Been going to the gym for over a year now, wanna make some inroads into boxing as another way of keeping fit and looking for some advice on where/how to start.
Generally speaking, recommended diets and exercises to keep up, obtaining gear and working my way up. I mostly go for high carb foods, lean meats with veg, low fat yoghurts for desserts, stuff that I imagine is the norm for this and workouts include specific strength-building with cardio included. Been meaning to get a skipping rope for a while for this particularly.
Not got much interest in getting in the ring and sparring until I know some basic techniques and get in with someone my level.
The thicko lad made good as a prizefighter is a bit of a stereotype. Those stories exist, but a lot of Brit boxers come from the sports sciences scene of universities, particularly those that break past amateur levels or compete in the Olympics. Klitschko also comes to mind as a high profile example of the contrary, as he's a pretty skilled chess player, has worked for UNESCO, has received honourary degrees, etc.
Anyway, to the OP, it sounds like you're doing well on the diet. Boxing is a demanding mix of power and endurance, so you can't go wrong with plenty of carbs and protein. I think most people tend to underestimate how much cardiovascular work goes into getting good at the sport, so working on that beforehand is a great idea. The first time I tried, a single round would absolutely gas me.
For everything else, I'd say dive right in and join a gym, you'll pick up the basics of how to stand, throw and land a punch very quickly. Again, contrary to stereotypes, there's not as much ego as you'd expect knocking around boxing gyms in my experience. As people are matched by weight, it's skill and experience that become the biggest factors, and anyone who's been boxing long enough to become any good has been humbled a lot to get there. Not wanting to spar right away is fair and most gyms will respect that, just keep in mind that when you do, the hand speed of others will seem unreal and good boxers are trained to be slippery. You may get frustrated, but controlling that is a huge part of the sport. Any good coach or partner will match their level to yours and allow you to catch up.
I did some amateur boxing as a teenlad and the only equipment you'll need is a gum shield and some hand wraps. You won't need a gum shield right away, but don't skimp and get a fiver boil and bite. Hand wraps are important, not nly to protect your knuckles, but supporting your wrists. You can get these from any sports shop for a fiver.
From my experience you won't go into any sparring until you've been going for a decent length of time, because your coach will be concentrating on getting your stance and punches correct. So you'll do a lot of shadow boxing, bag work etc.
> From my experience you won't go into any sparring until you've been going for a decent length of time, because your coach will be concentrating on getting your stance and punches correct. So you'll do a lot of shadow boxing, bag work etc.
This is not just ideal but imperative. Avoid places that throw you into full contact sparring on your first day. I learned that the hard way.
>>3910 Any coach who puts you in the ring
on your first time should definitely be avoided. Look on the ABAE for their club finder, any of these clubs are trustworthy.
