Is boxing a positive part of life?

Answer 1

I believe the answer is a definitive yes. However, as with most anything, there are exceptions, such as a poorly operated boxing club that does not have rules to prevent learning the techniques without the discipline. An example would be someone who just wants to learn enough boxing to enable them to bully someone with the knowledge.

However, for the most part, it has been my experience that those who get involved with boxing benefit in many aspects of their lives. Not to mention the health benefits of getting and staying in shape while training.

Initially, many look at boxing as, well, structured violence as well as brutal and dangerous. When a person first gets involved, many believe it's all about becoming a tough(er) guy (or girl).

A new member of a boxing club is commonly known as "green." Frequently green boxers look at boxing simply as fighting with the only goal being to hurt their opponent more than their opponent can hurt them. If you throw 2 "green" boxers in a ring to spar the first day they walk into the club, you will almost always get a brawl with hard feelings and all! Doing this is bad practice by the way and serves no real purpose which would benefit neither person and is generally not done, well, at least if the trainer is sincere in making boxing a positive thing for anyone willing to get involved.

When a person first comes to a boxing gym they are usually first taught about boxing. Such as the fact that it is a sport, proper stance, technique, and that learning boxing is a process that will take will power, self discipline, commitment, and respect.

Way before they put the gloves on to spar, they will learn that the training alone will require them to look inside themselves use discipline and dedication they probably didn't even know they were capable of. For example, after showing them techniques to practice, lace on a pair of 16 ounce bag gloves and have them hit the heavy bag for 3 - 2 minute rounds. Almost guaranteed that, at first, they will expend most of their energy in the first 2 minute round of hitting the bag. Then spend the next 2 rounds wondering why they even got involved. But that feeling will pass once their wind returns and they realize that they need to control their pace. Watching other, more experienced boxers train on the same equipment will teach them that.

Stamina plays a huge role in boxing! I can't stress this enough. One of the best ways to gain the stamina needed is through running (road work), which really builds good work ethic and lets the "green" boxer realize that being part of a boxing club involves commitment and is far more than the uncontrolled, prove your tough, slug-fest many believe when they first step into the gym.

After the boxer has learned the basics and practiced them on various training equipment, observed more experienced club members spar, learned that the training is real work, and has a better idea of boxing being a competitive sport that takes time & patience to learn in steps (not unlike sports such as football, hockey, soccer, Basketball, etc.), then they are ready to learnsparring. By the way, I mention the other sports because, for some reason, people seem to realize when they begin most other sports that it's a process to get the hang of them; whereas with boxing, many seem to think of it as more of an instant gratification thing, sort of like "put the gloves on, jump in the ring, and pound your opponent. Maybe it's because so many liken boxing to street fighting because there's punching involved?

The first time a boxer spars, it should be with a partnerwith experience and self control. Never with another green boxer because, as soon as they get hit with a punch that has a little sting to it, the sparring turns into a brawl and the techniques they learned thus far will go out the window. It takes time to build the mental concept where being hit with a punch that might sting the nose a little is really not that different than having a basket scored against you in a game of one on one. However, in time, that's a little like how the mentality with boxing will become.

The first sparring, done with a more experienced partner, will be awkward for the green fighter. Their temper is likely to flair-up a little and they will take too many things personally. That's where the control of the more experienced partner comes in. Not to dominate or show the new boxer who's boss, but just to keep things in control and let the newbie see for themselves that getting angry and going for blood will get them no where in sparring. Ideally, the first few sparring session for the newbie will be humbling, but will get the concept of sparring across.

The concept being that sparring partners are not opponents, sparring sessions are not competitions but a chance to practice their techniques and learn from their partner, becoming better boxers with control, discipline, and a respect for the other person.

Most often, these positive traits carry over into many other aspects of their lives. Being a tough guy (or girl) isn't the priority it used to be.

After just a couple of months, boxing will have many positive impacts on life (in most cases anyway). The work ethic carries over into their school and/or job. The respect carries over to their dealing with practically everyone they interact with. The dedication and commitment improve their outlook on life as a whole.

Additionally, a person actively involved in boxing knows that smoking, drugs, or alcohol will make it harder in the gym for them. So they tend to choose to avoid those things because of that. Boxing gives them direction and goals that are positive.

Another benefit is to the community! If a person is training for boxing they are not out wondering the streets. They aren't vandalizing the neighborhood, doing drugs on the corner, walking the streets looking for trouble, etc. In fact, most boxing gyms have strict rules that can get a person suspended from the club. Fighting outside of the ring, such as in school or on the street, is a very common one. Being suspended from the club is something a boxer who's put a couple months of blood, sweat, & tears does not want to happen!

In fact, as opposed to getting into trouble, many clubs are involved in positive things such as community service or fundraising events for the club. The boxers are taught that what they do as individuals reflects on the boxing club as a whole. A strong sense of positive comradely builds between member of the boxing club. They develop the ability to be sparring with one another one minute and helping one another the next. In the club, it is everyone's job to keep it clean, take care of their equipment, etc. This is yet another activity that keeps the members of the club on the same, positive, journey.

Of course, when competing in armature bouts, the object is to use their skills and training to their fullest, with winning being the goal. However, when the bell rings in the final round signaling that the match is over, the good sportsmanship is almost always apparent immediately with both boxers showing respect for one another. Just watch a few matches and you can see for yourself. If 2 people embrace one another in a show of good sportsmanship just moments after having gone 3 or more rounds trying their best to defeat the other with a variety of punches, while still showing the control and presence of mind to use proper defense, footwork, etc. (essentially, "practicing the sweet science"), that should be pretty good proof that boxing can have a very positive effect on those involved!

Again, the positive effects have a lot to do with a club which is being operated correctly, and there are governing bodies in all states, as well as USA Boxing (see related link), that ensure that most clubs are properly run. Thus, most of the positive effects boxing can bring into the lives of people who are involved with it are universal.

I hope this answers the question. My apologies for the "wordiness" of my answer. I just figured that if I'm going to take the time to tackle this question, I should do it thoroughly. Boxing has done a lot for me so i have no problem with putting in the time to type out an answer that, I hope, will do something for the image of boxing. The image boxing often conjures-up seems to be misunderstood because of preconceived notions many people still have about the sport, that being that it's all about brutality and neanderthal in nature. Boxing is so much deeper, it's just hard to see since so few get to look inside, or outside for that matter, at the whole picture.