I think that it is just wrong to promote Speed Bag 2010 without mentioning Alan Kahn. I believe that it should be called Speed Bag 2010, a tribute to Alan Kahn and The First Ever….
Here’s why.
I have a unique perspective because I was there the beginning—Memphis State University ’73-’75, exploring advanced bagging techniques under the watchful eyes and ears of Doc Schroeder. Doc introduced us to ways of hitting the speed bag that were as arcane as circus bears on unicycles. We’d watch and listen to Doc then try to replicate what he was doing on another platform in the room. The method of learning was “listen to this” or “watch this.” Luckily for us Doc was always encouraging us to try new things. Sometimes he’d be in another room and hear something that we could be doing differently and come in with a suggestion. Doc was an amazing guy with many interests and talents, but it was Alan who carefully analyzed the various moves so they could be explained objectively rather than by example. Then of course Alan devised his system of notation which made it possible for someone to learn these techniques on his own. If Alan had not done this the knowledge that he and I gained from Doc would probably much stayed just with us.
After our time together, I left Memphis and went on to other things. I had no idea that the seeds planted by Doc had born fruit. A few weeks ago I thought I’d try bagging again after all these years, and while searching the Internet for a new swivel, I saw a YouTube video of some guy hitting the bag and using “our” moves. Then to my amazement I saw that it was my old friend Alan. Since then I’ve viewed his book and DVDs and see that he's made it possible for people all over the world to learn advanced bagging techniques. Then there is “punch drumming” that Alan has popularized and which people like Brian Tichy might take to new levels.
Before the advent of YouTube, odds are that anyone doing advanced bagging had learned it either from Alan or from some one who had.
Alan appears to have done all this with little support from the boxing equipment industry, yet they have all benefited from his efforts. In short, there would not be a bagging community had it not been for Alan. I understand that event sponsors must be accommodated and equipment reps appeased, but I think that it is just plain wrong to hold this event without properly and prominently acknowledging the guy that made it all possible—Alan Kahn.
I have not discussed this post with Alan because I was afraid he’d go humble on me and discourage me from submitting it. But I just have to get this off my chest. I hope that I have not embarrassed or offended my old friend.
Jim Caher
Here’s why.
I have a unique perspective because I was there the beginning—Memphis State University ’73-’75, exploring advanced bagging techniques under the watchful eyes and ears of Doc Schroeder. Doc introduced us to ways of hitting the speed bag that were as arcane as circus bears on unicycles. We’d watch and listen to Doc then try to replicate what he was doing on another platform in the room. The method of learning was “listen to this” or “watch this.” Luckily for us Doc was always encouraging us to try new things. Sometimes he’d be in another room and hear something that we could be doing differently and come in with a suggestion. Doc was an amazing guy with many interests and talents, but it was Alan who carefully analyzed the various moves so they could be explained objectively rather than by example. Then of course Alan devised his system of notation which made it possible for someone to learn these techniques on his own. If Alan had not done this the knowledge that he and I gained from Doc would probably much stayed just with us.
After our time together, I left Memphis and went on to other things. I had no idea that the seeds planted by Doc had born fruit. A few weeks ago I thought I’d try bagging again after all these years, and while searching the Internet for a new swivel, I saw a YouTube video of some guy hitting the bag and using “our” moves. Then to my amazement I saw that it was my old friend Alan. Since then I’ve viewed his book and DVDs and see that he's made it possible for people all over the world to learn advanced bagging techniques. Then there is “punch drumming” that Alan has popularized and which people like Brian Tichy might take to new levels.
Before the advent of YouTube, odds are that anyone doing advanced bagging had learned it either from Alan or from some one who had.
Alan appears to have done all this with little support from the boxing equipment industry, yet they have all benefited from his efforts. In short, there would not be a bagging community had it not been for Alan. I understand that event sponsors must be accommodated and equipment reps appeased, but I think that it is just plain wrong to hold this event without properly and prominently acknowledging the guy that made it all possible—Alan Kahn.
I have not discussed this post with Alan because I was afraid he’d go humble on me and discourage me from submitting it. But I just have to get this off my chest. I hope that I have not embarrassed or offended my old friend.
Jim Caher
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