Comments on: Amateur Boxing for Beginners: A How-to Guide Part II

By: Ravi Gupta

Ravi Gupta — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:47:52 +0000

I started boxing a while ago before I hurt my shoulder and it’s a great workout and a great way to meet new people. As Andrew pointed out it’s an activity that is priceless, one that shouldn’t be traded in.

-Ravi Gutpa

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:53:24 +0000

Thanks for the article. I started boxing about a month ago, and even though I learned most of these by the time I read this article, it is well done. And like the guys who posted before me, my gym is hot, crowded, loud, and in the city (not in the nice downtown, but in the, well, you get the picture). And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

By: David

David — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:43:17 +0000

In my personal experience with boxing in the Washington DC area, this is a damn fine article reflecting the social rules of a boxing gym. There’s always that one guy who saunters into the gym with a chip on his shoulder and talking a bunch of smack. A good boxing gym with a good coach won’t put him into sparring anytime soon. If they stick around long enough to earn that right by showing the work ethic and skills to learn, then that attitude is usually ground out of them before they step into the ring. Those few who do have it beaten out of them with a few rounds of sharp counter jabs — no power punches required. I’ve yet to be to a real boxing gym that wasn’t hot, dirty, and loud, and when I first walked in it was intimidating as hell, a marked difference to the antiseptic fitness gyms with boxing programs claiming to teach the Sweet Science. Of the two gyms I trained at in the last six years, one was in the basement of a grocery store with the only entrance a backdoor at the loading dock, and the other was in a warehouse in the industrial area of town near the train tracks. For all you newbies out there, keep in mind — if the gym fits the description of this article, then you’re in the right place.

By: Barnes

Barnes — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:23:58 +0000

Good points all around.
As I have been the only English speaker at my gym here in Tokyo that knows anything about Kickboxing, I have had to work with and translate for nobodies and for famous fighters. I have heard every single one of those excuses and everytime I cringe.
Maybe it was wrestling in high school, maybe it was things in the Marines, I have no idea. But stopping in the middle of a round of mitts because “I didn’t eat well today” is unacceptable. Also frankly, training with women has been tough. There is almost always an excuse and disappointingly, tears.
The Taekwondo thing, I have literally heard those exact words said to me by someone that had tried to pass himself off as the next John Wayne Parr.

If I could humbly add one addition that could easily fall under excuses…

-Keep your shit together. If you have asthma, bring your damned inhaler. Do not show up for conditioning sprints and a Monster Mash and say “oh yeah, my inhalers out so I am having trouble. Think I will take a break.” Really? And you want to FIGHT? In the ring? THAT one THERE?

Be on time. Do not keep your coach and training partners waiting.

Finally- Its prize fighting, not a social circle. Talk about “that girls titts” or your “asshole boss” etc some other time.

Keep this going.
I like it.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:25:34 +0000

In sparring you will take some hard shots that leave you winded or a bit dazed. The article discusses that good sparring partners will hold back and not “go in for the kill”. While this is true, a good partner will still come at you and keep you honest. In a fight, there is no “time-out” so practice as you play.

Even if you take a big shot and feel like you need to stop, suck it up and keep your hands up. Dont turn your back and walk away, remember there is a difference between hurt and injured. I cant tell you how many guys lost respect in the eyes of trainers/other sparring partners because they stop mid-round and are fine a minute later.

Additionally, if you are at the disadvantage and a better/more experienced guy is dictating the pace, there will still be times when you land a good shot on them. It is pretty common that you will get hit back as hard you hit. So if you do see a chance and land a big shot, expect it back and maybe a little more to keep you in your place.

Lastly, guys that get angry and lose control during a sparring session typically aren’t the guys in there every day and don’t have the respect of the trainers. Ive seen novices get beat down by bully types but the second the rounds over, a trainer usually hops in for the next one and restores order.

By: RJ

RJ — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:48:03 +0000

The only thing I’d add is: Don’t use your sparring gloves for bag work. Your sparring partner doesn’t want to get hit with old, shredded, dried up leather.

And while it is only sparring (aka practice), don’t be pansy about it. Go as hard as you can while making sure your partner is still getting good work. A brutal mismatch doesn’t do anyone any good, but neither does playing patty cake in the ring.

By: Peter Gilmore

Peter Gilmore — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:04:36 +0000

Much of this is the same at a good BJJ/MMA gym (such as BJ Penn’s in Hawaii).

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:38:27 +0000

You nailed gym etiquette on the head. Great post Martin.

By: Charlie Kondek

Charlie Kondek — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:42:03 +0000

Another excellent entry in an excellent series!

By: Sarge

Sarge — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:06:33 +0000

Thank you! All this is great advice for life in general: No whining, no excuses, be stoic, work hard & consistently, be kind and cool to others: in other words be a Class A man. The only other sport that comes close is high school / collegiate wrestling, I was never able to box as a kid (I wrestled) but boxing as an adult is a thrilling experience and an affirmation of those old wrestling principles.