Quote Originally Posted by Zurawa
Hey...

I'm a college student doing a project for a rhetoric class I'm taking. I'm doing an ethnography on the subculture of boxing and need some input from people who box. If you box, please take a few minutes to answer these questions. All input is appreciated.

1. Why do you box?

2. Furthering the first question, what do you want to get out of it?

3. In your mind why is it worth any inflicted damage during a fight?

4. Does your ego/pride play a major role in your motivation to box?

5. Some people say boxers enjoy violence; would you agree with this statement, why or why not?

6. Would you say you have had a troubled past, or one that motivates you to box? If so, and if you don’t mind explaining, how has it motivated you?

7. Would you say any stereotypes hold true for most (not all) boxers as far as ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality?

8. Are there any behaviors or actions that only boxers/fighters do? (in other words, something you see a person do and think "that person must box")

Thanks again for any input.
I'm probably not the person to answer these questions as I've never had a real match, but in the past I have trained/sparred etc. so I'll give this a shot since no one else has responded.
1. I wanted to try boxing because I loved watching the sport, and I wanted to know what it felt like to get into the ring for myself, partially, I suppose, to see if it was as hard as it looks (it was much, much harder). I also wanted to see if I could take a punch from someone who really knew what they were doing. However, my first time sparring was against a guy who fought/fights as an amateur in the Super HW div. I got knocked down twice in my first 3 round sparring session in front of about 20 people. I'm 5'9 and 160lbs.
2. I didn't expect to get anything out of it aside from a bruised ego and possibly a broken nose. I also wanted to gain confidence in my ability to defend myself and to learn how to punch, and how to take a punch properly.
3. One of the reasons I never had a real fight was my concern over getting hurt badly as I have had multiple (6 or 7) concussions in my life.
4. Ego/pride didn't play too much of a role in my experience, except for dragging my ass off of the canvas that 1st sparring session; though there were those at the gym who used it as their primary motivation.
5. Many people, not only boxers, enjoy controlled and regulated violence. I love to watch boxing, but I tend to feel sick to my stomach and generally disgusted while witnessing a street fight.
6. I have had a bit of a troubled past, nothing too serious though, just trouble with drugs/the law etc. It motivated me a bit, I guess, but not in a way I could easily describe.
7. Some stereotypes are true in boxing, as in anything else. It seems to me that some, if not most, pro's come from relative poverty or at least impoverished nations like Mexico or Colombia, or the former U.S.S.R.
8. I don't think that there are any behaviors/actions that only boxers do. However, I have a friend who I think should get into the sport, but just because he's a good fighter, angry and lacks direction, discipline and focus. I also think my little cousin, who is an 9 yr. old girl would enjoy getting into the sport, she gets picked on alto at school and doesn't have many, if any, friends, and her confidence and self-esteem suffers accordingly. She also really enjoyed learning the basics of punching and hitting the heavy bag and combo dummy that I own, and she is constantly pestering her parents to be allowed to box.

Sorry for the rambling post, and again I don't think this post is specifically directed at me, as I have never truly boxed in any sort of a match (I would hardly consider sparring a match). I hope this helps at least somewhat.