What to know before choosing boxing classes near you?

“It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” 

-How many of you have remembered this supremely famous dialogue uttered by Rocky Balboa aka superstar Sylvester Stallone in the 2006 movie on boxing named ‘Rocky Balboa’?

Whenever we hear the name of legends like Mohammed Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Mike Tyson, etc., our heart beat raises as we remember all the nerve wrecking moments of heavy punches, blood oozing out of boxer’s face, and the perfect knockouts. Many of us are fans of these boxers and grow up watching them. Also, majority of us hold an inner desire to become a boxer one day and get enrolled in various boxing institutions. 

So, it is better to know the necessary and important things related to boxing before choosing boxing classes near you.

What is Boxing?

Boxing is referred to a combat sport involving ‘fighting with fists’. In traditional term, boxing is ‘pugilism’ literally meaning ‘fist fight’. Boxing fights take place in an arena called ‘ring’. It consists of timed rounds. Decision and declaration of winners are done on the basis of knockout or points. A referee has to remain present in the ring throughout the fight. Judges watch the entire match from outside the rings and decide who the ultimate winner is.

An overview about modern boxing:

Modern boxing has two main categories:

Amateur: Scoring is being given on points instead of the physical damage delivered on an opponent. Both the boxers have to wear protective head gear. The matches are shorter with three rounds of three minutes for each. One minute of rest is given in between rounds. 

Professional: Matches of 10 to 12 rounds are there. The fighters are not allowed to wear headgear. Physical damage is a common outcome of professional boxing. Usually, fighters start their career as amateur boxers and gradually turn into professional boxers. 

How long is a boxing class?

Usually, most of the professional boxing classes are conducted for 60 minutes. Each class is strategically structured in three rounds including:

  • Cardio warm up of intense level
  • Boxing along with body weight exercises
  • Core exercises

A weight class can burn around 500 to 1000 calories each hour. Boxers can do shadow boxing or use a heavy bag to practice punches. Not everybody do sparring, but those who wish to progress their level of learning and expertise, they do spar with other fighters regularly. 

Before choosing boxing classes near you, you must know certain things that cannot be avoided at all when it comes to boxing. 

Ideal time of arriving in boxing class:

You may think that it is not needed as everybody knows that one should enter into a class at the scheduled time. 

But, there is a twist. 

If you are going for your very first boxing class, enter 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled timing. Inform the instructor or the receptionist that you are a newcomer. The respective individual will help you wrap your hands for protection of wrists and wear your gloves. Also, he or she will guide you to the main studio. 

Also, inform the instruction if you have any internal health issue or any injury or physical limitation. The instructor or coach will design a routine for you accordingly and do alterations and modifications to the exercises required. 

Try to remain close to the instructor while doing exercises and learning punches. Do not forget to stretch your back, legs, and arms before ending the class.

How can you get prepared for your class?

You must have a light meal consisting of carbs about thirty minutes to 1 hour before the class. You can eat sweet potatoes, beans, fruits, juice, etc. Drink at least 22 ounces of water a couple of hours before the class. 

Also, if you want to learn boxing and remain physically fit, reserve a class on a particular day you are completely rested. It’s a bad idea for new learners to take a high intensity boxing class after an extreme HIIT session in your gym. 

What should you wear in a boxing class?

First of all, choose comfortable clothes that will stay in place. The outfit must be well fitted. It’s best to wear professional boxing uniform like a vest and shorts. If you wish to wear other outfit, prefer wearing comfy gym uniform in which you can do a lot of movements, and won’t face problem if you sweat profusely. Breathable and absorbent fabrics are suggested. 

You can use a workout headband for keeping your tresses in place. Boxing shoes should have low heel, smooth bottom and ankle support. 

Is boxing dangerous to learn for kids?

Boxing is closely associated with cuts, fractures and severe damage. The main aim of the fighters is to punch the opponent as hard and fast as possible to inflict injury and knock him or her out. 

Worried?

Don’t be. 

In every class, the instructors remain 100% alert and make sure that the kids or adults whoever are practicing in class won’t get hurt or cause injury to others. Usually, the fighters are advised to spar with touch and back criteria in which hard punches are not allowed. Techniques are checked, corrected and clarified. The heavy bags are used for hard punches and not on each other’s face or body. 

Coaches know that they are training kids who have developing brains and soft bones. A trained and experienced coach will never allow such activities that can cause brain or body injury to the children. 

You have to remember that every sport involving physical activities is susceptible to injury and accident. Sports like soccer, cricket, basketball, volleyball, rugby, etc. can bestow some cuts or fractures to the players accidentally at any time. Similarly, boxing, being an intense sport may cause certain injuries. Again, that is not obligatory as seniors will be there with your kids all the time during practice. 

Afterall, to be brave and tough, your kid has to bear pain. No pain means no gain. Right?

Is boxing hard to learn? 

The answer of the question whether boxing is hard to learn or not typically depends on the intention, dedication, will power, patience and consistency of the individual who is going to learn it. Everything is tough if you think so. Again, everything is easy for you if you love it with full heart and learn. Same goes with boxing. Like any other sport, boxing has several things included like hard core exercises, stamina training, weight training, speed training, etc. Boxing is sport involving a lot of sweat and sometimes blood. 

Hence, if your child is truly interested and boasts the ‘never give up’ mentality, he or she will find it easy to learn.

How long does it take to learn boxing?

On an average, a normal individual can learn the basics in approximately 2 months. But, for that, one needs to practice regularly under the supervision of a trainer. Most of the time, it takes around a year to implement the moves and achieve mastery. Perfection needs daily practice, more time, and more years.  

Basically, from the first day you enter the class and start training for at least thrice a week, you can truly grab the basics of boxing in around 6 months. But, still, it completely depends on the learner and his/her dedication, learning capacity, physical capability, and many more things. Again, if you are involved in other physically active sport, or, other style of martial art, you can learn quicker.

How many levels are there in boxing? What are those levels?

It is important to know the levels before choosing boxing classes near you. 

Men’s Boxing: Eight weight divisions were there traditionally. But, with time, the governing bodies have included more divisions, and now a total of 17 weight classes or levels are there.

Weight Category in Men’s Boxing
Category NameIn PoundsIn Kilograms
Minimum Weight 10548
Flyweight11251
Super flyweight11552
Bantamweight11853.5
Super bantamweight12255
Featherweight12657
Super featherweight13059
Lightweight13561
Super lightweight14063.5
Welterweight14767
Super Welterweight15470
Middleweight16072.5
Super middleweight16876
Light Heavyweight17579
Cruiserweight20091
Heavyweightunlimitedunlimited
Olympic Style Amateur Boxing Weight Category for Men
Category NameIn PoundsIn Kilograms
Light Flyweight108 pounds49
Flyweight11552
Bantamweight12356
Lightweight13260
Light Welterweight14164
Welterweight15269
Middleweight16575
Light Heavyweight17881
Heavyweight20191
Super HeavyweightOver 201 pounds (any)More than 91 kg

Women’s boxing: There are less categories in women’s boxing both in Amateur and Olympic.

Women’s Amateur Boxing Weight Category
Category NameIn PoundsIn Kilograms
FlyweightMaximum 106 pounds48
Bantamweight11251
Featherweight11954
Lightweight12657
Light Welterweight13260
Welterweight14164
Middleweight15269
Light heavyweight16575
Heavyweight17981
Super heavyweightAny weight more than 179 poundsOver 81 kg
Women’s Olympic Boxing Weight Category
Category NameIn PoundsIn Kilograms
Flyweight106 to 11248 to 51
Lightweight123 to 13256 to 60
Middleweight152 to 16569 to 75

What are the types of boxing?

There are types of boxers:

Out-Boxer: Also called Boxer or Pure Boxer, these fighters focus on keeping distance from their opponent. Out Boxers take advantage of this distance. 

Slugger: They are brawler or heavy puncher. They usually do not follow any strategy. They hardly pay any attention to any kind of tactics during a match. The player uses havoc or brutal force for knocking down the opponent. They can take a lot of hits from the opponent. Sluggers usually try to get closer to the opponent and corner him or her. 

Swarmer: We can call them close-in fighter or pressure fighter. They focus on offense most of the times. Their goal is to unleash multiple hits as fast as possible. 

Boxer-Puncher: Also known as Hybrid Boxers, they are the toughest opponents to handle. They have the awesome capability of switching style in between the ongoing match. 

Counter Puncher: These fighters usually wait for their opponent to take the first move. When the opponent misses, they take that opportunity and unleash a counter hit. Counter puncher are opportunity seekers. They wait for the right moment to hit.

What are the rules in boxing?

Boxing rules differ based of various jurisdiction. Also, amateur and professional boxing rules are different from each other. If any fighter violate the rules, he or she will get a warning. Point deduction will be there. Referee can disqualify the fighter.

You cannot:

  • Hit below the belt
  • Hold
  • Kick
  • Head-butt
  • Trip
  • Bite
  • Spit 
  • Push
  • Wrestle
  • Hit with elbow, shoulder, head or forearm
  • Hitting with open gloves is not allowed
  • No hit with side hands, backhand, wrist or inside of gloves
  • A fighter cannot punch the back, neck, head and kidney of the opponent.
  • Fighters are not allowed to hold rope and throw a punch in order to gain leverage.
  • Holding and hitting opponent simultaneously at the same time is not allowed.
  • A fighter can’t duck too low that his/her head goes below the belt line of the opponent.
  • A fighter has to take a complete step back after the referee breaks him/her from a clinch. Immediate hit (hitting on the break) is not allowed.
  • Fighters can’t spit out their mouthpiece for taking rest.
  • A fighter implying foul and injuring the opponent leading the fight to end immediately will be disqualified.
  • A floored boxer has to get up on his/her feet in 10 counts (10 seconds). Otherwise, he/she will lose the match or bout by knockout.
  • A floored opponent cannot be hit while he/she is on the canvas.
  • A boxer who has knocked down the opponent should move to the farthest neutral corner when the referee makes the count.
  • A boxer hit with sudden accidental low blow has maximum 5 minutes for recovery. If he/she fails to continue to box after 5 minutes, then he/she will be taken as knocked out. 
  • In case a boxer gets knocked out and falls from the ring, he/she has to come back in the ring within a count of 20 without any assistance. Otherwise the opponent will win.
  • Some jurisdictions rule that no knocked down boxer is allowed to be saved by the bell in any round.
  • In some jurisdictions, only the referee is allowed to stop the bout.
  • Some allow ‘three knockdown’ rule or ‘standing eight count’ rule.
  • A bout will be considered as a ‘no contest’ if an unintentional foul leads the bout to stop immediately. In this case, the four rounds should not get over and the accident must happen before the completion of all the rounds. Three rounds must be completed at least in case the bout is scheduled or set for four rounds. Now, if all the four rounds are completed, then tally will be done between the scorecards of the judges. The boxer whose points are higher will be made a winner by technical decision. Again, if the scores of both the boxers are even, then it will be closed as technical draw.
  • A boxer can get deduction of 2 points by referee’s order if he or she causes an injury due to foul but the bout is still in continuation.

FAQs

Is boxing a right sport for you?

Boxing is okay for everyone. But, you must have the intention, time, patience, dedication, and hard working mentality. You can definitely learn boxing. It doesn’t mean you have to be a professional fighter. Boxing is extremely good as self-defense which you can use anywhere to save yourself and others.

How Much Should boxing lessons cost?

Usually, the cost depends on institution to institution. On an average, the cost is somewhere between INR 500 to INR 1,130 approximately. It can be less or more depending on the trainers and the boxing studios with various facilities. 

Are private boxing lessons worth it?

If you get a good trainer, then private boxing lessons are definitely worthy. You have to be devoted towards boxing and practice it again and again to master the moves. 

What do you learn in boxing classes?

You will learn how to punch properly, block, time management, speed, foot work, unwavering focus, how to overcome fear, and many more.

Can I learn boxing at 25?

There is no particular age to learn boxing. You can definitely start learning boxing at the age of 25 provided you are physically and mentally capable of pursuing it. If you dedicatedly learn and practice regularly without giving up, you can be a pro boxer.

Conclusion:

These are the things you must know before choosing boxing classes near you. Instead of wasting time, start searching a nearby boxing class. Don’t forget to take demo sessions.

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