Taking up boxing in Japan--questions from a prospective student

Hi all, I’ve been thinking about taking up boxing for a few months now, and I’m finally going to give it my best. I’m interested in learning the fundamentals of boxing, and then starting up matches if I like it.

I have a million questions and every question I answer leaves two more. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask a couple here.

So I live in Japan, where heavyweight boxing is more of a rarity than western countries… I know I’m jumping the gun by a few months here, but I am wondering how effective sparring with smaller people would be for progress? For example, if I were to spar with a skilled middleweight boxer (72kg?) for an absolute beginner, would that provide a good foundation for a heavyweight amateur match? I am 105kg, 6’8”.

Also, I would like to know about the disadvantages that tall boxers face? I feel like my stomach is wide open… how could I overcome this in a country whose average height rarely surpasses 5’8”?

Thanks!!

I am sure someone will be along very shortly to answer your questions. Welcome to Saddos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doebird

I am wondering how effective sparring with smaller people would be for progress?

---

you may work on defense, if you are able to defend against lighter guys ( who are typically faster), you will have more confidence against others

Are you a man of flesh though? If you do not care, god won't let you win.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doebird

Hi all, I’ve been thinking about taking up boxing for a few months now, and I’m finally going to give it my best. I’m interested in learning the fundamentals of boxing, and then starting up matches if I like it.

I have a million questions and every question I answer leaves two more. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask a couple here.

So I live in Japan, where heavyweight boxing is more of a rarity than western countries… I know I’m jumping the gun by a few months here, but I am wondering how effective sparring with smaller people would be for progress? For example, if I were to spar with a skilled middleweight boxer (72kg?) for an absolute beginner, would that provide a good foundation for a heavyweight amateur match? I am 105kg, 6’8”.

Also, I would like to know about the disadvantages that tall boxers face? I feel like my stomach is wide open… how could I overcome this in a country whose average height rarely surpasses 5’8”?

Thanks!!

---

Something that will prove essential to your success in boxing will be your ability to establish and maintain distance. That will be your first and most vital line of defense. That is something that you can certainly work on with smaller lighter fighters.
In fact that will probably be to your advantage. Smaller quicker guys trying to slip around your jab and close distance, that will make you work. And you can throw a real jab. Learn to get low with your legs instead of jabbing down at an opponent.

Cool!! Thanks for your insights so far ( ^-^)ノ

Ill probably have more questions tomorrow; tonight I'm going to the gym after work!

Yeah work on being in balance all the time by being in the correct stance, dont lean down or over commit to them. Practice correct stance correct footwork and control the opponent with your jab and use your reach. Not going square with your feet when chasing them or retreating but keeping the correct stance while moving your body around behind your stiff jab will have your belly a touch more side on and out of any direct trouble too.
May pay to take up something else that gets you lighter on your feet too,table tennis, dancing,skateboarding, ice skating, fast balance correcting things.

Scraps standing board on top of a pipe exercise would do the trick too and you eventually shadow box on top of it while maintaining balance would be great for you. Look up his routines by going back through his posts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andre

Scraps standing board on top of a pipe exercise would do the trick too and you eventually shadow box on top of it while maintaining balance would be great for you. Look up his routines by going back through his posts.

---

could you elaborate more on that ? Any pic?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andre

Yeah work on being in balance all the time by being in the correct stance, dont lean down or over commit to them. Practice correct stance correct footwork and control the opponent with your jab and use your reach. Not going square with your feet when chasing them or retreating but keeping the correct stance while moving your body around behind your stiff jab will have your belly a touch more side on and out of any direct trouble too.
May pay to take up something else that gets you lighter on your feet too,table tennis, dancing,skateboarding, ice skating, fast balance correcting things.

Scraps standing board on top of a pipe exercise would do the trick too and you eventually shadow box on top of it while maintaining balance would be great for you. Look up his routines by going back through his posts.

---

Thanks Andre! I'll keep in mind what you said about taking up a balance-requiring hobby as well, but I know it will be a big load to take up two new things at the same time, so for now I will focus on specifically boxing basics :P

As it happens, do you have any other hobbies that you do that help you with boxing? just askin for funsies.

and this video is what you're talking about, eh? http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingfor...ml#post1142228
I'm at school(well, work) right now, so I couldn't listen to the audio of the video, but I get the idea of the exercises! they look like they take a lot of practice >: ) I'll listen to whats going on when I get home, thanks for that!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doebird

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andre

Yeah work on being in balance all the time by being in the correct stance, dont lean down or over commit to them. Practice correct stance correct footwork and control the opponent with your jab and use your reach. Not going square with your feet when chasing them or retreating but keeping the correct stance while moving your body around behind your stiff jab will have your belly a touch more side on and out of any direct trouble too.
May pay to take up something else that gets you lighter on your feet too,table tennis, dancing,skateboarding, ice skating, fast balance correcting things.

Scraps standing board on top of a pipe exercise would do the trick too and you eventually shadow box on top of it while maintaining balance would be great for you. Look up his routines by going back through his posts.

---

Thanks Andre! I'll keep in mind what you said about taking up a balance-requiring hobby as well, but I know it will be a big load to take up two new things at the same time, so for now I will focus on specifically boxing basics :P

As it happens, do you have any other hobbies that you do that help you with boxing? just askin for funsies.

and this video is what you're talking about, eh? http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingfor...ml#post1142228
I'm at school(well, work) right now, so I couldn't listen to the audio of the video, but I get the idea of the exercises! they look like they take a lot of practice >: ) I'll listen to whats going on when I get home, thanks for that!!

---

Would do you good to look through all of Scraps works he is prepared to share on his channel.

This one: The logs at the end are great. From memory theres one you'll find eventually with a pipe and a board too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2j0As1L7QM

thanks for the videos Andre! I'll try picking up some materials at the hardware store to get going on some of these exercises--my balance is really bad!! :P haha

As it happens I have some other questions; if anybody can answer that would be grand!

1) I've read to keep your hands relaxed and not clench your fists, but when you throw a punch is it okay to clench your fist then? it seems natural for me to do it, but I want to make sure while I'm learning the basics that I'm doing it as exactly right as I can be.

2) My boxing coach said that its good to do sit ups as an exercise, I was wondering if situps could be replaced with crunches in this case or if there is a boxing-specific reason that situps should be preferred over crunches? thanks!