I have a few questions about boxing.

Question

I'm thinking about joining boxing next year; after my freshman year. I weigh about 165 pounds, which is mostly muscle, a little fat though. I want to join boxing for 3 things: I want it for self-defense, losing weight, and making muscle. I am going to pay for the gear, so that I can practice with my friends. I know they'll teach me many things in the class, but how do I get prepared for it? Also, what do they exactly do in the class?

I just wanted to inform you that it's not in my high school. Oh, and one more thing; can I get a scholarship for boxing if I start next year?

Answer 1

Stop asking questions and start training.  Boxing hurts more than you think and it's exhausting on a level that you've never seen.  Now go do it.  Don't wait, do it now.  Join the local club.

Answer 2

Its not that great for self defence. Learn jujitsu if you want self defence. All a boxer knows is standing up and throwing punches. Ive beat many who think they are boxers.  

Answer 3

Preferably kick boxing will be best for you.

Answer 4

If you really love this sport, you can just go for it, but if for street fight defense purpose, boxiing skill alone may not be enough.  

There are a lot of rules fighting inside the ring which may give you negative impacts when you are involved in street fighting as defense.

During the defense on the street, you may be just used to swinging your fists and forget to use the kicks, the fingers, the twists etc. plus, you don't have gloves to protect your fists, so each time when you punches you hurt yourself too.  

Of course, having practise boxing, in theory, should do better than those people without this skill during the defense, but shouldn't rely on that alone for defensive purpose.

Answer 5

Boxing is usually a thing that you join at a local gym. They teach you what they know based on the gym in your location and their reputation. If you get a good trainer you could start a local career(if you have a fan base for it).. I thought about taking it myself(Here in Scranton Pa). Its much safer than Mixed martial arts and chances are you'll win a lot of bar fights(if thats your forte). So i think its a great thing to get into for health and defensive reasons.. Go for it!!  

Answer 6

165 lbs with a little fat means you'll probably fight at 155.  You can definitely get a scholarship in boxing if you are good enough.  Some guys start off and a year later they are going into amateur fights for money...even turning pro.  You can learn boxing fast if you train really hard.

Starting off you'll learn stance, footwork, and some basic punches.  You'll probably have to do some minimum cardio, plyometrics, and calisthenics before each training session (that means you'll do jumprope, pushups, situps, squats, etc.)

Once you have some basic punches, you'll learn combos and defense - no point in throwing a punch if you get hit every time you punch.  So you'll have a partner with some mitts (pads that you punch).  He'll hold the mitts for you to punch in a certain combination - jab, hook, straight, hook, uppercut for example.  Then you'll start on the defensive part - learn how to hold your hands so that when you punch you don't get hit.  Learn how to move your head after every punch.  Learn how to circle instead of moving in a straight line.  This is also where theory starts - you'll learn counter punching, clinching, inside fighting, outside fighting, and changing levels.  You'll start to develop a style.

Once you have your own style, you learn how to make it stronger and how to keep the weak parts of your style from making you lose - you are a light guy, so you'll probably train for speed more than power.  If you are tall you'll learn to move a lot.  If you are short you'll learn to get inside quick and punch, then get back out to a safe distance.

Inside a year you'll be ready for some fights.  Do good in 2 or 3 fights and you'll be eligible for a scholarship, if your school has a boxing program.  It will not be a big scholarship, because boxing doesn't have a lot of money, but should help, and might get you some free gear, etc.

Good luck - train hard and keep your hands up.