I’ll admit my advice that you should take up boxing might seem intimidating. And it’s not hard to see why when you consider how boxing has been (and continues to be) portrayed on the big screen. A viewing of a movie like Southpaw (Gyllenhall’s summer blockbuster you should see) or any installment of the Rocky series is usually enough to scare off all but the most courageous among us. But I’m here to tell you that the boxing I engage in looks very little like the boxing that is repeatedly depicted by the likes of Sylvester Stalone. It is an incredibly entertaining workout that serves just as much to whip me into shape as it does to relieve stress. In fact, some of my best memories from the last few years stem from my decision to start boxing, and not all of them are for the reasons you might expect.
Change of Pace
Tired of the same ole upper body workout you do pretty much every other day? How about the incessant boredom of your daily jog? I know the feeling. It got so bad for me that, at one point, the only new and exciting part of my workout was the music. And let’s be honest, when your workout is boring, you don’t workout as often. I suppose that’s why sports are so popular. They give an objective to your physical activity. But whereas team sports require teammates—which requires working around other people’s busy schedules—you can hit the boxing gym just about any time you want. Once there, you can either work by yourself with a bag (which is a lot of fun, once you know what you’re doing) or find someone to spar with you. I’m telling you, you’ll spend 45 minutes in the boxing gym and end up working off more calories than you did in a week with your old, boring workout routine. And you’ll do it more often, too.
Learn How to Fight
Listen, anyone who knows me would probably label me as more of a lover than a fighter. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get into my fair share of altercations. Sometime last year, I found myself in a shoving match with some drunk jackass I bumped into at a crowded bar. Despite my unsubstantiated bravado (sponsored by Fireball), deep down I knew I wouldn’t have stood a chance if things had gotten physical. Luckily a big, burly bouncer settled the dispute by way of his boot up the other guy’s ass. But leaving the bar later that night, I couldn’t help but feel a gaping hole where my balls should have been. Knowing I could break someone’s nose now gives me peace of mind. And although I haven’t added “Look for a fight” to my list of recreational activities, I’m now much better prepared for when I run into someone who has.
Stress Relief
Sometimes I just want to beat the shit out of my boss. But, it’s probably better to just write that in this article (that he will inevitably see, considering he has to edit it) than actually assault him. And while a swift jab to the chin might help communicate the frustration I feel when attempting to satisfy his ridiculous standards for blog posts, it would probably do little to relieve the associated stress.With boxing, you’ll have the opportunity to mentally project the causes of your stress onto a heavy bag. Then, you can beat the shit out of it. Need I say anymore?
The Atmosphere
It’s hard to describe just how important it is for a gym to feel “authentic.” But this is a blog, so it’s probably best for me to at least try. Imagine how you feel when you walk into your local gym. Not only are 80% of the people there old or fat, but the most commonly used machines are the elliptical’s. Now, try to imagine walking into your local boxing gym. Or better yet, take a look at a video made glorifying the gym I go to. Which setting is going to inspire you to work harder? The sterile, corporate feeling 24 Hour Fitness filled with soccer moms burning off what remains of their most recent baby bump? Or surrounded by professional and amateur fighters working to perfect their craft in the musky, fan-conditioned boxing gym? Hopefully, you see what I mean regarding authenticity. If you actually want to push yourself to get in better shape, you should probably start surrounding yourself with people who will be literally punching you in the face until you do. ∎
