Boxing 101: Things to remember other than the punches
I’m Ryan Shephard, a student of sports training and rehabilitation. For this blog, I want to take a moment to write about a sport that’s pretty close to my heart. You could even say this sport was my first love.
I’ve been a fan of boxing ever since I was a kid and I was obsessed with the sweet science of it. I still box from time to time, and I’ve seen young individuals getting into the sport, which I find rather heartwarming.
However, many people who first enter boxing have this mistaken belief that it’s all about punching. While punching takes up a huge part of the sport, boxing is so much more than that. Enter a boxing gym and you’ll realize that on the first day.
One of the first things your trainer will teach you is footwork. Yes, there is a proper way to move in the boxing ring. You shouldn’t let your feet cross as much as possible, when moving forward or backward, or side-to-side.
As you progress, your trainer will teach you how to defend yourself past the “hands-up” routine. You’ll learn to block body shots as well as bob-and-weave. You’ll learn to slip punches and throw counters.
Finally, your trainer will build up your cardio like no one else has before. After which, you’ll be a happy puddle of sweat and soreness, and you’ll realize it’s all worth it.
Hey, there. I’m Ryan Shephard, a student at the University of Michigan taking up Athletic Training. Thankfully, my courses allow me to learn anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and pharmacology, as I hope to be a professional sports trainer someday. More on me and my interests here.
Ryan Shephard 