Floyd Patterson at the Yoshitsune Dojo

Описание: Many years ago I was able to meet a number of times two time world heavyweight boxing champ Floyd Patterson. My Jujutsu teacher Mike Depasquale Sr. had him into his Yoshitsune Dojo in New Jersey to speak to all of the students where we also got to do a boxing clinic with him as well. Floyd gave a talk to us on the importance of 'Determination' and 'Sacrifice'.

Floyd came back another day and taught his basic core boxing skills to us of which I still have my notes. He shared with us his "peek-a-boo" methods that he became famous for, how to hook, counterpunch, and some combination punching drills.

Video Transcript:

Floyd on the Importance of Determination:
Many of the boxers that come to my gymnasium many of them have talent and abilities. But the main thing I teach more than that. Abilities and talents are important but what I teach more than anything is determination. There are some boys in my gym that do not have as much ability or talent but they have a tremendous amount of determination.

If you give me determinations I’ll find a way to do almost anything. You may not do it as smoothly as someone with abilities but you will be able to do the same things with the same results. This is mainly what I teach in my gymnasium.

And when I say determination what am I saying, what do I mean by determination? Determination means putting everything your boxing career, or whatever you’re studying wither it be Karate or whatever sport you’re interested in or anything in life. Make it that number 1 by giving all of yourself to that one particular thing whatever it may be.

Floyd on the Importance of Sacrifice:
Now I have been in training camps all over the world I have trained. Different countries, New York, Chicago, and everywhere. In many of these camps I’ve had guys that had trained there that were veteran fighters okay just as much ability as I. Some had less some had even more. But yet very few of them ever made it. I’m talking about the ones with tremendous amount of ability. Why? Simply because they could not sacrifice. Sacrificing is very important. What do I mean by sacrificing? Being able to resist the temptations of all the things that surround you once you are fairly successful.

Many of these fighters they would train hard, very hard, just as hard as I. They would do all the things necessary that it would take to become a better fighter then what they were. However, on the weekends many of them would go out, many of them hand girlfriends, some drank, they would do all kinds of things. But they didn’t make it. Simply because they were unable to resist all of the temptations that surrounded them.

So what I am saying is that if you believe in what you are doing and you really really want it and you are willing to give all of yourself to that one particular thing whatever it may be what you’re in now or whatever, you’ve got to be successful. Thank You!”