SCORPION BOXING EQUIPMENT INTERVIEW by Laurena Marrone

1. When did you start to make MMA and Boxing Equipment and Why?

In MMA and Boxing Equipment, one of the main things we focus on is leather hide. Our Grandfather was making leather in South Africa since 1925. My father was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1935. He started this business in 1975. There was a good market in Italy, Spain and England, and in little time, we provided leather in Germany too. In the year 2000 we studied the Boxing Equipment market. This is my favorite game and also a rising sport. We started manufacturing in 2007 with the best of experience. My dream is to become a manufacturer to give people good quality and show off my vast experience and techniques.

2. Where are you located, and what are your top markets right now?

Our main office is in Germany and our production unit is in Pakistan as we committed to gave our customer good quality. We have Production Units in India and China to make good leather. As I already told you, leather is main thing for Boxing. We tested the waters in India and China water, but the result was not to our specification. A friend of my father suggested we try Pakistan Sialkot .I had heard a lot of things about this. The result is MMA flew. And now our main market is U.S.A, Europe, and Russia.

3. What sets your products apart from others available on the market?

We believe in quality– A better Production Unit, advice from professional fighters on what they need and want, experience in leather and boxing equipment. We want to be the best in the world, not just U.S.A, Europe and Russia.

4. Do you plan to sponsor fighters and gyms to promote the Scorpion name?

Yes. Why not? This is great opportunity for the company to promote both fighter and gym. But we also say that it depends upon their quality and experience. If people like your products you will be successful.

5. We have been in contact for a short time now, what is your opinion of women in the sports of MMA and Boxing and do you think this is a growing market?

There is no difference between women and men. They are both equal in hard work, planning, faith, etc., so if men can fight in the ring, why shouldn’t woman do this? According to our experience in U.S.A, boxing is a good and growing market. U.S.A has had great boxers like Muhmmad Ali, Mike Tyson, Kelly Pavlik, and lots more, so why it is not a growing market?

6. What are your top selling products?

We sell lot of equipment. You can see our upcoming website or catalog. There are two categories– American style and European style. In American style we have SP-4022, 4024, 4027, 4028, 4029. This is part of our regular base production design for American market.

7. Do you also have promotional merchandise like t-shirts, etc?

YES

8. How can gyms interested in Scorpion contact you? Can they contact you directly or are some distributors on board in the US?

Well, those who see our products or check our quality can contact us directly. Credit also goes to the distributors who work hard and also give us oppertunities. They show gym owners our products! Even last week the customer said “this is really a leather glove! I’ve never see that kind of leather in my thirteen year experience!”

9. Anything else you would like to say?

Yes! I would like to thank Mrs. Laurena M Campos for giving us an us a opportunity to describe the market, our experience, and our products. We also thank the entire team of Grit! Their work hard! God Bless them!

Custom Mouth Guards: Worth the Investment? Jason Clark’s Experience with the Process and the Result

I’m fairly new to Jana’s classes at Alive and the sweet science of Boxing, however after one trip to my local sporting goods store it quickly became apparent that the quality and range of boxing equipment was severely lacking.  In addition, the sales staff was not qualified to provide guidance or even answer basic questions.

So, as I looked around the gym and all the different types of gloves, wraps and headgear, first wanted to know where they came from, and second, what’s the difference between various brands and types of gear?  What’s the difference between Grants and Reyes Gloves and are wrestling and boxing shoes really different?

For boxing equipment there are two main suppliers Ringside (www.ringside.com) and Title (www.titleboxing.com).  Both websites have a huge selection of boxing products and sizes and you can find regular sales events on selected products.  Unfortunately, the only way to purchase gear is online and while they have very user friendly web sites, you can’t ask questions, try something on for size or feel and the ordeal of returning a product by post sends a shiver down my spine.  Therefore, any feedback you can get on a product prior to ordering increases your chances of success.  

There are many good resources for independent gear reviews; I’ve listed a few of my personal favorites below:

• Rate this Gear (www.youtube.com/user/ratethisgear)
• Sherdog Forum Gear & Equipment Reviews (www.sherdog.net/forums/f67/)
• Boxing Forum (www.boxingforum.com/boxing-equipment-reviews/)
• Asking gym buddies

 

Contrary to popular belief, some of us British citizens do actually value our teeth. I’ve tried a few of the boil/bite mouth guards and while they do represent great value for money I’ve never had a great fit (must be the Austin Powers teeth).  During sparring, I found myself biting my tongue time and time again and the mold of my teeth never felt quite right.  I became determined to find a better alternative and after reading some online reviews of various mouth guards, jawzz (www.jawzz.com) seemed to be the best bet.     

The price ranges from $75 through to $195 and as far as I can tell, the difference on price represents the amount of custom design artwork requested. I opted for the basic mouth guard, which includes a single color & one word artwork. 

After placing my order, the kit (including instructions) was shipped within 2 business days.  One warning, if you’re the type of person who tosses the IKEA instructions away prior to assembly, I suggest you actually read these instructions first! The instructions for fitting the mouth guard were clear and well written and also included pictures that walked you through each step.  The first step is similar to the regular boil/bite mouth guards; you boil the rubber mouthpiece for about 30 seconds and then quickly bite down to leave an imprint of your teeth.  The next step is what makes this mouth guard unique.  Included in the kit is something that looks like two different strips of clay; you soften them up by kneading them together for a minute or so (very James Bond), and then you line the mouthpiece with the clay.  Once that’s all set, you bite down on the mouthpiece again, but this time, for about 3 minutes.  The clay feels pretty strange in your mouth, and you can actually feel it starting to harden and mold around your teeth.  One plus – the clay is grape-flavored! After you take the mouthpiece off your teeth, you’ll see a perfect mold of your bite.  There is some paperwork to complete that includes your artwork and font selections and then you just send it back in the packaging that was included in the kit.   Once your mold is received, it typically takes 3-5 weeks to get your finished guard. The process was fairly straightforward and any queries you have are typically answered through email quickly and efficiently.

In terms of performance, the mouth guard is excellent; it’s a perfect fit, no more tongue injuries and I find it much easier to breathe during sparring and talk in between rounds without removing my guard, dropping it on the floor and weighing up the pro’s & con’s of replacing it without rinsing first.  

The cons include the expense; while this is an important piece of safety equipment the top of the range at $195 is crazy. I suggest forgetting the custom artwork and leaving it to the UFC guys. As I mentioned before it appears to be the same basic mouth guard across the selections.  Secondly 3-5 weeks is a long time to wait for delivery of the final mouth guard.

In conclusion I highly recommend the Jawzz basic mouth guard. Safety to me (and my M.D. wife) is a priority and worth the expense. Please remember that the Alive gym does stock a selection of gear including low cost mouth guards, which are perfect if like me, you often leave yours at home. 

Regardless of a person’s budget, true value for money is measured by a product’s ability to meet its intended use. So, if you see someone with a piece of gear you have been thinking about purchasing, ask them about the pro’s & cons and make another Alive friend in the process.

The Passion of Boxing [from Northwest Connection Magazine] by Laurena Marrone Campos

 Finding a Passion for Boxing at 43 Years of Age: A Woman’s Perspective

I haven’t encountered many women my age who train at MMA Gyms. But something inside me gave me the courage to walk through the doors of Alive MMA one year ago.  I had no training in any martial art, no exposure to boxing, MMA or any of the other forms listed on the vast schedule. But after 12 years as a professional Flamenco dancer, I knew that I wanted something challenging in my life, something to get my body moving again and to help me find the passion, love and respect I had for Flamenco for so many years. Never in a million years did I think that would be boxing.  And I don’t mean the popular boxing “fitness” craze, I mean real training. Sparring. Punching. Getting Punched. Immersing myself in an art form that challenges me mentally and physically, but also inspires me to continue even though I am often the oldest person in the class, and often the only female.

In my years of teaching Flamenco, I was fortunate enough to be told many times that I inspired my students, changed their lives, and made them believe that they could learn one of the most complex dance forms in the world. I feel the same way about my teacher, Jana Simms. There is an art to teaching completely exclusive of performing or competing. It requires many of the same components, but to find a teacher, coach or trainer, whatever you may call it, that you connect with, that inspires you, and makes you feel comfortable in the most foreign and intimidating of possible situations is a rare gift.

In my year of taking classes at the gym, I have encountered some of the most honest, real, and giving  people I have ever met. I have never felt self-conscious like I did in so many dance classes I tried over the years, whether that be when I was 4 or 43.  I learned to love and respect a sport that I once perceived as simply violent; and learned about martial arts that I never even knew existed.  I have watched my classes fill with women and men, young and older, who all train with heart, dedication and something one would never expect: compassion and humanity; sensitivity and kindness.  

I believe that there are countless women and men out there who search for something to inspire them to exercise, to actually be excited about working out.  For many people, like myself, they feel that a fitness gym doesn’t offer that experience. We try and try, join and let memberships expire, only to find ourselves back where we started: with the desire to exercise both body and mind, but nothing that inspires us to do so.

Yes, for me it is boxing. I love the sport. I love the complexity, the challenge and the camaraderie. I miss it when I cannot be there. I have no fear because I know my coach is there; and I have gained self-esteem, courage and finally found a form of exercise that I love. I attend fights. I watch the sport on television, follow it with enthusiasm, and hope to get more involved in the sport in any way that I can at my age.   

For other women my age, I encourage you to take that first step into the gym. I am someone who literally hated to exercise. My husband could barely get me to take walks with him. Yes, even with age and wisdom behind us, it is scary. But you never know, you may just discover a passion you never thought existed. And at the halfway point of my life, discovering something new, taking a risk, and finding joy in that experience is priceless.

By Laurena Marrone Campos

 

Jana’s Schedule:

 

Boxing Program Off to Great Start in New Space!

Come down and check out our new space, complete with a ring, bags and everything you’ll love for a great workout or professional training! 

See you there! 

www.portland-boxing.com

New Classes and More at Alive MMA

Hi everyone, I have added many new classes to the schedule, including sparring classes and some early morning options.  You can check the full schedule at http://www.alivemma.com

Our boxing program  is really coming along and it is exciting to see so many new faces and watch those who have been training develop their skills.  I really couldn’t ask for a better group of students.  If you do join, you’ll immediately feel the support from a really diverse group of people who are there for pure love of the sport.

My website, http://portland-boxing.com  should be up soon.  Keep checking!    Come on down and box!  Please don’t forget to mention my name when you sign up!   Hope to see you soon!

Happy Holidays!

2009 is almost over but we have so much planned for boxing at Alive MMA in 2010. My classes are open to all levels and I work with you individually, so whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will get what you want and need out of class. Hope to see you in 2010 and be sure to tell the desk you are there for Jana’s classes!