I've always been interested in boxing, and I'd like to start. I'm wondering what to do. Money is a very tight, plus the reputable gyms are pretty far away (far enough away that I cannot afford to go down there X amount of times a week). I'm going to be attending the University of Baltimore next fall, so once I move down there I will be able to attend a gym without spending a ton in gas money. Should I get a bag and start on my own? Or just wait it out? Thanks.
WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN GO TO A BOXING GYM, but in the meantime, watch plenty of fights and educate yourself on the sweet science :good
Ive learned (through my short boxing career so far) that you dont want to start out forming bad habits. You want to learn the right way from the start (stance, Form, combinations, Defence) that way you dont form bad habbits. Try to watch some vids on youtube and get a trainer if you can..
deffo what the others said, get to the gym when you can but why not in the meantime get yourself into great shape and ready for it. I "began" at a boxing gym twice. I wasnt very fit the first time but loved it then i got injured so had to have a break but in the meantime i got myself into supreme shape went back and was able to concentrate so much on technique as i wasnt gassed i progressed alot faster!
If you can't go to a gym yet then don't bother working on technique because it will give you bad habits. Start going out running (or running more), mid distance about 3 miles. Do some core training (sit-ups, leg raises, russian twists etc), and some basic strength and conditioning work (burpees, press-ups, squats etc). This would be a starting from scratch sort of thing, but it can't go wrong. The running (or other cardio such as cycling or swimming you add in) will give a good base of fitness to work from. The core training will give more strength to your body all round and condition you to take body shots more easily. The strength and conditioning will mean that by the time you get to a gym, you will be able to put in good, hard work from your very first day. Also, most importantly start cleaning up your diet! This is really basic stuff but at the start the basics are what you need. Hope this has helped.
Yeah, I agree with the above posts. Wait it out, work on your general fitness, and start from scratch at a proper gym. Unlearning bad habits is a huge *****, and takes forever.
That's the answer I thought I'd get. It makes sense, so thanks for all the responses. What books are these? Do you have any links to them?
I'm going to disagree. Don't wait an entire year. Drive to the gym now, get a lesson, and go home and work on what the trainer shows you. Then, go back once a month to see how you are progressing. That way you won't go broke, you will still learn SOMETHING and you can get a head start on "the basics" which should be stance, footwork, jab, cross, hook and some shadow boxing. Beyond that, run intervals jogging/sprints. Thats the closest thing to the explosive energy you will need to spar. Running long, slow distance runs doesn't help. Good luck!
Thank you. That sounds like great advice. Once I start my new job in a few days/weeks and save up some cash for a bag and some gloves I'll give it a shot. If after the second month I've lost more than I've gained I'll go back to waiting til I can do it full time.
Great advice! I would also add to splurge on a cheap timer for interval training and three jump ropes (they always snap during workouts). Also I disagree a bit about long distance. It is good to add it in occasionally.
I agree that you should watch film and educate yourself on the basics of the sport so you're ahead of the curve...stance, technique, footwork, etc...but I also believe that you could absolutely start right now and train yourself until you get to a gym in the fall. There are really inexpensive gloves(Everlast) and bags available online that will help you until you join a real gym. Remember, discipline is the key to success in any endeavor so in the meantime...MASTER THE FUNDAMENTALS, DON'T MISS WORKOUTS AND GET REST! Cheers.
The worst thing you can do is to start on your own. Just get some training books (ross) and make sure you're in fantastic shape when you start.