I’ve been involved in boxing and martial arts since approximately 1978 when my father began teaching me the basics of boxing, training me, and having me compete and spar in organized boxing as well as “challenge matches” where he would have me compete against kids that were boxers in unsanctioned matches. My father by the way, received his training in boxing at The Red Shield Boxing Club in Houston’s North Side. I’m very proud of this fact because The Red Shield Boxing Club is also where Houston boxing legend Jesse Valdez began his boxing career as an amateur.
After my father died in 1980, I mostly competed in neighborhood “street boxing” matches against anyone who was a boxer or martial artist, that my friends and/or family would match me up against, or who challenged me. An unconventional way to learn but it was the beginning of my personal “analytical” approach to boxing/martial arts that I believe is one of my strengths as a coach, trainer, and corner man presently.
In approximately 1985, I made my way back into “real” boxing gyms when I spent some time at the original Ray’s Boxing Gym, in his garage, which had a small “boxing” ring that gave no quarter. This is where I believe I learned inside fighting, which is a lost art in today’s boxing, as well as my left hook. Some of the boxers and coaches around at that time, that I can remember, were Joe “Cool” Garcia, Steven and John Alvarado, along with their father Coach John Alvarado Sr, and Jacob Godinez.
I would then alternate between boxing and taekwondo throughout the years, off and on, learning along the way at Black Belt Academy on Crosstimbers, Height’s Boxing Gym, Universal Martial Arts/Choi’s Taekwondo, The 34th Street Gym, where I worked with Melvin Dennis and Gary Simon, Atzlan Boxing Gym, Lee Canalito’s Boxing Gym, and Slava Boxing Gym, where I worked with Walt Hailey and The Bayou City Boxing Club.
I also kept up with the “challenge matches” in “street boxing” up until my mid to late 20’s, which again was unconventional, but allowed me to learn firsthand, and for myself, what worked and what did not work as far as conditioning and skills go. This, I believe, is what helped me later in my law enforcement career and as a teacher of self-defense, as well as boxing and martial arts. I am very proud of the fact that no one I ever trained from scratch has ever been knocked out or seriously hurt, except myself, losing by T.K.O. against a State Champion in 2005, or 2006, in the Houston Golden Gloves, Open Division Finals.
I was a decent competitor but I feel I am and will be a better teacher, trainer, motivator, and advisor, because I made almost every mistake there was to make while competing, so that my students don’t have to, and still consider myself a student of the game. I also tried different approaches, techniques, training and conditioning for competition myself, and used myself as a guinea pig instead of my students, which I feel gives me an integrity and knowledge that is worthwhile and valuable.
I say these things only as a way for people to understand my confidence in what I have to share, and would like to state that I believe every coach has something he can offer that no one else can. This is why I have chosen to surround myself with the best coaches and people possible, and am excited about what we, as a team have to offer the public.
Please take the time to read my coaches profiles and learn about these remarkable men that I trust not only with the good name of Clutch City Boxing, but also my own personal health and well being because they are also my coaches!
I commend anyone that trains in boxing and martial arts because I know the work, discipline, and courage it takes to even set foot in a gym, much less in a competitive ring, and hope you all find awesome people in your journey as I have.
Thank you and God Bless,
Louis “Lucky Lou” Arriazola