The age-old sport of boxing has a history that can rival most other sports across the globe, having seen its fair share of celebration and drama throughout the years. Yet, before any of modern boxing’s most famous victors and titans ever touched a pair of boxing gloves or kicked some punching bags, they understood that boxing was about far more than just punching and dodging.
There is no denying that to be even average at boxing, you must be in very good physical condition. But the road to getting fighting fit contains so much more than just physical challenges. Boxing can unsurprisingly be a bloody sport at times, but it is also a sport that is practiced worldwide purely for its mental health benefits just as much as it is for its physical ones.
Boxing is for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes with plenty to offer everyone, making it a great way to stay in shape and stay mentally sharp.
Let’s take a look at just a few of the physical and mental health benefits that boxing can offer.
High Intensity But Low Impact
For the uninitiated, boxing is often seen as a dangerous sport where there is a high probability of getting seriously hurt. However, time and time again it has been proven that contrary to what many people think, boxing is a great way for new parents to exercise, as the sport is actually fairly low impact.
Unlike running or jogging, a boxing workout doesn’t place too much consistent pressure on your knees. Instead, the sport works to build up your strength alongside your agility, rather than focusing on endurance (a benefit of running track). Because of the sport’s surprisingly gentle nature, boxing can actually be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Of course, if you decide to jump in the ring to compete as a professional fighter, there are other training requirements that need to be considered. For those looking to get fit for their own purposes, however, it’s difficult to beat the ease and results that accompany boxing workouts.
Even something as simple as practicing combos on a punching bag, using a skipping rope, or utilizing other boxing training equipment, can prove to be perfect exercises.
Maximum Intensity Engaged
If you’re looking to lose fat fast, boxing workouts can also provide real results here too. High-intensity workouts are the way to go when looking to shed excess fat and tone your body, which happens to fit in perfectly with boxing.
Your ideal fat-blasting practice schedule should generally consist of many exercises and drills that are done in short bursts at high power.
We recommend including a bit of running (either on a track or on a treadmill), skipping, and perhaps even a few rounds on a speed bag. These types of high-intensity exercises can help boost your heart rate and kick start your metabolism, whilst still, again, having a very low impact on your body.
Everyone Can Benefit From Boxing
One of the greatest things about boxing is that just about anyone can practice it in one form or another. People of different ages and abilities will find some part of boxing that they can practice comfortably, and take full advantage of the learned confidence that comes with it.
Training is going to require you to use your brain, not just your body, as you learn various moves and stances to practice, as well as how you can accurately read the moves of an opponent.
Even if your grandma doesn’t fight a heavyweight champion for 12 rounds, people who aren’t very strong can still benefit from boxing training. They can get stronger and have better posture.
If you’re a new parent struggling with ‘baby brain’ or just tired of all the late-night wake-up calls and diaper changes that come with having a newborn, a little bit of boxing every day can be the perfect thing to reclaim your energy during daylight hours.
Boxing Is Not Just Punching People
The boxing matches that you see on TV are about one percent of what boxing truly is. While boxing is certainly a sport, it’s also a way of life for a lot of people, as it incorporates physical and mental health practices that promote an overall healthier way of living.
From learning about nutrition to better fuel your body, to practicing meditation as a way to focus before a match, boxing truly brings all aspects of health and wellness together in one place.
Simply put, maintaining a boxing training routine demands you to be a better overall person, both physically and mentally. Boxing requires commitment, focus, determination and many other attributes that can be extremely useful to anyone.
Enjoy The Physical And Mental Benefits Of Boxing
As a new parent, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. Regular exercise and looking after your mental health, naturally, get pushed down the pecking order of your priorities as you focus everything you can on your new bundle of joy.
However, it’s important to remember that if you want to give yourself a fighting chance at being the best parent you can be, you need to take some time to look after yourself too. And, boxing can be the perfect outlet to do just that!
Boxing is a great way to build confidence, learn how to defend yourself, gain strength and muscle definition, or just to be social.
Take some time to enjoy this sport, even if it’s just punching things. You’ll be amazed at how good it can make you mentally and physically.
Takeaways
Boxing is a low-impact exercise that is gentle on the knees, making it suitable for individuals of all ages and fitness levels. It effectively burns fat and tones the body without excessive strain.
Boxing encompasses various health practices, from nutrition to meditation, promoting holistic well-being. Embrace it as a way of life to be physically and mentally stronger.
References
- Daskalopoulou C, Stubbs B, Kralj C, Koukounari A, Prince M, Prina AM. Physical activity and healthy ageing: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort studies. Ageing Res Rev. (2017) 38:6–17. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2017.06.003
- Johny Bozdarov, Brett D. M. Jones, Z. Daskalakis, M. Husain Boxing as an Intervention in Mental Health: A Scoping Review. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
- Rosenbaum S, Tiedemann A, Ward PB, Curtis J, Sherrington C. Physical activity interventions: An essential component in recovery from mental illness. Br JSports Med. 2015;49(24):1544-1545.
- Zheng Y, Zhou Y, Lai Q. Effects of twenty-four move shadow boxing combined with psychosomatic relaxation on depression and Anxiety in patients with type-2 diabetes. Psychiatr Danub. 2015;27(2):174-179.
Manish brings over 10 years of hands-on experience in weight lifting and fat loss to fitness coaching. He specializes in gym-based training and has a lot of knowledge about exercise, lifting technique, biomechanics, and more.
Through “Fit Life Regime,” he generously shares the insights he’s gained over a decade in the field. His goal is to equip others with the knowledge to start their own fitness journey.