Traqade
Since its emergence as a sport in ancient Greece, boxing is continually refined and perfected. Its popularity is increasing day by day with movies like Rocky and Million Dollar Baby making waves and pay-per-view boxing events attracting the masses. Various portals of the fitness industry are tapping into this growing hype by introducing and endorsing box-out classes and the like and this has, in turn, led to the people’s realization that boxing is more than just a sport; it is the ultimate workout!
As a sport, boxing demands tremendous strength, power, speed, agility and endurance. As a fitness activity, it is high intensity interval training (HIIT) that creates a full body workout for cardiovascular and endurance systems, and also strength to the upper body, lower body and core. Boxing does not add bulk to muscles, like most women fear, but instead tone them and the high intensity workout helps burn calories faster. It easily accommodates all ages and fitness levels. If you’re determined to get yourself into shape and improve your health, boxing is an excellent option for you. Here’s why:-
Cardio Fitness
The treadmill is not the only way to achieve cardio fitness. As long as you keep your heart rate up, there’s no reason why you can’t punch, kick and jumpstart yourself to a healthy heart.
Full Body Strength
A punching bag carries an average weight of about 45-50 Kgs. Punching it, kicking it, jumping and moving around it demands that your upper body, lower body and core be very strong. A boxing gym will mostly include squats, pushups, planks and weighted medicine ball exercises in a fast – paced 30 minute circuit training.
Stress Relief
At the end of each hectic day, hitting the heavy bag for 5-6 rounds is a great stress buster. Besides strength and stamina, boxing also demands self-control and calm under pressure. Also, the combination of strength and aerobic training improves both looks and cardiovascular health which in turn enhances the psychological well-being like boosted self-esteem, confidence and optimism.
Improved Body Composition
Boxing effectively combines muscle-building strength training and cardio workout which is a great way of improving one’s body composition. By regularly getting into a boxing ring and diligently following a diet plan, you will sooner than later see improvements in your fat mass percentage and, not to mention, a better number on the scale as well.
Better Hand-Eye Coordination
Good hand-eye coordination plays an important role in a person’s gross and fine motor skills. The better it is, the faster the reflexes. When you’re paired with a sparring partner in a boxing class, you should be able to see the target, react to the target and hit the target all this while the target is moving, changing position and also targeting you. It takes time, effort and hard work but eventually, your hand-eye coordination will improve.
The above are just a few of the fitness benefits of boxing. To find out more, why not register for a membership at a boxing gym or hire a personal trainer? Grab your gloves and pull no punches!
Cardio exercises on a treadmill aren’t your only option. Nothing stops you from kicking, punching, and generally getting your heart rate up, so long as you remember to keep it there.