Friday, August 29, 2008 Quijano: A different kind of physician By Jingo Quijano Last Round
YET to suggest that men might love and respect one another directly, without the violent ritual of combat, is to misread man’s greatest passion–for war, not peace. Love, if there is to be love, comes second.”
–Joyce Carol Oates, “On Boxing”
JV Tuazon known as the “Fighting Doc” isn’t an ordinary doctor of medicine. I do not want to belabor the obvious but that much can be ascertained by the fact that on Saturday he is scheduled to fight on the undercard of the Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista–Marquez bout.
A full scholar at Seton Hall University, majoring in Biology, JV went to obtain a graduate degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and was among the first batch in New Jersey to obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy
Degree. But how come he still prefers to punch for pay?
Here’s what I gathered from the doc.:
1.) What factors influenced your decision to become a pro fighter?
Always the sports fan an avid martial artist, I soon became more intrigued with movement mechanics and the musculoskeletal system. I slowly moved away from the internal aspects and concentrated on the muscles and bones and the science behind how they work synergistically in the human athlete.
I always enjoyed competition. However, I gravitated to the martial arts because of its one on one nature…not to mention the fact that I was too short to play basketball and too skinny to play football!
One martial art took me to the next and I eventually found myself boxing, which was the last form of martial arts I tried. School and all other martial arts came pretty natural to me. Boxing, however, presents a difficult challenge. I actually feel handicapped using only my fists. But I love challenges and learning the hard way.I guess that’s why I am here.
2.) How do you balance your time when it comes to training and practicing your profession?
As with all aspects of life, balance is key. Not to sound cliché but it’s like Yin and Yang. Everything has its own time and place.Everything in life is about moderation. You want to survive but also to enjoy. If you’re not happy, you’re not living.Living that philosophy makes it hard to be a successful health care professional and even more difficult to become an exceptional fighter…except that in health care, you don’t risk your life every time you step into the clinic like you do when you step into the ring. So I guess the answer to your question is that there is no easy answer, and no easy way. Anyway, if it was too easy, everybody would be doing it and it wouldn’t be fun.
3.) What aspects of your game do you feel like you need to work on much more?
Coming from a martial arts background, where I studied Kali-Arnis-Eskrima, Silat, Jiu Jitsu, Grappling, Muay Thai, boxing was and is still difficult for me. I am still technically in grade school but I hope to graduate soon.
I also have a lot of old martial arts habits that I need to break.I am used to people kicking, kneeing, body slamming, and even hitting me with weapons. I am not working with a blank slate.I have to unlearn years of techniques.I have to suppress a lot of moves that have become second nature to me–from stance, to posture, to strategy.
For example, whereas a regular boxer would just parry a jab and counter, my boxing mindset is different.When someone tries to punch me, I have to work hard to inhibit my natural instinct of blocking, trapping, joint locking, throwing, and striking a vital organ.And often times, against these guys in the lighter divisions where they are fast, by the time I do that, it’s already too late.I would already be hit with a punch! But like I said, I love the challenge.
LAST ROUND. It’s on my niece Bianca Nicole Hubahib and my kumpare Arthur Arellano who both celebrate their birthdays this week. Cheers!
