Boxer's Start-Up (eBook)

Chapter OneLearning... to boxain't no overnight thing Your introduction to boxing is a building process that will takeawhile. This sport incorporates a complex array of skills that develop and dovetail through training and repeated effort. You'll think through them at first, then musclememory takes over as you put in the hours. As you train you'll condition your body to function at the highlevels required to successfully last a succession of three-minute rounds with a teeny-tiny one-minute break in between. It doesn't sound like much but it'll be one of the hardest things you'll ever do. The three-minute round, by the way, is based on the actual time of a round in competition. Likewise the one-minute break. Don't even think about sparring for a few months. Without knowing the skills, you'll box like Doris Day. And without conditioning, you won't last a minute before you become a wheezing wreck. Training is everything.Respect it. And for heaven's sake, have fun with it. Stick with it and you'll never regret the hard work. Figure around six months of training to acquire some basic boxing skills and the proper conditioning to successfully spar three three-minute rounds. Figure a whole lot more toget better. Watching FightsAfter a few lessons youcan watch competitive bouts with more understanding and interest. Furthermore, they serve as a great learning tool.After all, you're watching the guys that have, more or less, put it all together.Chapter TwoBoxing GearSHOPPING LISTS A List: Right away for the boxer's workout:T-shirts Shorts or sweats Athletic socks Athletic footwear Wraps Bag gloves Heavy bag Jump rope Punch mitts (if you have a partner)B List: Later on for sparring:Headgear Mouthguard Sparring gloves Groin protector This is the stuff you gotta have. You'll look at the loaded catalogs and see all kinds of other things, but this is all you really need to develop some basic skills over a six month period. In fact,you shouldn't have to worry about anything on the B List until your initial training (which could very well last six months) is finished. You're not going to spar with anyone until you've mastered your basic skills and can comfortably last three or four active three-minute rounds on the heavy bag. That's the right way to do it. That's the safe and sane way to develop as a boxer. Period. Going over the lists in detail. A List: Assuming you already know what T-shirts, shorts and athletic socks are, we'll start with the footwear. Athletic Footwear: Sneakers that fit well are fine fornow. Don't bother with actual boxing shoes. If you're training in a gym you may need to avoid dark...