Improve your health with boxing

Although it is a bit hard to acknowledge it, I believe that I first decided to get started on boxing while I was wearing a pair of shiny red tights while holding in my hands what could only be described as a fake purple boa. It’s not so strange really, it all started a few years ago when I was invited to a stag party for my friend Roland and I was picking between several fancy dress costumes since we were told that we couldn’t attend in our casual clothes. My friend was known for his love for practical jokes and his twisted sense of humour, so it was no surprise that he even recommended a mens fancy dress business that rented very humiliating costumes.

The 4 basic boxing punches

Jab

This is the busiest punch. You can use it to keep your opponent at bay and disrupt his concentration. It is delivered with your lead hand.

Uppercut

A powerful vertical swing of the arm, meant to put your opponent off balance and, if you are lucky, do some serious damage.

Cross

A follow up punch done with either hand after an initial blow.

Hook

A punch thrown with your lead hand. It is a short and lateral strike with a twist of the wrist just before impact.

Looking myself in the mirror while I tried some of the costumes, I didn’t like what I saw. It was not that the clothes were not to my satisfaction (well, they weren’t actually) but I found that I was really disgusted with my bland and neglected body and decided that it was time to get myself in shape. I knew a friend who had been boxing for some years so I decided to ask him for advice in order to get myself started. In the following weeks I found out what I would need in order to start my training and all that would be involved in it. Let me tell you the basics:

First you will need to find time to practise. This is a must, you need to set aside and commit time that will be devoted to this activity. Also you need to find a proper facility to train in. Most gyms (and some health clubs) will have the equipment you will need to train your body, but you will also need special equipment related to boxing. This equipment includes jump ropes, medicine balls, punching bags, weights, exercise mats, mirrors, and possibly a boxing ring.

After you get your gear and secure a place to train you can finally start your conditioning program. As a word of caution, please note that it will take you from a few months to a year to actually be prepared to box, this is common and it doesn’t mean that you’re never going to be able to do it. You will need hours of practice with the jump rope, training your footwork, working the punching bag and learning the basic punches. The main thing is to train your endurance, strength and agility, which are all essential for boxing. So don’t give up if the going gets rough.

You will find that boxing is a great sport to keep your body in good shape. It doesn’t matter how you make the choice to be healthy, just that you make it. Whether it is like me, while trying out a fancy dress, or in any other situation in your life, staying fit will pay off no matter what!