How Boxing Can Improve Your Health

Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Bouts between popular boxers are normally attended by thousands, with millions all over the world watching. The sport is usually associated with combat. Most people who learn boxing typically want to boost their self-defence tactics.

The sport is relatively easy to learn compared to others such as basketball and tennis. So, even if you are not a fitness enthusiast, you can easily master boxing within a few weeks. But there is more to boxing than just learning how to defend yourself when you are attacked.

It provides numerous mental and physical benefits that we are going to discuss.

Mental and Emotional Benefits

Relieves Stress

Stress can make or break you, depending on how you handle it. Stress triggers include loss of a job, disagreements with friends, and financial problems. If one is unable to manage stress, it could lead to low quality of life.

Boxing allows you to release stress on the punching bag. For an hour or so every day, you are engrossed in punching and ducking. This takes your mind off any problems you may have, and you’ll walk out of the gym feeling calm.

Improved Eye and Hand Coordination

It improves your eye and hand coordination when training using a punching bag, sparring with another boxer or shadowboxing. Boxing requires you to protect yourself from being hit on the face using your hands. Your eyes will be focused on the opponent’s movements and will help you land clean punches. If your eye-hand coordination is poor, you risk getting hit.

More Confidence

Confidence is vital in life. When you are confident, you will have the courage to pursue your goals relentlessly. Knowing that you are healthier and fitter than many people and the ability to defend yourself boosts your self-esteem. Being confident means you are less likely to suffer from mental disorders such as depression.

Physical Benefits

Fat loss

If you walk on the streets, you will probably meet many people who are either overweight or obese. These conditions are among the leading causes of diseases like high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.

In one study, two groups of adults with abdominal obesity engaged in boxing and brisk walking as a form of exercise. The group that chose boxing lost more fat than the brisk walking group. You can lose more than 500 calories in a single training session. If you combine boxing and good nutrition, you will quickly get rid of the extra layers of fat on your body.

Aerobic Benefits

Aerobic exercises are those that increase your heart rate and breathing. Boxing is one of them. But how does boxing ensure that your lungs, heart and circulatory system are healthy?

When you throw a punch, multiple muscles contract at a go. This forces your heart to work harder to provide oxygen and blood to them. When in the ring, a boxer has to move around quickly to avoid an opponent’s jabs. These actions give your lungs and heart the perfect workout.

Boxing training usually involves other cardiovascular workouts such as running on the treadmill, cycling and jump rope. They help you regulate your blood pressure and keep heart diseases at bay.

Tones and Builds Muscles

Increasing your punching power puts you in a great position to beat your opponent. To achieve this, you need to tone and build your muscles. Movement around the ring and the throwing of punches strengthen your core, arms, and shoulders.

Note that the muscle-building process doesn’t happen at the ring alone. Boxers usually do exercises such as pull up, sit-ups, weightlifting, and push-ups which build and tone their muscles. All these drills not only grow your muscles but also boost your reaction time when sparring or fighting.

How to Get Started

As long as you are non-disabled, you can learn boxing. Your age doesn’t matter. Find a local boxing club near you and sign up. This way, you will connect and train with other boxers in your area. You can also interact with boxing enthusiasts on social media groups. You need top quality gear to train well. Bushido provides vital boxing gear such as gloves, headgear, and body protector.

Boxing is one of the best sports to boost your emotional, physical, and mental health. What’s more, you can quickly learn it. Start training to enjoy its numerous benefits.