As one of the most popular sports in the world, boxing has countless fans and practitioners. You’re in the right place if you’re wanting to begin your boxing journey but don’t know where to start. You will learn how to find the right boxing gym for you in this article. Also, you’ll cover some basic boxing terminology to help you ease into your training regimen at a faster pace.
Keep in mind that your growth as a boxer takes time and consistent hard work. Be patient as you progress along your journey!
What is boxing?
Boxing is both a martial art and combat sport. This popular sport focuses on throwing punches, head movement, and footwork both in self-defense situations and organized bouts. Boxing is held in high esteem for various reasons i.e. efficiency, effectiveness, reliability. From Muhammad Ali to Holly Holm, boxing has had its fair share of greats to have an impact both in the sporting world but also in pop culture.
Keep your goals in mind as you learn the various factors you need to think about when choosing a boxing gym to join.
How to find the right boxing gym for you
It doesn’t have to be frustrating when you begin your boxing journey! One of the first steps to finding the right boxing gym for you is to do a quick Google Maps search of boxing gyms near you. After you’ve done that, consider the factors listed below:
- Location: How far a boxing gym is from your work and home affects how often you’ll be able to train. Ideally, you’ll be able to find a boxing gym that is less than 30 minutes away and is also easily accessible whether you drive or take public transportation.
- Price: Expect to spend around $90-120/month on a boxing gym membership. Some boxing gyms may also have an activation fee so don’t be caught off guard when you sign up. Depending on the gym you’re at, your membership fees may also include some equipment like new gloves.
- Environment: Is the gym cleaned regularly and are all the equipment in great shape? Are the bathrooms well-maintained? The cleanliness and maintenance of a boxing gym tells you about how much the coaches and owners care about their space.
- Teaching/coaching style: Choose a gym with smaller class sizes if you need/want more attention. Larger class sizes may mean you won’t have as much interaction with the coaches. Some gyms may not spend much time on mitt work. Additionally, other gyms may spend most of their time on partner drills or heavy bag work.
- Gym focus: Is the gym you’re interested in focused on cardio or trains amateur/professional fighters? Not all boxing gyms are equal because they all have different goals. If you want to compete or learn self-defense, find a boxing with an active fight team. If you just want to get in better shape then a fitness-focused boxing gym will be more of your jam.
Remember to follow these steps before you sign up for a boxing gym! Doing so will certainly save you time and money in the long run since you don’t want to be stuck in a boxing that doesn’t work for you.
Common boxing terminology
To help you get up to speed at a faster rate, we’ve compiled a quick list of common boxing terms. You’ll not only see some words you may have never heard of before but you’ll also be more comfortable in your first boxing class since these terms won’t be completely foreign.
- Gloves: The padded gear boxers wear on their hands
- Hand wraps/wraps: What boxers use to give their hands support and protection
- Mouthguard: Worn by boxers to protect their teeth, gums, and also prevent concussions
- Headgear: Worn on the head by boxers to prevent cuts and other damage to the head
- Groin protector: Worn by boxers below the belt to prevent trauma to the groin region
- Ring: A 4-sided roped-off space where boxers compete and spar
- Heavy bag: A filled bag that’s suspended and can handle a wide range of punches
- Speed bag: a smaller suspended bag designed to help boxers with timing and coordination
Boxing punches terminology
- Jab: A straight punch thrown by a boxer’s lead hand
- Cross: A straight punch thrown by a boxer’s rear hand
- Hook: A punch that can be thrown from either hand with the elbow elevated and bent at a 45 degree angle
- Uppercut: A punch thrown upward with a bent arm
- Overhand: A semi-circular and vertical punch thrown with the rear/power hand
Go train!
All in all, boxing is a lot of fun will provide you with many benefits including better health and more self-confidence. Give yourself the opportunity to become a better version of you through the sweet science. Over time, you will get in better shape. You’ll greatly benefit from the friends you’ve made in the gym which is one of the best benefits of embarking on your boxing journey.