When you mention boxing, most people envision two strong athletes in a ring, adrenaline pumped and trying to destroy one another with their fists. Boxing for fitness is something entirely different where entire classes of people can achieve a great workout from a non-contact version of the sport. Boxing is fast becoming a popular way to exercise and keep fit, and it isn\’t hard to understand why when you take into account all the benefits the sport has to offer. Boxing increases strength, coordination, speed, endurance, and agility. You will learn the basic stance and how to control your feet. You will learn the basic punches like the jab, the hook, and the uppercut and how to combine them all effectively. Boxing is not necessarily for self-defence, but you will learn to throw a punch. And it will increase your self-confidence knowing that if anything goes awry you should be able to defend yourself.
So you may wonder how I got started in boxing. I was already going to the gym three or four times every week, but I was only working on weight training. I did absolutely no cardio and despite being stronger and more muscular I was still soft around the midsection. The idea of running had no appeal for me whatsoever, so getting on a treadmill was not an option. I thought of maybe going with my girlfriend to one of her group fitness classes, but hardly any other guys went so I quickly lost interest in that.
After a conversation with my boss in the lunch room he suggested I come along to a boxing session. He is an incredibly fit man in his 40s. The guy is absolutely ripped, six-pack and everything, so when he talks about getting fit I listen. He let me know that I could borrow a pair of boxing gloves so all I needed to bring was a bottle of water and a towel. I felt a bit challenged because I had never tried to box before. The man who would soon become my sparring partner informed me boxing is something anyone can do. So off I went to the gym to give boxing a go. First we went through a 15 minute warm up session, then 30 minutes of sparring, and then a 15 minute cool down. The pain I experienced after the boxing workout was entirely new to me! Not because someone smacked me in the face (it is non-contact after all). My muscles burned, like nothing I had ever experienced before. Muscles I did not even know I was using were hurting. My legs, my core, my shoulders; everything burned like fire. I thought that would be the end of my boxing activity, but I gave myself a couple days to recover and then I returned to the ring to give it another shot.
Knowing the moves gave me a better work out, and I was more prepared mentally this time. I continued going to the gym every week. I noticed my body trimming up and my middle section spare tire was getting much less noticeable. Because boxing is a high repetition workout, you will see more body toning than muscle building. Combine that with a healthy diet and you can really see some results quite quickly.
If I\’ve learned anything from the experience it is not to be scared to try something new. No matter what your fitness or skill level boxing is good for you because it can be modified to increase or decrease intensity and complexity of the workout. There is simply no legitimate reason for not giving boxing a try. Not only is boxing a great way to workout, it gives you the opportunity to alleviate stress and vent your frustrations on the boxing pads. Boxing is a high intensity program of exercise. It targets numerous large muscle groups, which assures you a program for toning and building strength while you also become more in shape and better fit. The gym is a great place to work out and spend time with a friend. You can even get a little competitive if you wish, as long as you keep all the moves above the belt.
We have all been in a rut, locked in a pattern of circumstances that we cannot seem to get out of. Sometimes, those circumstances change by themselves, but more often we need to take action to ensure that we don\’t become stuck in a rut.