the importance of core training....

They hurt. I simply don't think doing crunches will help you take them better unless you slap on large amounts of muscle as padding. In other words, insane hypertrophy. And even then most weak spots (liver, plexus) are uncovered.

 

Sure I do, for warming up and during conditioning drills. I just don't believe they aid me in taking bodyshots.

 

One of the fundamentals parts of boxing training is pain control, or management...shock the body to get use to pain....

 

no matter how toned u r if they hit you in the right place you will feel it

 

Sparring comes in handy there.

 

:good

The only thing that can "cushion" it is muscle padding, ie. hypertrophy. I don't think doing hundreds of crunches will get you there. Again (it seems I have to keep repeating this) that doesn't mean those crunches are useless, but IMO they don't help when it comes to taking punches.

 

You asked if I did crunches a few posts back, and I clearly answered yes but for different purposes. I don't have a "core routine" though, as I don't divide my body in parts, I don't have a "chest routine" or a "leg routine" either. I have a "boxing routine", in which the core plays an important part since it generates a substantial part of my punching power (see my first post in this thread) and because it's responsible for the upper body movement I rely on for defense.

 

To each his own, if it helps you dealing with pain then that's good. I don't think it will make you any stronger though. To me it's 100% useless, I'll take a sparring session instead.

 

I think exercises like that definitely help. there is no point in only doing core exercises like twists and crunches, because when you get in the ring, yeah you might have some strength and endurance, but you won't be accustomed to taking shots. so, med. ball slams, and even better, just having a partner hit you (not all out) in the stomach, are good ways to train it.

 

To me the only thing that makes me mentally tougher is sparring. Especially if it's someone better than me. I don't have to beat him, all I want is his respect. I'm a late starter, but I can hang (in sparring) with the people who (despite being much younger) have boxed much longer than me, and box competitively. I pride myself in being a smart fighter, I use that to compensate for my age. So being "tough" in taking punches has little meaning to me, I want to outsmart them not outmuscle them. To each his own though, we all have different goals in life. Especially young guys like Relentless, I expect you to be a little bit more competitive than me.