Want to start boxing

Hi,

I'm 15, I want to start boxing in a few months, what can I do to give me a head start?

I want to get the following up:

*Speed
*Stamina
*Strength

So far I've been tackling strength by going on the Mark Riptoes body-building program which I've been on for a month.

Here's a pic: [Taken yesterday]

http://i9.tinypic.com/2d1a0ph.jpg

I use a jump rope everyday for a while, what else can I do to get stamina and speed up?

I'll update that pic next month and show you any improvements, what I want to know is what will be required of me before I start getting professional coaching (My local gym: http://www.redcorner.co.uk/) - I heard from a mate that I'll be expected to do 50 push-ups etc...

Any other tips or advice on what to do and what I should be able to do before I start training are much appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm not a weights expert but I like cardio so I'll just stick to advice for that and leave other details to more weights minded people.

A bit of jogging would be good. Start slow and easy then build up the intensity gradually. If you kill yourself initially you might injure yourself and you won't enjoy it as much.

The key is keeping it fun so you always want to do it - then pushing hard becomes easy when your body is ready.

Need to stretch to avoid killing yourself too much especially if you haven't done much running.

Once you have a base you can start sprints etc but aim for getting comfortable running 30 mins regularly maybe including some faster bursts during the run and a few hills.

Vary the runs (pace and route) to keep them interesting. For the next two months I think one run every 2 days between 30 and 40 minutes would be a good start. It'll help you get closer to your competitive weight and get used to having your heart rate up high.

I'm always surprised when I wear my heart rate monitor just how aerobic boxing is compared to many other sports. It's not just about muscular strength but the aerobic ability to keep using it at speed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rav_Sandhu

Hi,

I'm 15, I want to start boxing in a few months, what can I do to give me a head start?

I want to get the following up:

*Speed
*Stamina
*Strength

So far I've been tackling strength by going on the Mark Riptoes body-building program which I've been on for a month.

Here's a pic: [Taken yesterday]

http://i9.tinypic.com/2d1a0ph.jpg

I use a jump rope everyday for a while, what else can I do to get stamina and speed up?

I'll update that pic next month and show you any improvements, what I want to know is what will be required of me before I start getting professional coaching (My local gym: http://www.redcorner.co.uk/) - I heard from a mate that I'll be expected to do 50 push-ups etc...

Any other tips or advice on what to do and what I should be able to do before I start training are much appreciated.

Thanks.

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No offence ment,but you would need to lose a bit of weight.You look at least 2 weight divisions over your potental fighting weight.

How much do you weigh at the moment?

@Sharla , Thanks for the advice, I'll do that whenever I get the chance. I'll have to be waking up at about 6am to do it though because that's when its quiet.

@porkypara, Lol, no offence taken mate. Its the 'bulking phase' of body building, I'm putting on mass, I'm off it now, you'll see my new pic next month now I'm in the 'cutting phase'.

I weight 14stones, that's 90kg or 198.4lbs. Bare in mind I'm pretty tall (6'1 -2 last time I checked).

Thanks again for the advice on how to get into shape before I start boxing, I hope someone can fill me in on how much I have to weight and what I need to be capable of etc.

Cheers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rav_Sandhu

@Sharla , Thanks for the advice, I'll do that whenever I get the chance. I'll have to be waking up at about 6am to do it though because that's when its quiet.

@porkypara, Lol, no offence taken mate. Its the 'bulking phase' of body building, I'm putting on mass, I'm off it now, you'll see my new pic next month now I'm in the 'cutting phase'.

I weight 14stones, that's 90kg or 198.4lbs. Bare in mind I'm pretty tall (6'1 -2 last time I checked).

Thanks again for the advice on how to get into shape before I start boxing, I hope someone can fill me in on how much I have to weight and what I need to be capable of etc.

Cheers.

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in amuture boxing the weights that might apply to you would be middle weight=75kg,light-heavyweight=81kg,heavy weight=91kg,superheavyweight=91kg+,

you need to get down as light as possible to give yourself the best chance.

good luck.

Damn I need to start losing weight....Any tips? ??? ???

I'm going to start jogging saturdays and sundays for about an hour. Will that do?

I also jump rope for about 2 hours a week, will that acomplish my stamina and speed upping goal?

thanks.

concentrate on cardio and some boxing specific training. you dont need to bulk up and cut down for boxing and u dnt need to follow a bodybuilding program, you will build useless muscle that will slow you down. jus get in a boxing gym if the trainers know ur a beginner they will build you up slowly, or they should do, just train and eat clean and your body will find its natural weight, and you will add muscle gradually, and most of all ENJOY!!
hope that helps.

Hi,

I was under the impression you are not starting boxing for two months for a reason - like some other commitments. If you are just wanting to get fit before you are game to start I wouldn't worry about it - just go in. You will usually have plenty of technique to learn before you get into spar so you have time to get fit for it while learning the skills.

As for an hour on Saturday and an hour on Sunday running I think that might be a bit risky. You want to spread it out over the week and give yourself time to recover between runs - rather than kill yourself on the weekend all at once when you haven't been doing much cardio. You'll get better results from 3 or 4 slightly shorter sessions than 2 - 1 hour sessions and be less likely to injure yourself.

Runners who are building endurance generally say you shouldn't build up the distance in your long run by more than 10 % a week. For you at this stage 1 hour might be a bit long and you might hurt yourself particularly if you haven't got the best shoes or maybe have feet that roll in or out too much etc etc. If you build the time up gradually you will reduce your chance of getting injuries and find it easier to gain SPEED!

I get up at 5:30 or 6 am most mornings and it's a lovely time of day! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rav_Sandhu

Damn I need to start losing weight....Any tips? ??? ???

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The simplest way is just to eat less.Try and cut down on carbs(but dont cut out compleatly).

A run first thing in the morning.If you are just starting I would go for a half an hour run every other day.

I would also join a boxing gym as soon as you can,you will pick up tips and hints off the trainners and other boxers.But dont worry you wont be forced into boxing until you are ready.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I' can't join a boxing gym yet because I have my final exams coming up, I plan on starting in the summer. I'll jog on saterday's and leave sunday if theres the chance of injury, I'll also eat less.

Cheers, I'll let you know how it goes. I really appreciate all the help, thanks alot.

-Rav

Good Luck with your exams! :-)

If you really feel like you can't fit in any runs during the week I'm sure it can wait until after your exams.

However I found during my studies through school and university that light exercise actually helped me cram for exams.

I was not a very consistant studier during the year so these final cramming weeks were very intense for me and made all the difference.

I find it easier to focus with as little as 30 mins of light exercise and can then tolerate the repetitive memorizing consistently for a few more hours a day.

Still everyone's different so if you don't feel it helps i won't press the idea.

No one can argue that your exams need to come first at this point.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rav_Sandhu

Thanks everyone for the advice. I' can't join a boxing gym yet because I have my final exams coming up, I plan on starting in the summer. I'll jog on saterday's and leave sunday if theres the chance of injury, I'll also eat less.

Cheers, I'll let you know how it goes. I really appreciate all the help, thanks alot.

-Rav

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Dont eat less, eat better. The best way to lose weight is to eat 6 small meals each day. But make sure they are low calorie meals, salads, lots of fruit, veggies, cut out any sodas and drink more water. Eating less will just make you hungry.

Rav, you got some good advice from Tybuff and Sharla.

Doing some cardio or a simple bodyweight circuit everyday could help you concentrate when you're studying. Putting it off until the summer isn't a good mindset to start off with and one session a week is a recipe for disaster. Better to do 3/4 short sessions a week (even 15 minutes) starting now. :)

Thanks for all the replies ;D

I need some advice on what to do for the jogging, I was thinking maybe I did it 3 times a week, on Monday, and Thursday and Saturday at 6:30am. I think I should be able to manage that, maybe a 30 min running session to start off with and then improve from their, hows that sound?

I'll carry on with the Mark Riptoes body-building program unless anyone thinks its a bad idea, its what BodyBuilding.com recommend for beginners who want to get used to lifts and start strength.

-Cheers

The problem with weight lifting is that big bulky muscles have no use in boxing. If you are just using boxing to get into better cardio shape then go ahead with the body building things. But if you are wanting to compete and be the best you can at boxing then they wont help you in boxing. Do low weights with high reps. Choose a weight that you can curl/bench/(whatever else) for 15 times in 2 or 3 sets. This will help build muscular endurance, which is what you want with boxing.

Thanks, that's exactly what I've been wondering. Last month when weight got easy so I tried lifting higher ones, I was able to do it but only on low reps building mass which isn't really much use, so I went back to by current weight and began to wonder if I'll get anywhere just doing higher reps. Your comment has shed a lot of light, I'll carry on with what I'm doing.

Another thing I really need to know is what's recommended to be the best times for jogging? I can only really do up to four sessions a week with me being in education and studying for my GCSE's, I really need to start because I'm starting to get fat and slow.. :-[ I was thinking Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:00AM. I'll jog for about 30-60 min's and hope to burn off fat and build some more speed and stamina before I get coaching and to help me stay fit and healthy. Does that sound like a good idea?

I'm also trying to eat cleaner.

Thanks.

-Rav.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rav_Sandhu

Thanks, that's exactly what I've been wondering. Last month when weight got easy so I tried lifting higher ones, I was able to do it but only on low reps building mass which isn't really much use, so I went back to by current weight and began to wonder if I'll get anywhere just doing higher reps. Your comment has shed a lot of light, I'll carry on with what I'm doing.

Another thing I really need to know is what's recommended to be the best times for jogging? I can only really do up to four sessions a week with me being in education and studying for my GCSE's, I really need to start because I'm starting to get fat and slow.. :-[ I was thinking Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:00AM. I'll jog for about 30-60 min's and hope to burn off fat and build some more speed and stamina before I get coaching and to help me stay fit and healthy. Does that sound like a good idea?

I'm also trying to eat cleaner.

Thanks.

-Rav.

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Some of the other guys can tell you more, but I tell you what I know. I was told once by a guy that trained with the US Olympic boxing team to run for 2-3 miles, so try to do that on the days you plan on running. He also said to jump rope for 20-30 minutes, do that on the days you dont run. Then when you can go 30 minutes do it everyday. You will be amazed at how much jumping rope helps with your cardio. I was doing it consistently for a couple of months and my workouts began to get so much easier and I was in much better cardio shape. Some other guys on this board have had similar experience's. Also do situps, you will need to build you stomach muscles.

Mon, Weds and Friday sounds fantastic. Later - especially since you are time limited now - you could do more but that should be enough with the other things you are doing to see some big benefits for a while.

Especially if you are time limited I don't think you need to push for an hour.

My favourite session is a running workout known as the Monaghetti Fartleck (named after a famous Australian runner who came up with it)

Warm up - for me about 5 min jog, stretch, 10 mins easy jog and then (without stopping) do the following:

90 sec hard running, 90 sec moderate/easy pace X 2
60 sec hard running, 60 sec moderate/easy pace X 2
45 sec sec hard running, 45 sec moderate/easy pace X 2
30 sec hard running, 30 sec moderate/easy pace X 4
15 sec sec hard running, 15 sec moderate/easy pace X 4

And finish off with an easy jog for 5 or 10 mins and a stretch to warm down.

It's not a time consuming workout but done hard it will make you work. You want to aim to be able to do it without going to too slow in the easy parts and make the shorter hard intervals at least as hard or harder than the longer hard ones. To begin with the most important things is NOT to stop unless you are injured. Then you can learn that however tired you are you can recover on the move to go hard again. Having confidence in my ability to do that has helped me dig deep in a few of my more challenging boxing fights.

I love doing this in a group where the faster people jog back behind everyone else in the easy parts and have to catch up in the hard parts. Gives everyone someone to catch up to or stay in front of and makes it more exciting than when done alone.

Still if you haven't done much running before you might find this is anything but fun when attempting it, especially without company. Many beginner runners find a 30 minute jog challenging enough. There is no shame in that and in that case just doing the time at any pace will build your fitness quickly over the first 2 or 3 weeks.

That workout was one of many which are common in running clubs and often found in running mags. If you want more ideas i can give you a few and you can probably find some on the web. A popular running magazine in Australia is called Runners World and is full of juicy little gems like that one :-)

Some sprinting workouts with rests between sprints will also be valuable closer to boxing competition time. However, moderate length running workouts without stopping are probably best for you right now since you'll burn more fat and set up your running fitness and muscle base in a way which will lower your risk of pulling/straining muscles etc.

maybe a rocket up your a*** will make you lose your fat quicker. Piss taker. :)

Sharla, thanks very much! That looks great, I'll try it

md, I tried the rocket...didn't work too well. ??? ???

Sorry Rav, I didn't write that last comment that's the problem letting mates on the computer. Have a cc on me

Its ok md ;D

Went for my first jog today, I was absolutely exhausted after just jogging easy for 15 mins ??? ??? ??? ??? I guess I'm going to have to try real hard to just be able to do fartleck, could'nt make a good attempt today..Just ended up jogging for 45 mins because 90 secs od hard running was just too much.

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Originally Posted by md

maybe a rocket up your a*** will make you lose your fat quicker. Piss taker. :)

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md tell your mate they become a personal trainer... ;)

Now what's this  ??? ???!

There's no reason to feel bad - as I said most people who have not done much running will find it difficult to start with. I just put the monaghetti fartleck up since you seemed determined to run for an hour and I wanted to show you it is possible to make the most of a shorter run.

If you just want to do a straight jog that's fine! It will benefit you.

An easier step up to make it a little more challenging would be the following:

10 min easy warm up
30 seconds at a moderate pace and 1 min easy X 10
10 min easy warm down.

You can change that based on how you feel - make the slow parts and fast parts longer or shorter as you need to taylor it to your fitness level. It's just good to have a plan you remember so you can see your progress as you get fitter. You can also change the number of fast intervals. Remember you will find it harder or easier depending on the terrain, wind resistance etc aswell.

Otherwise choose a route with a few hills and/ steps which you tackle after warming up running on easier terrain.

Don't ever feel disheartened or like you won't be any good at running just because you struggle to begin with.

I started off doing less than you but then gradually improved and won US$7,500 running my first marathon!

No one would have ever guessed I'd do that - myself included. Speed for me took a few years to build up so a lack of huge instant success doesn't mean it won't come. I just kept with it because I enjoyed it.

The MOST important thing is to enjoy it - keep it interesting, pick places you like to run - if you let yourself enjoy it you will turn into a machine guaranteed!

I still consider boxing my main sport. I only run marathons around Christmans and times when I don't expect there to be many boxing shows to compete in. You don't need to do marathon distances to train for boxing. I think you'll be able to judge as an individual what type of sessions you get the most out of as you gain experience.

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Originally Posted by AdamGB

Quote:

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Originally Posted by md

maybe a rocket up your a*** will make you lose your fat quicker. Piss taker. :)

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md tell your mate they become a personal trainer... ;)

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He'd do ok, he's got a good work ethic himself. The only problem is, that's his subtle solution to everything:

feeling unfit - get a rocket up yer ass
feeling demotivated - get a rocket up yer ass
got a slight niggle - get a rocket up yer ass
got tonsillitis - get a rocket up yer ass

Although, I don't entirely disagree with him. Scrap mentioned something before about paralysis by analysis. :)

Sharla, Don't worry about it, since I went for that jog and did the little bit of fartleck I could everything seems to have gotten easier, I'm definitely going to try and go for the full fartleck run, even if I can't do the whole thing, I'll slowly get it in the end, there's no rush, I've got about 3 months till I start boxing. Sorry about all the "???" - I was in a rush as I typed that from school.

Cheers for all the advice, you've been an invaluable help.

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Originally Posted by Rav_Sandhu

Sharla, Don't worry about it, since I went for that jog and did the little bit of fartleck I could everything seems to have gotten easier, I'm definitely going to try and go for the full fartleck run, even if I can't do the whole thing, I'll slowly get it in the end, there's no rush, I've got about 3 months till I start boxing. Sorry about all the "???" - I was in a rush as I typed that from school.

Cheers for all the advice, you've been an invaluable help.

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Why are you waiting 3 months till you start?

The amuture boxing season will more or less be over by then and you wont be able to box till around next september when it starts again.

Get stuck in now mate.

Can't, I've got exams in June, GCSE's.I'll have to wait till there over.