Okay, so I’ve been getting into this kickboxing thing lately, and I stumbled upon this fighter named Viacheslav Borshchev. The guy’s got a nickname, “Slava Claus”, which I thought was pretty funny. Anyway, I decided to dig into his style and see what I could learn.
First off, I watched a bunch of his fights. You can find them pretty easily online, though some are easier to find than others. I started with his more recent ones in the UFC, because that’s where the competition is fiercest. It seems like he’s had some ups and downs, you know? His record is something like 8 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Not too shabby, but it shows he’s still got room to grow, just like me!
Watching and Analyzing Fights
I started by just watching, trying to get a feel for his overall style. He’s a lightweight, so he’s pretty quick on his feet. Then I started focusing on his striking. I noticed he throws a lot of punches, seems to favor his hands. He moves around a lot, in and out, which is something I need to work on.
Next, I started jotting down some notes during the fights. Stuff like, “Okay, he just threw a left hook after a feint.” or “He’s using his jab to keep the other guy at a distance.” It was a bit messy at first, just scribbling down whatever I saw. He lost to Mike Davis, it seems, but won against Chris Duncan, those are some of his recent matches.
Practicing Techniques
After watching a few fights, I headed to my punching bag. I started with some basic jabs and crosses, trying to mimic the speed I saw in the videos. My arms were burning after just a few minutes! I need to build up my stamina for sure.
Then I tried working on some combinations. I’d throw a jab, then a cross, and then try to follow it up with a hook, just like I saw Slava Claus do. It felt awkward at first, like my body wasn’t used to moving that way. But I kept at it, trying to get the flow right.
- Jab-Cross-Hook: This one felt the most natural, probably because it’s a pretty common combo. I need to work on keeping my guard up when I throw the hook though.
- Double Jab-Cross: This one was trickier. Getting that second jab in quick was tough, and I kept dropping my hand before the cross. Gotta work on that.
- Feint-Hook-Cross: I saw him do this a couple of times, and it looked slick. But man, it’s hard to fake someone out when you’re just hitting a bag! I need a sparring partner.
Reflecting and Planning
After my workout, I sat down and reviewed my notes. I realized I need to focus on my footwork more. Slava Claus is always moving, always shifting his weight. I’m still pretty flat-footed. And my defense needs work. I’m so focused on punching that I forget to protect myself.
So, my plan for next time is to incorporate some footwork drills into my training. Maybe some shadow boxing, moving around the room, imagining an opponent. And I definitely need to practice blocking and dodging. I might try to find some sparring partners at a local gym. It’s one thing to hit a bag, but it’s a whole different story when someone’s hitting back.
This whole process of studying Viacheslav Borshchev’s style has been pretty eye-opening. It’s shown me how much work I have to do, but it’s also given me some concrete things to focus on. I’m excited to keep practicing and see how much I can improve. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be stepping into the ring myself! But for now, it’s back to the basics.
