By: Rich Bergeron

Boxing is a unique sport, to say the least. It’s often referred to as “The Sweet Science” with terms from the sport frequently invoked to describe intense rivalries and matchups in a myriad of other sports. Boxing is also often referenced in metaphors about politics. Though the popularity of boxing is not where it used to be these days, it is still one of the most challenging and daunting sporting activities a person can legally participate in all over the world.

If you are interested in either pursuing a career in boxing or just looking to learn the basics, the benefits of mastering the craft of pugilism can be very rewarding. At the same time, there is a big difference between “going through the motions” and devoting the time it would take to be a successful professional. Either way, if you work hard and maintain your dedication to learning, your training will surely result in both increased confidence and enhanced physical fitness.

If you plan to take your lessons to the level where you are ready to compete at some point, you will need a serious training regimen of at least two to three hours per day. You will also need to find a reputable boxing gym. Online searches should lead you to a facility in your area, but you can also seek out a competent trainer who might be able to work with you from home if there are no boxing gyms near you. Here is a detailed article on how to find the best gym for your needs.

If you simply want to know how to move around, throw punches and defend yourself, there are specific facilities that specialize in the basics that can accommodate your needs. One of the most well-known and nationwide operations for basic boxing and kickboxing lessons is Title Boxing Club. They offer comprehensive workout sessions and group classes overseen by professional trainers that promise “to help you feel more confident, burn more calories and lose weight.” It is important to remember that facilities like Title Boxing Club are not really designed for competitive boxing training, as their offerings are primarily geared toward teaching boxing for self-defense, exercise, weight loss and stress release purposes.

It does not take much devotion or sacrifice to take up boxing purely for the fitness benefits. It is actually a part of the sport that is becoming wildly popular due to the fact that the training workouts provide benefits to nearly all the muscles in your body. Hollywood stars, models, and even reality television stars swear by boxing workouts as a way to maintain their attractive figures and their youthful appearances.

Time Magazine published a story in May, 2015 that described boxing as one of the hottest fitness trends of the year.

Still, boxing training for non-competitive purposes can be intense and agonizing for someone who never put on a pair of boxing gloves before. In addition to punching, footwork and defensive drills, there will be sit-ups, push-ups, jump-roping and most likely a great deal of running that will benefit your training and workout routine. You may not need the same kind of time commitment if you are not competing, but many of the workouts will be very similar to what pro boxers do in the gym each day when they are not sparring.

Sparring and fighting another boxer in competition brings your training to a whole new level. Boxing is a very high-risk activity, though headgear, mouthpieces and organized rules and regulations make it much safer today than it was when the first gloved boxing contest took place.  People do still die in boxing matches, and some end up facing lifelong complications from single matches or long careers of taking too many punches.

For these reasons, the decision to box competitively should not be impulsive or taken lightly. You have to be willing to accept the risks of serious injury if you would like to make boxing a career. You have to be well versed in defensive techniques and be aware of the signs of a concussion or brain injury. Full contact sparring sessions should take place only under the supervision of trained professionals, and both fighters should be instructed to use about half as much power in their punches as they would in a real competition. Still, if you plan to box as an amateur or a professional, some type of injury is almost inevitable. At some point you will suffer a split lip, bloody nose, black eye and/or a nasty cut. So, if you do really want to be a competitive boxer, be sure to have adequate health insurance in the event you need medical attention stemming from your participation in the sport.

More so than the risks you face, it is extremely important that you know going into training that boxing is one of the most difficult sports on the planet. There is no team to carry you in competition if you have a bad day at the office. There are just two competitors in each match: you and your opponent. Anyone with courage and tenacity can step into a boxing ring and fight, but it takes a special kind of devotion and willingness to put in the time and work to win trophies, medals and/or money through your exploits in the ring.

Most boxers go through years of amateur boxing before their first professional match. It is not mandatory for a boxer to fight in the amateurs before going pro, but it is certainly recommended. Some boxers may never go into the professional ranks, even if they do excel in the amateurs. There is even a “Masters” division for folks 35 and older.

Yet, even amateur boxing involves a great deal of hard work. The main differences between amateur and pro matches are that most amateur matches are shorter in duration than pro fights and feature competitors wearing headgear that offers protection to the side of the head and some areas of the face. Still, the punches that land on that headgear can be just as hard to take as hits that connect on your bare skull.

Whether you plan to take your talents to the professional ranks or not, amateur boxing can be an excellent starting point. Here are a couple great articles that describe how to pursue amateur boxing opportunities:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/11/18/amateur-boxing-for-beginners-a-how-to-guide-part-i/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/420913-how-to-get-started-in-amateur-boxing/

Some colleges also offer boxing, with the US military academies fielding the most dominant teams over the years. Though it is not offered at nearly as many colleges as traditional sports like football and baseball, the competition can be just as fierce as it is in those other sports, if not much more so.

No matter how you choose to start out your foray into boxing for fitness or competition, sticking to it will require a strong will and a healthy supply of both mental and physical toughness. Truly mastering the sport can take years, if not decades. Whether you box for money or for glory, it can be well worth the risks you take to participate. You will always remember that first time you had your hand raised at the end of a fight. Becoming a world champion may not be in the cards for you, but just stepping in the ring to fight an opponent will put you in a class of people that you will always be proud to be associated with.