Hi there lads, I've been watching boxing for about 3 years now, started watching around the time Amir won the silver at athens, since then Ive watched a fair few pro fights and love watching them on the internet, I wouldnt consider myself a huge boxing buff but I love watching boxing along with pretty much any other combat sport. However, within the last 2-3 months i've been getting increasingly interested in trying it myself, I've never tried boxing, infact, never been ina fist fight if I'm honest, but it's really intrigued me. Im in the RAF so fitness wise Im in decent shape. The base Im on has a boxing club and they train twice a week, however, it looks like mainly fitness training and little actual boxing coaching, however, it's better than nothing. However, having never really tried any form of boxing, I dont know whether Id feel a bit alien to it all and like a fish out of water, and being at the base for only another 2 months, I dont know whether my next posting will have a boxing club. Anyone got any advice on how they got started in boxing and what the best option to get started is. Thanks
The only way to start boxing is to go to a boxing gym. You can read all of the books, take advice off the net, watch fights etc, but none of that will prepare you for what happens inside a boxing ring. Go to the gym at your base, and have a look at the people there. A good indicator of a gym is the quality of its fighters, past and present. Get to know people there, ask questions and work your butt off. If it does turn out that it is more fitness oriented, then you will improve your fitness levels at the worst. One thing which I would say is that there is being fit, and there's being fit enough to box, believe me, I have lost count of the superfit guys that have come to my gym, and have been unable to spar for 3 rounds. This isn't to say that you are not fit, but just be mindful that boxing presents a whole new set of challenges to your body's systems that little, if anything else can compare. Good luck.
Cheers mate, I wouldnt say Im superfit at all, Im thinking Ill go down with a friend and see how it pans out, Im only there 2 months before I move away for a year but Im thinking Ill go down and see how the session are. Im not sure there are any boxing clubs where Im headed.
Without a trainer or a sparring partner, the best way to get into it is by hitting the heavy bag. Watch films of Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and ALi to get psched up for it. Start by learning to throw straight jabs and crosses. Hooks and uppercuts require some coaching to do properly. http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Gans-Biog...39947/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/183-3907940-0224706
I was in a similar situation as you. Best thing i can advise you is to get to a gym. I had all the same doubts and worries about going to one. Now after a couple months just feels like i belong there if you know what i mean. And im not sure but i reckon the majority of people feel out of their depth when they first go. Just take that first step and get to the gym , and keep going and itll all come i reckon. Have fun:good
30 Minutes of weights and an hour of squash I had tonight while also watching one of the boxing sessions going on, some of the guys looked like big hard hitters. Tommorow got swimming and then Thursday Im hoping to go for my first Boxing session, going to mainly a lot of cardio and pushups, looking forward to it.
