I am 18 and for a while have wanted to get in shape with the intentions of it maybe leading into boxing or MMA. I obviously want to get in shape before I join any gyms or anything, and I have the space and will have money to make my own small gym in my back shed. I plan to start with a heavybag and lead on from there. Is there anything I should know before starting to do this? Here's my eventual plan:- Heavy Bag (Fixed to wall) Skipping Rope Speed Bag (Fixed to wall) Weight Bench + Weights
Run skip rope push ups sit ups ect DO NOT START Hitting a punching bag without knowing how to box you will learn bad habits.
My advice is join a gym, its never too early. You don't need to be in good shape to join a gym or improve through going straight to a gym, you will probably improve more. It will make things a little harder but you should be fine in the long run, and if you are serious about getting into shape and maybe competing, you are in for the long term.
If you do not feel comfortable joining a gym now, I would take some private lessons first to learn the basics then get in shape.... then join the gym you like.
I do know how to punch as I did kickboxing for a bit and it showed me how to properly pivot and move my hand when punching, if that's what you are referring to. If I joined a gym though I'd just be a punching bag in sparring as I'm super out of shape. A punching bag would be good in my opinion just for a bit of fitness and to relive some aggression and stuff. Is it THAT unadviced for me to get one without doing a proper length in boxing. There are also no boxing gyms around me or anything like that so I just want to get in shape before I commit to lenthy journies to join one if you get me.
^Then start off with some morning runs followed by jump rope. Do heavy compound lifts with low reps. Hit the speed bag as much as you want. That will improve hand-eye coordination and that's not gonna develop bad habits. Jab the heavy bag until you can't jab anymore. ^^^hitting those basics will get you in great shape. Then if you wanna box for real, go to the gym and they'll teach you all the techniques and you'll already be in shape.
Thanks. The first step to me is proving that I can be committed to it. Things like nutrition and proper eating and everything will hopfully follow if I can prove to myself that I can really get involved. Are things like suppliments or anything actually helpful?
Just focus on eating clean foods and training hard. Supplements are not necessary. A good multi-vitamin will not hurt and fish oil in my opinion is essential but that's it.
Get to a gym. It doesn't matter how fit you are (or think you are) when you finally join up you're going to be sucking wind anyway. You won't be sparring on your first day, hell you probably won't be sparring in your first month. I've heard the same story hundreds of times. "I wanna train but I want to get in shape first" and then you never see them again. Get to the gym and train.
I thought they did put you in sparring on the first day. In kickboxing I was put in sparring, half contact, in my first day. It's not that I'm thinking about, as usually sparring is a few minutes and you can focus on your footwork on everything. It's just that I feel I'd be travelling pretty far and I might not be getting the full out of it. And yeah I do notice that there is a chance I'll try to get fit first and then never actually persue the gym, which would suck as I do really want to do boxing or MMA. I want to get fit over the next year or so and then afterwards I plan to go to college, depending on how money goes as thats why I dropped out last time. If I can find a college that has some form of boxing gym near by, and hopfully I'm alot more in shape, then I'll join then. Thanks for the help guys, before this my whole focus was on just getting a punchbag and going al out lol.
