Boxing is one of the first ever sports to be established, dating all the way back to 688 BCE when it was first introduced to the Olympic games in Greece. While there is evidence of it being played around 3000 BCE in Mesopotamia it is believed to originate in the Olympics. Boxing has evolved dramatically over the years and is now a much safer sport than it was back than. I want to tell everyone who is reading this that you should attempt boxing because it is a very unique sport and it is a good coping mechanism to deal with stress.
What you will need to play this sport is first some good quality boxing gloves, make sure they are suitable for your hands and will offer you comfort. You will also need hand wraps and a jump rope to work on your foot movement. Next you will need headgear and mouthpiece to protect your face and teeth from major injuries. Find a good gym with the right equipment and learn the proper way to box. Make sure to take other fighters’ feedback and workout routines for you to test, make sure to have a sparring partner to train with, someone who is around the same weight as you and has a similar build. The more effort you put into this sport the better you will become, stay motivated and stay devoted.
You will gain many advantages from boxing like enhanced coordination and improved endurance. The first couple of days your body will be sore and exhausted because of all the hard work you are putting in, but in the end it’ll be of great value to yourself. This sport tests a person’s physical and mental limits, giving you the ability to push through difficulties and continue striving for improvement. It builds strength along with losing any fat, burning calories in just a short period of time. Your diet will change and muscle will slowly build over time. It improves balance as you learn footwork and improves your reaction speed tremendously.
This sport not only offers health benefits but also builds character. Boxing will teach you a variety of character traits as you progress. It will teach you self discipline and build mental toughness. These traits you will be able to use for the rest of your life as learning self discipline will keep you committed to any personal goals you have set for yourself and will help maintain healthy habits. Don’t ever feel discouraged by people’s comments or looks as they are just trying to bring you down. Ignore all of the negative energy and just remember to keep going because if you give up you’ll never know what you might accomplish through this journey.
Some strategies you can use to recover are ice baths as these are good for not only your recovery but they also boost your immune system and enhance your mood. The cold exposure can lead to improved mental clarity and habit of mind. I would recommend going to the gym to spar 3-5 times a week and make sure to take off days during the week. Make a good diet and eat lots of protein because that is crucial when building muscle. Have cheat days every other week but not too often otherwise you’ll get used to eating unhealthy and ruin your whole routine. During your recovery days focus on your hydration so you can replace the fluids lost through sweat. Stay focused and strive for the best.
Elijah Saavedra – De La Salle Institute – DMSF Class of 2029
Photo Credit: Ljupco Smokovski – Adobe Stock