PLEASE: Anybody here good with making GIFs?

[cross_trainer]

...Because I'm not, but I've been thinking about a GIF-based project that would REALLY benefit the Classic forum.

Bear with me:

Most people don't have a very good understanding of boxing technique before about 1900. It's hard to visualize, there isn't much film, and most of the (overly complicated) manuals aren't available online.

...But Corbett is!

Contrary to popular belief, Corbett wasn't exactly a brilliant innovator who invented everything from the jab to the left hook. What he was, though, was an excellent, tight, technical fighter. The guy's as close to a "textbook" 19th century fighter as we have on film.

And we DO have him on film. Not only that, but the film is very, very clear.





So, my question is....


Are there any GIF-talented individuals here who'd be willing to chop the four remaining bits of Corbett on film (each about a minute long) into separate techniques, so we could build up a "moving library" of a couple dozen movements?

This would be AMAZINGLY helpful for 19th century boxing research. You'd be singlehandedly revolutionizing the way people learn late-19th century boxing techniques--in moving images rather than just relying on diagrams in a book.





The films are:



Tunney and Corbett "sparring"
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Corbett vs. Courtney (Edison Film)
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Corbett & McCoy "sparring"--essentially a technique demonstration
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Corbett fooling around with Sullivan (demonstrating blocks)
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[cross_trainer]

Preferably slow-motion GIFs....

[TheGreatA]

I have a program that I can create GIFs with although the product is not as good as doing them yourself and being good at it.

Here's a couple of examples of what I've been able to come up with:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[cross_trainer]

I have a program that I can create GIFs with although the product is not as good as doing them yourself and being good at it.

Here's a couple of examples of what I've been able to come up with:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

These look a lot better than what I'm capable of doing (i.e. nothing). Did you add the slow-motion in the third one?

More importantly, how much time would it take? I don't want to inconvenience you.

And if several people answer this thread, we could always split the workload up (with each person taking one video or something like that).

[TheGreatA]

These look a lot better than what I'm capable of doing (i.e. nothing). Did you add the slow-motion in the third one?

More importantly, how much time would it take? I don't want to inconvenience you.

And if several people answer this thread, we could always split the workload up (with each person taking one video or something like that).

I didn't add the slow motion but I do know how to do it. With the program I have, it wouldn't take much time at all (creating those gifs took just minutes) but the problem is whether I can somehow obtain the Tunney vs Corbett video from that site.

[sitiyzal]

It would be better to ask the uploader at YouTube for the original videos.

[cross_trainer]

It would be better to ask the uploader at YouTube for the original videos.

Your reputation for excellent highlights precedes you. :good

Actually, I more or less am the original uploader of two of the four videos (Corbett v. McCoy and Sullivan / Corbett), or at least have them in digital format. If you wanted those in their original formats, I could give them to whoever wants to GIF-ify them.

The other two, I would have to ask for.

[sitiyzal]

I'll do a few of them if you list which parts of what vids. Text or titles can be added if needed.

The ones only on youtube can be downloaded & converted to avi also.

[SteveO]

There is a program where you paste in a YouTube address and you can download it.

Several programs, actually.

[cross_trainer]

I'll do a few of them if you list which parts of what vids. Text or titles can be added if needed.

The ones only on youtube can be downloaded & converted to avi also.

Thanks, sitiyzal.

My home computer (which has the Corbett-McCoy footage) is hors de combat at the moment from a rather nasty virus that I'm going to have to figure out how to remove soon. (I'm on a library one at the moment). In the meantime, we'll have to use the Youtube stuff--that way, we'll at least see whether it'll work or not.

I'll go through some of the Youtube footage tomorrow and give you a few time-ranges to put into GIFs.

(I've contacted the owner of the Corbett/Courtney and Corbett/Tunney files. We'll see how that goes).

[mochabuzz]

There is a program where you paste in a YouTube address and you can download it.

Several programs, actually.

What kind of programs? Do you know what they are called?

[SteveO]

What kind of programs? Do you know what they are called?

I think the one I used was called savevid.

[cross_trainer]

Okay...let's see:


Try the Sullivan film first to see how well this would work.

0:10-0:12, 0:13-0:14, 0:14-0:16, 0:20-0:21, 0:21-0:23, 0:25-0:26

I'm working from the Youtube version so I might have the timing a bit off, but I think that should cover all of Corbett's blocks and arm-cycles.

[sitiyzal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Previous two together;

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[cross_trainer]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Previous two together;

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

EXCELLENT! :happy

The third one is especially good--it shows the weird under-handed left hook that they used to use, and the forearm defense against it.

Is it possible to separate the two blocks (low and high) in the second sequence, and to slow all of the GIFs down somewhat?

[cross_trainer]

The same directions more or less apply to the other footage as well. Just cut the footage every time you see a technique and slow-mo it. (Even dodges, slips, and footwork).

As soon as we have the first couple slow-motion ones, I'll create another thread as a GIF library and add some explanations. Perhaps we could get it stickied.

[cross_trainer]

Let me show you what I mean. For instance, in Corbett / McCoy:

1) McCoy's body punch at roughly 0:07 to 0:08

2) Corbett's dancing around immediately after that

3) McCoy attacking with the right and Corbett stepping aside and countering at roughly 0:09-0:10

4) McCoy's left hook and Corbett's forearm block from roughly 0:10-0:11

5) Corbett's right-hand cross counter and duck from about 0:11-0:13

6) The weird missed block and McCoy attack ending at 0:14

7) Corbett sparring for an opening until about 0:16

8) His left to the body at 0:17

9) His second left to the body (after a windup) at 0:18

10) Sparring around from about 0:18 to 0:22

11) Corbett's duck and body blow ending at around 0:23 after McCoy's left hand

12) A second duck and body blow at 0:24

13) The infighting sequence lasting from around 0:24 to 0:31

14) Sparring around and feint from 0:31 to 0:33

15) Sparring around and second feint from 0:33 to 0:35

16) Skipping to the side from about 0:35-0:38

17) Sidestep and feint from about 0:38-0:40

18) Another feint 0:40-0:41

19) His response to a feint at 0:41-0:42

20) Another feint 0:42-0:44

21) Again, 0:44-0:45

22) His entry into infighting, 0:45-0:47

23) Feint around 0:47-48

24) Sidestep skips until around 0:50

25) The last sequence from around 0:50 until the end that begins with McCoy punching and ends with Corbett nailing him with a counter.