No.

I am 57, and just coming up on 3 months since I started boxing training for the very first time.

My biggest disappointment so far? I would need some slightly expensive physical with MRI (in the US) and likely couldn't pass since I have a "history of high blood pressure". This seems to be a firm rule, even though my blood pressure stays normal and has been treated every since diagnosed a couple of years ago -- and the pills don't make me sleepy or anything.

Sure, I am never going to be a pro, and probably never even fight in the Master division, but I am ready to start bugging the coach to let me spar more and more seriously.

[Coach has known from the beginning that I would want to hit and get hit, but he is pretty careful with newbies and that is a good thing in general.]

Of course it helps that my head is like a cement block and my body pretty much doesn't mind being hit.

In fact one of my strongest reasons for sparring is that getting hit is sort of relaxing (at a reasonable level) and good for you in my opinion.

Besides, I can't be really sure I am learning anything useful from the techniques unless they hold up under real pressure with a fully resisting opponent...

The little bit of shadow sparring I have been able to do indicates that what coach has taught me is working, but I need to see it full force (eventually) to refine and develop the skills fully.

This (low level) sparring has also been good already for helping me overcome my biggest weakness: head movement due to lack of flexibility -- turns out I can slip and fade, and that doing so under the motivation of a punch is pretty compelling.

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HerbM