Boxing
 

Not the professional kind, I'm wondering if anyone here has done boxing recreationally before? I'm considering taking it up this summer and kind of want to know what to expect.

Any variations like kickboxing or martial arts I am interested in as well.

Boxing is a not my favorite game. It is not my profession but boxing is a very interesting sport game. I don't play boxing because Boxing is a very dangerous game. There are two forum of boxing one armature and professional. Armature boxing is an Olympic and commonwealth sports. Professional boxing is a longer than the armature boxing.

I messed around with it for a couple years at the Y with a cousin and some locals. Had an unofficial trainer for a few months. Never actually joined a real gym. But I think I would recommend an actual boxing gym with an actual trainer if you're serious about doing it for more than a hobby or just messing around here and there. If you're not really into it, I think it won't really play out the way you may want it to.

If you're willing to put in the work, you may as well join a gym. I wasn't, and I wish I had.
As far as what to expect... well... no matter how serious it is, I'd say to just take your ego out of it and treat it like any other sport. The less it is about proving yourself, the more you'll learn about actually taking yourself out of the equation and implementing technique. The goal is to learn a skill. You just have to accept that and give yourself over to the learning, and not the emotional urges.
I found that part the hardest to try and overcome when sparring. I'd forget what I'd learned because I just wanted to win, or I'd become angry because I wasn't winning, and all my sh*t would go out the door.
Overall, in any physical contest, expect competition. But don't feel threatened by it. It's simply motivation to become better, no matter what it is you're doing. And that is what you should embrace, whether your trainer tells you that or not.

i took French/Belgian kickboxing for a while

the instructor was a total slavedriver and those few months were some of the arduous martial arts i ever did

the exercises were gruelling and painful

sparring was like a real streetfight - i had bruises and even blood spilled

but i enjoyed it on a whole, his whole approach is not to take it as an "exhibition", but to beat down your opponent as fast as possible

Boxing is ok as a sport, but if you're looking at something more beneficial and fun, try Muay Thai or some other variation of basic kickboxing. Tae Kwon Do is also very fun (although difficult), but it's hard to find an authentic teacher sometimes.
Edit: I'm very biased because this my personal favourite, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is very interesting, and legitimately helpful if you're in some 1 on 1 bar fight.

how is Tae Kwon Do "difficult", it's not much different than karate

i have a green belt in TKD

i took Muay Thai as well, but not the original form, which is too masochistic even for me

you have to rub this abrasive tree bark on your shins in order to lose all feeling there

Good post. I know part of why I want to take up boxing is a way of channeling this aggression I've built up over the years. Obviously this isn't a good mindset to go in with if I actually want to do well. Getting emotional, you'll let your guard down, forget the techniques, and ultimately end up on the ground. I couldn't say whether I'm serious or not until I've put a good amount of time into it, but the gym my brother goes to for it has trainers who work with NFL Combine players, so I think they have an idea of what they're doing.

I'm still a bit skeptical about how well martial arts translates to the streets, it seems to be becoming more obsolete over time. Also, it seems easier to half ass martial arts without putting in the effort (if you have a bad trainer), while boxing really takes a toll on you and you have to put forward 100%.

Maybe you could clarify what you mean by more beneficial. I'd think if a boxer and martial artist went toe to toe, the boxer would come out on top most of the time.

I wouldn't rule out a hybrid of the two though.

i have no real intention of taking it to the streets or in a real-life situation

i'd end up killing somebody (or being killed)

Neither do I, but I assumed self-defense is what he meant by 'beneficial'.

I could always subscribe to the Jeet Kune Do philosophy, go Bruce Lee on street thugs' ass.

disabling them is often the best option

my problem is i'll get so worked up i dunno when to stop

Early UFC/Mixed Martial Arts tournaments sort of ruled out boxing as a top contender for 'most effective martial art'. I think it was mostly the JUdo and Jiu-jitsu guys who won, and sometimes some Muay Thai guys/American wrestlers.

My definition of beneficial was self-defense. Street-wise, Judo is probably the best option, I've heard of Judoka throwing around muggers by their dumb@ss hoodies a lot. Seems legit.

What's TKD like? I've been trying it via a few friends that took classes, but it seems very, very technical and requires a lot of precision and flexibility. Both of which I don't have.

yes, there are a lot of callisthenic exercises - i did it when i was young so no problems, but i think if you stretch properly before the callisthenics, it shouldn't be much of a problem

yes, you have to focus your entire strength at the point of contact

if you want "difficult", try Capoeira

i took that as well, it was like gymnastics

Capoeira is an interesting one. That's the one the Brazilian slaves created, whilst disguising it as dancing, isn't it?

How did you find a trainer for that? I'm thinking of trying to build a striking base in Tae Kwon Do or Capoeria, to get my leg dexterity up.

ugh, i've half over-taken this thread.

i found a Capoeira class in a local gym

he was trained in Brazil and on graduation, the entire class was supposed to sit for some medal of proficiency in Capoeira in Rio De Janeiro (you actually only get a strand of coloured rope to tie around your waist) - i never made it that far

take note i'm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, though

i really dunno about your neck of the woods

capoeira is martial art disguised as dance from by slaves in history of brazil, a very beautiful sight, although the real style you must go the favelas. it has much emphsis on flips as well as body balance

I hope Khan gets a pasting tonight, even if he is English.

There we go, a boxer who can't take a punch is always on borrowed time. He should quit.

yes, it's very technical and precise. it's a sport designed to be executed and used as a sport. flexibility is needed because of the different types of kicks. if you want to hit those jumping turning longs, you need to do that damn split. so yes, you need to be flexible.

definitely not for streetfighting.

Doubt it's still relevant, but boxing is a great sport for cardio. Especially with heavy bag training, you can put out a lot of exertion and sweat without feeling too taxed by it.

Yea, I much prefer that or other combat arts than the treadmill.

I can't believe Pacquiao is fighting Marquez for a fourth time. Granted, their first 3 fights were awesome, but enough is enough. I would much rather see Pac get his rematch (and revenge) against Bradley.

Of course we all want to see Mayweather stop being a coward and quit making excuses and step in the ring and back up all the smack he's talked about Pacquiao.

I often go rounds with a bag as a warm-up before exercise. When I was a kid, I broke my right wrist and it's been aching in periods ever since, also when I started punching the bag. But I think punching is actually toughening up the wrist somehow. It hurts less now, both while punching and in general daily life, than it did before I started.

Anyways, with some kicks added, it's a good warm-up, I think. At least it's a lot more fun than jogging :)

the only sports injury I have is that my left shin is chipped from a badly-thrown cricket ball and not wearing any shin-guards

I was hoping for this fight about 8 years ago. Unfortunately Pac has begun to look like his career is on the downhill swing. I'm thinking Mayweather could take him, granted it would be a horrible dance-a-thon by Mayweather for the victory.

Pac may be on the downhill. Maybe not. He was robbed against Bradley, and Marquez is just a tough SOB to take down and happens to match up well against Pac, so it is hard to say how much he is declining.

But I agree, I would have loved to have seen this fight years ago. The longer it's delayed, the more it favors Mayweather.

Regardless, when it does happen, it will be the biggest boxing event in a long time.

I agree on the Bradley fight he was jobbed Don King Style. Marquez does have a hell of a chin but thats what Pac was known for, knocking guys with great chins out. Regardless he still has gotta be considered top three pound for pound.

This fight would hearken back to the Sugar Ray vs Duran/Hearns/Hagler days for me, I've been waiting for a fight to truly peak my interest for awhile. Lots of great talent in boxing still but nothing with the excitement of the 80's. We can only hope Arum can make it happen and Mayweather puts on his big boy pants.

I did boxing for a few years.. Very interesting sport, but in my opinion there are better ones. MMA is definitely a good option if you want a range of things rather than just a specific area.
For self defense, I'd hands-down suggest Krav Maga, however that isn't competitive so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere..
There are loads of other martial arts, they all offer something different.. You could always go for somethign traditional such as karate kung-fu or karate, or go for something more westernized like boxing (as you originally mentioned) or kickboxing.

I loved Hagler and Leonard. The entire middleweight division in the 80s was fierce.

Here is Hagler and Hearns in what was the most brutal, entertaining and action-packed round in the history of boxing referred to as "The War."

Do you like Tim Bradley?I have since he went to Witter's backyard and took his title.

The big one this weekend. Mayweather/Álvarez :cool:.

Hope Álvarez smacks him.

so do i


but it wont happen


i hate floyd. but he works too hard and is too talented to lose this fight.

rip boxing, its never coming back. no heavyweight stars anymore. i blame mma and partially floyd for boxings demise. a shame because i loved boxing growing up. always rooted for lennox

What's everyone doing for Mayweather/Pac? Aimed more at UK posters cos of the time difference.

@£20 it works out alright if I get a few mates round and everyone chips in but at 5am I doubt it. No chance I'm going sports bar for this either.

Probably stream it.

11 days to go.

4 days to go.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5gEjs5jfHw

Coral New Customer Offer: Mayweather 5/1 or Pacquiao 10/1 win

& 3/1 @ William Hill on Mayweather to win, new accounts only.

These are great bets.

They better live up to the hype.

I'm thinking Tommy Hearns vs. Marvin Hagler. Greatest fight ever.

I don't think it will be a great fight tbh.

But absolutely buzzing for this now. How much is it in the US? Heard it was $100 on PPV :eek:

This is gd:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tmv-9oUppk

First fight done. One more then the main event.

Had my sandwiches, tired as fuck tbh :o:

Dude what time is it there? You are actually staying up to watch this? I was going to but I have to work in the morning **** that I'll read about it instead. Friend of mine flew in to Las Vegas for this, ****in really?

Isn't the pay per view price like 90 bucks? Hell no.

edit: didn't see monkey's post, but yeah, hell no.

Yes.

03:17.

Can't knock the work rate :cool:

£20 here (about $40) but there are ways to watch for free, I'm watching on a (paid) stream though, someone gave me a log in. Kodi etc have it on.