Thunder . . .

By Rick Farris

Steve Harpst has a great boxing program going on in Burbank. A state-of-the-art boxer training facility, located on the top floor of the Burbank YMCA. Members can learn to box, experience the best cardio-burn workout in the Valley, and, for some . . . compete in amateur boxing matches.

I'm easily bored, and with film production limited to TV pilots, I'm awaiting a commercial location for a couple weeks next month. I've decided I need to teach somebody how to box. Somebody who really wants to know how. Not just anybody, but somebody who will listen and try. I don't care if they have a fight, or just want to learn. I need to teach somebody from scratch. It's good to stay in practice. You forget what was once so automatic. I need to show somebody how to stand, move, balance, how to JAB! All that, you know. IT's about keeping myself sharp, re-teaching myself, in touch with reality.

Steve comes up to me at the beginning of his class. He's got a kid in his early 20's standing beside him. The kid was about 5'5" and easily 200 pounds. Fat? Maybe a little, but more stocky of build. He looked Armenian, and had one of those short, but powerfully wide statures. You know, the guys who must power their way in and punch inside. He might have had a few unnecessary pounds, but I think he's got the frame to carry most of it. We were introduced and Steve asked me if I'd mind working with, "Thunder". Me mind? That was why I was there.

We shook hands and I got to know him in a way that a teacher must know a student. He had done some wrestling, which isn't a bad thing in this case. I'm not going to teach this man to "float like a butterfly", but he will learn how to box, and hold his hands, and move his head, and how to punch to the body and head, and jab in a way that can out-score a taller man's jab, distancing.

After we worked pads, and I had him punch to see what he did and didn't know, I had a good feeling. He pursued me to work with him, and of course I will. This kid is responsible, owns his own taxi cab, seems reliable. I'm going to have fun with this one.

If he ever were to have a boxing match, or street fight for that matter, he'd surely be the shortest in the contest. But he has a great chance. I'll let you know when we get to the "boxing" phase of training. In a few days, I'm going to toss him in with a bigger heavyweight, and have him box. The big guy knows how to work, and will be a perfect test.

I'll kep you posted on "Thunder"