Hello all, I'm new obviously. Had a few questions and after reading some of the threads here...it's clear that there's some great advice to be had. After seeing that my kids love to box, I joined a few weeks ago. I'm in Arizona and wondering if a 38 yr old can ever hope to compete? Not that I'm in a rush but it would be fun goal for me, I think. I don't know if I want to necessarily compete for belts or anything like that...just to get in the ring at a sanctioned event where two men get in the ring to fight with judges, etc. I know I have a long way to go, I haven't previously broke a sweat since 1998 lol I did compete in Japan as a black belt karate teen but nothing since. Coach tells me I have all kinds of bad habits to break like leaving my 2 out there too long, etc. Freezing the hands and too much bouncing up/down (before I'm out of gas that is). Anyway, I'm having fun and that's really all that I want to do...but thought it would be added fun if I had a goal I could shoot for like showing up at an event where old men box each other. If I can compete, does this mean 20 somethings are going to get to pound me or is there an age bracket combined with weight class in amateur boxing? I'll obviously ask my coaches soon, but thought I'd ask the others here as well.
oh yeah, before I forget... coach asked if I'm right handed or left. I said I write with my right but I'll do somethings with my left and I do know that I'm left eye dominant (I shoot left handed for example). So... he told me, "ok you're orthodox" and won't let me switch like I did as a karate student years ago. I feel equally comfortable as a southpaw, same power either hand but I do like the extra power I have (compared to the left..not implying I have any "power") with the right jab. Should I ask the coach to let me try and mix stances for training or let it go and settle with the fact that he wants me to train orthodox?
of course you can still compete. On what level, Im not sure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Collar_Boxing
Its so nice to hear that... It really is... so few people are in boxing anymore for real love of the sport. Anyways, yea, compete away... My trainer and I are helping this one lady get ready for her first amatuer fight and seriously, I think she's gonna do great. Shes 45.
of course man. Amateur is there exactly for that. Weight is always the determining factor, never age in terms of amateur.
Stance is not about which handed you are, its about which foot and leg you are dominant on. You will always throw the best punch on the dominant hand driven by the dominant foot. It is different for everyone -in most cases cross dominance occurs. You will notice that your strategy is always different on either stance because your brain processes your movement differently based on its preferences (certain punches you will find are better if you switch stance this is not about power, but neuromuscular control). But if you are going to train, stick to one stance (you cant be two fighters at once).
Sorry but that is not true, amateur boxing has an upper age limit. I'm 33 myself, and have two years of competing left.
Thanks for the info fellas. Just did my first two rounds sparring in the ring. Exhilirating, I feel alive again.
Great info to have. I'm pretty sure that I have a cross-dominance thing going on. In the Army, I was a much better shooter left handed (left eye dominant). I'll be sticking to orthodox and training that way.
