Heya, haven't made a thread in a while.
Just making this one to talk about a new hobby of mine: boxing.
I sacked up to walk into a dedicated boxing club as a fat/big looking 40 year old who last did anything cardio at least 10 years ago. I've been in the gym in many periods, the last 12 months or so very consistently, however I've doing weightlifting (amazing, by the way) so I knew I'd have trouble in a boxing gym.
Been going for 2 months. Great place, coach, and people. I was sort of afraid there'd be a meathead macho bullshit atmosphere (as I'd expect if I was in Greece, though in Switzerland there's not much judgement overall), but there's none of that. There are people from teenagers to a handful older than me, the training is fairly challenging but there's a lot of respect. A lot of pointers from others, how to keep your hands, feet, torso, how to punch. I was self-conscious, huffing and dying in the warm-up for at least the first 4 weeks. Now the warm-up is ok, but in the boxing drills after a while my shoulders start burning and fists hurting like hell.
The coach is great too, shouts from time to time but in a motivating rather than disparaging manner. I'm old enough and have done enough that I wouldn't take that so easily if I detected bullshit. There's a guy who looks permanently pissed and never says hi to anyone bar the coach, and a 20-something kid who tends to overdo everything. Perhaps I'll get in the ring with one or both at some point. Both look very strong and look like they've been doing this for ages so perhaps they'll mop the floor with me, or perhaps not.
I think it took me about 6 weeks for the regulars to consistently acknowledge me and strike a conversation, I think that's fine, it weeds out the jokers.
Cardio has improved dramatically, but with every improvement all I uncover is how little I know from the vast and deep ocean that is boxing. There's so many things to do correctly and simultaneously to stand any sort of chance. Not sparred yet, maybe in a month's time. The coach is adamant that he puts people to spar when they're ready, and ready to learn from it. Never puts two beginners together (because apparently they either go ham and injure each other or circle around without doing anything - neither approach teaching anything).
When I was asked what's the motivation to join - given it is a dedicated amateur boxing club, not a gym, not general martial arts etc - I said I want to get this experience for myself, what's it like to have a fight in a legal and controlled environment. Already learning a lot about myself, like that I am a lot more scared of hitting someone (in the very light contact drills we do) than getting hit. Some people pull such funny faces when they are about to hit or be hit. Also, boxers' punches are HARD, included women's. The correct technique really multiplies the force applied. I know through the light contact that I've had that I'm among the strongest in there, but that doesn't help if nothing ever connects with anything. some of the guys I was practicing with are very very fast, including some big guys. The self discovery experience is perhaps the most amazing aspect. Due to my job I've been in some uncomfortable/stressful situations, however my boss's (and borderline among the best pieces of advice I ever got) advice of "get comfortable being uncomfortable) helped me not quit. The other bit of motivation is that boxing SEEMS like a good balance between martial arts, self defense and actual fighting. I was in a Tae Kwon Do gym as a teenager and never saw a spar, it all looked like stylized theatre. I went to a Krav Maga school for a bit as an adult and again there was a lot of choreography, with the typical bullshido excuse of "this thing being too dangerous to practice with", and less emphasis on the exercise part of it.
On the other hand, MMA/kickboxing looks a lot more violent to me than I'm keen on, and BJJ/wrestling/judo also don't rock my boat. I don't relish the idea of so close contact with other people. Have a friend who's started BJJ though at the same time as I started boxing and we're exchanging notes, he's loving it.
Just making this one to talk about a new hobby of mine: boxing.
I sacked up to walk into a dedicated boxing club as a fat/big looking 40 year old who last did anything cardio at least 10 years ago. I've been in the gym in many periods, the last 12 months or so very consistently, however I've doing weightlifting (amazing, by the way) so I knew I'd have trouble in a boxing gym.
Been going for 2 months. Great place, coach, and people. I was sort of afraid there'd be a meathead macho bullshit atmosphere (as I'd expect if I was in Greece, though in Switzerland there's not much judgement overall), but there's none of that. There are people from teenagers to a handful older than me, the training is fairly challenging but there's a lot of respect. A lot of pointers from others, how to keep your hands, feet, torso, how to punch. I was self-conscious, huffing and dying in the warm-up for at least the first 4 weeks. Now the warm-up is ok, but in the boxing drills after a while my shoulders start burning and fists hurting like hell.
The coach is great too, shouts from time to time but in a motivating rather than disparaging manner. I'm old enough and have done enough that I wouldn't take that so easily if I detected bullshit. There's a guy who looks permanently pissed and never says hi to anyone bar the coach, and a 20-something kid who tends to overdo everything. Perhaps I'll get in the ring with one or both at some point. Both look very strong and look like they've been doing this for ages so perhaps they'll mop the floor with me, or perhaps not.
I think it took me about 6 weeks for the regulars to consistently acknowledge me and strike a conversation, I think that's fine, it weeds out the jokers.
Cardio has improved dramatically, but with every improvement all I uncover is how little I know from the vast and deep ocean that is boxing. There's so many things to do correctly and simultaneously to stand any sort of chance. Not sparred yet, maybe in a month's time. The coach is adamant that he puts people to spar when they're ready, and ready to learn from it. Never puts two beginners together (because apparently they either go ham and injure each other or circle around without doing anything - neither approach teaching anything).
When I was asked what's the motivation to join - given it is a dedicated amateur boxing club, not a gym, not general martial arts etc - I said I want to get this experience for myself, what's it like to have a fight in a legal and controlled environment. Already learning a lot about myself, like that I am a lot more scared of hitting someone (in the very light contact drills we do) than getting hit. Some people pull such funny faces when they are about to hit or be hit. Also, boxers' punches are HARD, included women's. The correct technique really multiplies the force applied. I know through the light contact that I've had that I'm among the strongest in there, but that doesn't help if nothing ever connects with anything. some of the guys I was practicing with are very very fast, including some big guys. The self discovery experience is perhaps the most amazing aspect. Due to my job I've been in some uncomfortable/stressful situations, however my boss's (and borderline among the best pieces of advice I ever got) advice of "get comfortable being uncomfortable) helped me not quit. The other bit of motivation is that boxing SEEMS like a good balance between martial arts, self defense and actual fighting. I was in a Tae Kwon Do gym as a teenager and never saw a spar, it all looked like stylized theatre. I went to a Krav Maga school for a bit as an adult and again there was a lot of choreography, with the typical bullshido excuse of "this thing being too dangerous to practice with", and less emphasis on the exercise part of it.
On the other hand, MMA/kickboxing looks a lot more violent to me than I'm keen on, and BJJ/wrestling/judo also don't rock my boat. I don't relish the idea of so close contact with other people. Have a friend who's started BJJ though at the same time as I started boxing and we're exchanging notes, he's loving it.
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