, such as an undertaking; a commencement.

Definition courtesy of the Free Online Dictionarywww.thefreedictionary.com

Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.

Robert Bresson, courtesy of www.brainyquote.com

The world is full of noise. And personally, I resent it. I find that most of the static that intrudes on my head-space is driven by the intent of some hidden, sneaky person wanting to get their hands into my wallet by inducing me to consume. When I go to see a film, or when I pick up a book in a bookstore, I’m always thinking that I’m putting my time and my attention-span in the hands of that writer or director and I expect them to tell me something. If I get cliches or posturing, I immediately switch off. To be honest, I’d prefer something offensive or anti-social; at least it engages me.

I want you to know, dear reader, I am as aware as you are that in the age of the internet there are even more voices competing for your attention and more sinkholes than ever before to suck away your energy for no return. For this reason, I intend only on lodging things here which I think are worthy of your time. No rattling on about the minutiae of toothpaste or the irritating behaviour of my relatives. If you choose to switch on my light, I give you my ardent promise that I will do my utmost to reveal something you have never seen before. And will hopefully be pleased with.

Thank you for taking the time to open up my blog.