Thread: I'm new.

First of all, just wanted to say hey, and a little about me. I am 15, live in "smalltown", Texas, and want to learn to box. No, I'm not just some other punk that thinks he can step in the ring with another fighter and woop his ass any day. I KNOW I can be beat, but I want to learn. i want to teach myself though, because I think that's the best way to learn. So anyways, here's my questions:

1.) I have previously had a broken jaw, due to me running into a guys shoulder. it has been... about 5-6 months after the accident, but I'm worried that if I get rocked too hard it will break again. Does anyone have any knowledge/ first person experience of this?

and..

2.) Just bought a brand new pair of boxing Gloves. They seem ok, here's an ebay link to some just like it: http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-BLUE-1...QQcmdZViewItem
I was just wondering, are these any good? Thanks guys, I plan to stay here and learn from the best.

bump.

Alright, someones gotta do it. Guess it'll be me.... shit, I was new not so very long ago. First off, good to see you're excited about boxing. It's a hell of a sport, and I'm sure you'll love it even more after you really try it. Nice to start young, I'm a bit older than you (22) and wish I had gotten started much younger. With a bit of skill, a bit of commitment, you'll be great when your my age as opposed to me, who is just starting off at 22. Now, with the age thing. Parents can be a bitch man, that's why I didnt start any younger. Are they cool with you boxing? Will they take you to a gym and support your ambitions? Your post says you would like to teach yourself. While this might be a half way decent way to start, I would strongly recommend going to a gym. Your young, and now is the perfect time to develope correct technique, footwork, fundamentals etc etc etc. If your parents arent into the idea, this might be tough. If this is the case, ask them just to take you to the gym, just to see what its like. I find trainers have a way of explaining things to parents to make them feel a lot more comfortable about the whole idea. Hype up the whole deal of "it'll get me in shape" and "it'll keep me off the streets" arguaments, and try not to mention the whole fighting part of the sport lol.

Secondly, with your jaw. This might or might not be a problem. I am not a doctor (nor do I think anyone on this board is, so dont take anyones advice as 100% solid) and would not take it upon myself to make any recommendations other than ask YOUR doctor. The guy who fixed the f***in thing for you. He's more qualified than anyone to answer this for you. Even someone with "first person experience" as you put it will not be able to tell you for sure, because every broken jaw incident will be different.

Third. Those gloves are shit man. Can't blame you for trying, but try again =). Check out www.ringside.com Pick up a pair of 14 or 16 ounce (depending on your weight, I'm 133 and use 16 ounce gloves for training) training gloves. I use the "IMF Tech" gloves, and absolutly love them. As a boxer, your gloves are your most important piece of equipment, so a bit of money invested is a good thing.

Also, to expand on the glove issue. Two pairs of gloves are good to have. When training, you'll most likely have a pair for use on the heavy bag and focus mitts. These are going to be a more inexpensive pair (however, better than what u already bought). Check out the "Super Bag Gloves" at Ringside.com. Thats what I use. They are a bit lighter (12 oz). These are the gloves you will beat the crap out of while hitting the bag HARD. Hence the reason they are the more inexpensive pair.

Now, assuming you get to a gym, and are sparring, you'll also want to invest in a pair of sparring gloves. For this I use Ringsides "IMF Tech" gloves. These are going to be a heavier pair (14-16oz) of gloves. Reason being, more padding = less of a chance of hurting your sparring partner. While this is a sport where the point is to punch your opponant, you're not trying to kill anyone (usually ) in a sparring match.

My last piece of advice, drop the "No, I'm not just some other punk that thinks he can step in the ring with another fighter and woop his ass any day. I KNOW I can be beat, but I want to learn" attitude. Train train train untill you you KNOW you CAN step into the ring with another fighter and woop his ass any day, and untill you KNOW you CANT be beat. Might never be the case, but train with that attitude, and you'll push yourself that much harder. Anyway, good luck kid, keep us posted on any progress, and let us know if u have anymore questions.

Wow MDS, great post. All of that was really useful. And I don't really know if my mom or dad thinks it's ok for me to start boxing, I've already had to sparring matches, and won both, and then, I went home and told them how I want to get into boxing, and then my mom said "YOU'RE GONNA BREAK YOUR FUCKING JAW AGAIN!!!" so I was like... shit... I might break it again.

And on the boxing gloves that I bought... That fucking sucks man... they looked nice enough... and they were 30 bucks, so I went and bought 'em. But, they are having a sale at academy, 12oz Everlast's for 20 bucks. Does that sound any good?

Anyways, thanks for the help man. I'll keep y'all posted, You all should keep replying so I can get as much help as I can. thanks, Leper

Alright mate....good to see you're into the sport, once you get a bit deeper you'll enjoy it even more.

Firstly, training youself isnt the best way to learn, not by a long shot. Get youself to a gym if theres any possibility at all that you can. Beg your parents, sell lemonade by the roadside, do little dances for passers by on the roadside for their spare change....anything...But get yourself to a gym.

Secondly, when you say you've already had two sparring matches...what do you mean? Firstly, get rid of the attitude that you can 'win' in sparring, you're there to learn, thats all. If you're not in a gym then im guessing your 'matches' were on the school field or something, unless ive got the wrong end of the stick. Anyway try and keep your training in the gym and dont knock about at school or home or whatever, sparring in the gym's in a much more controlled environment and ensures everything's kept as safe as possible so that both of you can LEARN.

As for the gloves, yeah, im afraid you were robbed there. Try ringside as previously suggested and look into some decent bag gloves and perhaps a set of 14/16oz sparring gloves, that should be enough to get you started.

Anyway, good luck mate, enjoy it, keep smiling, and keep us posted

Cheers

Thanks British.

Firstly, yes, my "matches" have been at a mate's house, kind of "fight club" style.

And, also, I have tried my gloves, and they seem to be great, they are easy to move with, and are pretty comfortable. I will keep yall posted, and I will tell u all how my "matches" go. Thanks again British!

No probs mate...r.e. the gloves, they might feel alright but its also to do with the pading in the knuckles, support around the wrist etc etc. Try them for now and see how you go. Id also suggest you invest in some handwraps for a few of your american dollars, theyll held wrist support and give a bit of added protection to your knuckles.

Try your best to get yourself in a gym anyway, let us know how you get on.

Leper,

Those gloves suck and you can't possibly teach yourself to box. Everyone thinks they can but they can't. Impossible.

Spend a good $40 on www.titleboxing.com. Get some decent training gloves. Those shitbags you got for what, 85cents, might be ok to pound away on a bag, but not much more than that.

But.. great to see you want to box, It's great fun and a damn good way to stay in shape. Just make sure you do it right...proper supervision and decent gear.

Luck, bro.

Originally Posted by Leper-Messiah

Thanks British.

Firstly, yes, my "matches" have been at a mate's house, kind of "fight club" style.

And, also, I have tried my gloves, and they seem to be great, they are easy to move with, and are pretty comfortable. I will keep yall posted, and I will tell u all how my "matches" go. Thanks again British!

no...no....no...no....NO!! stop the b.s. sparring at your friends house...You need to be in a gym around the proper coaches using the proper equipment! As a amateur boxing coach this stuff scares me when I hear it.....what kind of head gear are you using? Please tell me you're using head gear!!!!!! Get to a gym and get registered asap. Do NOT mess around like that again.... Boxing is dangerous when done by the inexperienced. Around the right trainers/coaches using the proper equipment this is actually a really safe sport.

No headgear mate. And, boxing with my mates are fun. Why shouldn't I do it?