Thinking about lacing up the gloves and stepping into the ring? Boxing is one of the best workouts you can do. It improves your fitness, confidence, and mental toughness. But how do you actually get started? Whether you want to train like a champ or get in shape, here is everything you need to know.
My Boxing Career
I was 10 years old when I first started boxing. I was in 5th grade and my older brother who was 4 years older got me into boxing. When I first started boxing I did not really enjoy it because I had to take beginner classes and I was a kid who right away wanted to go in the ring. I learned the basics for 3 months, then the 4th month I started sparring which is practice fighting. At first I thought boxing was only fighting but as I kept training I realized that there is more to boxing. What I mean by that is boxing provides you and benefits you with good things in life like discipline, confidence, and self-control. I then soon got my first fight and ended up losing. But it motivated me to keep working and now my record is 8-2 in the amateurs.
How to start
If you want to start boxing I would advise you to learn the basics and train at home. First you will need at least the space/size of your garage to work and train at. Make sure it is spaced out. Then you will need to learn the basics on Youtube. After that you will have to shadowbox daily without equipment. Shadowboxing is pretending to fight and box. It helps you strengthen form and speed. After you are getting the hang of the basics you will need to buy equipment. If you have no idea of what equipment you need, keep reading. You’re going to want to buy handwraps, jump rope, resistant bands, mirror, and a mat. You can learn all that by watching videos on Youtube.
Schedule
If you have no idea of how to work and what to work on then I have a schedule planned out for you. You will need to train for at least 1 hour and 30 minutes. This is what your schedule will look like: stretch for 5 minutes, 5 sets of two minute rounds of jump rope to warm up, 8 sets of 3 minutes of shadow boxing in front of a mirror, 5 sets of 3 minute rounds of footwork using floor and cones, 4 sets of 5 minutes of resistant bands using boxing stance and walking back and forward. Then you will use the mat to do 50 pushups, 50 sit ups, and 50 crunches.
Why?
Here are 3 main points why you should try boxing:
1. Mental Strength. Boxing trains your focus, discipline, patience, and resilience. It boosts confidence and helps manage stress, anxiety, and even anger. You learn how to stay calm under pressure inside and outside the ring.
2. Self-Defense. You’ll gain confidence in your ability to protect yourself if needed.
3. Fitness. The last point is that boxing improves cardio, strength, coordination, and endurance all at once.
Benefits of boxing
Boxing gives you a bunch of positive effects such as giving you discipline, self control, improves your mood, helps with stress, lose weight, and build muscle. Boxing has a lot of green flags to offer you over any sport. There are a lot of people who think boxing is a dangerous sport. I agree but in life you have to take risks in order to try something new. Amateur boxing makes sure you stay safe and protected with headgear, mouthpiece, and handwraps so you don’t get hurt. Doctors make sure they check your heart and health before fights. Every sport comes with risk but not every sport teaches you respect, humility, loyalty, and mental toughness the way boxing does.
Alexander Lugo – St. Laurence High School – DMSF Class of 2029
Photo Credit: fotokitas – Adobe Stock