Boxing Gym In Bountiful Utah: Is Boxing Safe?

Over the past decade, boxing has expanded outside of the ring to become one of American’s favorite new workouts. Some people are interested in boxing as a career, others as a hobby, and still others as a fun way to exercise. There are boxing gyms in Bountiful Utah and around the country to accommodate all three.

If boxing is your career, you are likely aware of and willing to accept the risks of getting hit in the head countless times over the years by highly trained opponents. But if you are interested in boxing only as a hobby or form of exercise, you may not be willing to take such risks. The question then becomes: Is boxing safe?

Is Boxing Safe?

Boxing is a combat sport. As such, it includes more risks than, say, Golf. That does not, however, mean that hobby boxing or boxing as exercise should be avoided. There are many effective exercise methods that include an element of danger, including CrossFit, weightlifting, and even long-distance running, and there is no reason to believe that, when done right, boxing is more dangerous than any of those.

Here is what you need to know to ensure you are safe boxing:

Get in Shape

While you may be getting into boxing for this very purpose, in many ways, boxing is not the best form of exercise if you are severely overweight. The reason being that it is an intense kind of workout and, if you are severely overweight, you are unlikely to be able to keep up and may end up getting discouraged.

This is not to say you need to be an elite athlete from day 1. Boxing can certainly help you lose weight and get into better shape if you are overweight. But, as mentioned, if you are severely overweight, you may want to consider starting slower. Perhaps work on walking a half-mile every day for a few weeks. After that, kick it up to a mile, and then two. Then start jogging. By the time you able to jog at least a mile without any walking breaks, you should be in good enough shape to start a beginner’s boxing class.

Keep Your Hands Up

“Keep your hands up” is one of the first things any boxing instructor or coach will tell you. And it makes sense: you always want to protect your face. In your first few classes, you will likely be surprised by just how hard it can be to do even this. Keeping your hands up for an entire class requires training. But instructions at boxing gyms in Bountiful, Utah, are there to help and encourage you along in your journey from beginner to expert.

Have Humility

Boxing is a sport and, as such, is about far more than just being tough. No matter how tough you are (or think you are), you have to understand that a professional boxer is trained, and therefore has a lot he or she can teach you. Do not go into your first boxing class with a bad attitude, simply enter the gym with a student’s mentality and have an eagerness to learn if you want to get the most out of your classes.

Communicate

If you are sparring with a partner and have an injury or are new to boxing, simply tell them that. This is not a weak thing to do. It’s not as if you are telling them you don’t wish to spar; you are simply letting them know that, hey, I want to get this round in with you but that you are not trying to knock each other’s heads off. Some of the most important lessons you will ever learn in boxing come from light sparing.

Conclusion

Yes, boxing is safe. But you can not underestimate the sport, and you need to go in with the right attitude and always protect yourself. If you do that, you will learn a lot, improve your health, and boost your confidence.