Have you ever wondered why people associate boxing with aggression and violence? And think of it as a sport for brutes with no brains and enraged bullies looking to let off steam? Not exactly an intellectual, sophisticated gentleman’s affair. Right? Think again! Like other combat arts, boxing has a lot of surprisingly fascinating characteristics. Technique and strategy are extremely important. Think again if you believed that boxing was about sparring one blow at a time. In this article, we are going to debunk a few prevalent myths about boxing, along with the factual information, whether you want to kick start your boxing career, get into the arena and fight, or are simply inquisitive about boxing training.
Boxing is the game for Young Men & Brutes Only
Boxing is a sport that may be as complex and fast-paced as a game of chess. The distinction is that in boxing, one poor move might lead to a blackout and a pack of ice. Talk about rewards for success. The type of fitness a boxer has is unique. Do you believe your exercise regimen is quite effective? Start by going a couple of rounds in the arena and you’ll know precisely where you stand. Boxing requires a certain mix of strength, agility, balance, and aerobic stamina. You’ll be utilizing your strongest muscles, the legs and core, to generate force (power with speed). Your fist serves solely as a delivery tool. You’ll need to strengthen your foot, ankle, and calf muscles significantly if you want to maintain a strong, athletic stance as chaos erupts everywhere around you. You’ll use more cardiovascular fitness than you ever possibly imagined to continue pushing and retain all that flexibility, strength, and skill. Your pride is brought back to reality.
Regardless of who you are throughout the workday, once you enter the ring, you are just another guy. It doesn’t matter if you’re a 40+ guy or a young man. According to common myth, boxing is a sport for young men only, which is not true. Anyone may begin learning how to box, regardless of age or gender. All you need to know is that boxing will be among the most physically demanding workout of your life as well as a desire to understand every element. It may seem overwhelming to put in the time and effort necessary to fully learn how to box. Therefore, there are a few compelling arguments for starting right away.
Boxers are Bullies
Another myth that we often hear is that boxers are bullies. Bullying is a unique pattern of intentionally injuring and humiliating other people, especially those who are weaker, younger, smaller, or otherwise more vulnerable than the bully. Bullying differs from conventional aggressiveness in that it intentionally targets those who are weaker than oneself. Not every bully has the same psychological profile. But by comprehending the potential causes of the behavior, we may be able to reverse the course of a persistent issue. Therefore, being a bully has nothing to do with having a boxing career. In fact, some of the most well-known martial artists today experienced bullying as children. They gained pride and self-assurance as soon as they learned about martial arts, which also taught them how to take responsibility for their actions. Georges St-Pierre, a former UFC middleweight and welterweight champion, suffered through severe bullying as a youngster. As a result, he founded his own anti-bullying foundation.
Boxers came from the Wrong Side on the Track
One more myth that we often hear is Boxers come from the less prestigious part of the world. Or many of the best boxers of today still come from poverty-stricken backgrounds as boxing does not require any equipment until you get to formal training. So, let’s just debunk one more stereotypical mindset of our society. People who box come from all sorts of backgrounds. Promoters want to portray their champions as struggling, disadvantaged athletes who battled their way to the top. Whether or not these stories of their journey are real, they are heartwarming and speak of virtues like bravery, tenacity, and the indomitable human spirit from all sects and backgrounds around the world. Every sport has the ability to transcend mere athleticism and become the representation of the prevailing beliefs, anxieties, conflicts, and aspirations of a society and a nation. The sport of boxing, however, is the most conducive to this form of transference. Because there is no particular equipment or playing ground, and there are just a few simple rules, boxing has the simplicity of a blank canvas. There are only two guys left in the situation, and they are locked in a confrontation with no way to escape. Boxing is therefore a simple metaphor for discussions about our values: Immigrant vs. nativist, bravado vs. humility, intelligence vs. brute strength, good vs. evil, and so on.
Boxers only do it for the Cash Prize
When a boxer reaches the highest level, they frequently make more money in one night than all other finest athletes in team sports make in a whole year. A champion who can maintain his title for two or three years would appear to be in a position of generational fortune. But that’s not usually how things turn out. Not everyone in boxing is behind money. There are some boxers who barely make any money at all, but they fight because nothing is more empowering than being stripped and participating in hand-to-hand combat, no matter how seductive ego trips might be. You get the ability to persist in the face of setbacks and finally discover success.
Boxers are Intimidating
Some boxers use the power of intimidation to stand out against their rivals, but the majority of them are unable to exert a strong effect because they lack genuine confidence or zeal. As a result, most threatening fighters who lack true confidence are unable to physically communicate their intentions to their opponent. There is a saying that goes, “Most combats are won before the first blow is thrown.” The qualities of intimidation and strong will are produced by a sense of competitiveness and a desire to succeed. When competitors are face-to-face in the ring, the effect of it becomes apparent. At that precise time, intimidation starts to take effect. These are just tactics one might use to get the dominant position by forcing the opponent into a defensive posture when the combat starts, in other words, this isn’t a rule that boxers must be intimidating if they must win the fight.
Consequently, boxers are aware that it requires fortitude to attempt, fail, and try again. You get better at not getting hurt emotionally. Although professional boxers may generate sentiments of rage or violence to be “in the zone,” a fight is ultimately not personal. In fact, you’ll discover that fighting is a sort of intimacy, creating a human connection and a level of respect that you can’t get at work or in your average gym.
