Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Gear, Other Items Boxers Need

By Nolan Barias


While sports such as basketball, running and mixed martial arts obviously look like strenuous activities, boxing sometimes just looks like two guys moving slowly around each other and throwing an occasional punch. However, the training process for boxing is highly athletic and offers a great way to not only get in prime shape, but also have some fun along the way. If you want to begin boxing training, here are some essentials you might need.

When you are setting up a home boxing area, you will need to install a few different kinds of punching bags. The heavy bag is a very important tool because its weight and resistance mimics the weight of a person. Using the heavy bag will help you learn to throw punches that gain power from your entire body, including your legs and torso, as opposed to throwing punches strictly from the upper body. This bag will need to be in a fairly open area, so you can maneuver around it easily. Consider doing several three-minute workouts with one-minute breaks in between, so that it will be similar to an actual boxing round.

Speed bags are another important piece of equipment and the smaller speed bags can help you improve your all-important hand-eye coordination, as well as develope a good punching rhythm and maybe even a deadly left jab. A larger, heavier speed bag can be a good option, too, as this will improve your upper body strength as it is harder to hit. Another great option would be to install a floor-to-ceiling bag, especially if you are interested in actually competing in bouts. This bag is attached to elastic chords that make it rebound erratically when you hit the bag. This will help you learn how to quickly respond to different attacks which is more of what you would deal with if you were fighting an actual person.

Obviously boxing gloves and handwraps are going to be essential gear for any boxer. There are several different kinds of wraps, and these will protect the bones in your hands, as well as your joints. Boxing gloves come in different weights, but typically 16-ounce gloves are standard although you can start out with lighter gloves if you wish. If you plan to box in a ring with other people, you also will need proper headgear and a mouthpiece.

Two other items to consider are boxing shoes and a jump rope. Jumping rope is not only fantastic exercise; it will also help you improve your footwork. Boxing shoes probably will not be needed for home gym use but are a great item if you will be working out in a gym.

To really get the most out of your boxing training, consider setting up your home gym and signing up for boxing classes at a boxing gym in San Diego. Being around others can be a fun way to train. When searching for a San Diego boxing gym, don't forget to think about utilizing a mixed martial arts gym. An MMA gym not only might offer a myriad of boxing and conditioning classes, you can also try your hand at Jiu Jitsu classes or even Muay Thai classes if you like.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment