Local gym!

[yvonne]

I really want to start boxing and have just been sparing with my mates for a couple of weeks now outside his house. I want to go to my local gym to improve myself but I am worried that I will look crap and stupid because I have just started and people will just mock me. I am only 16 and want to start now because I think I could improve quite a lot. Has any one else had this or can help me?
Thanks.

If you really want to box....stop sparring with your friends now. That will only make training you properly harder for your coach. Everyone was a beginner at one point. The best thing you can do is show up and start from scratch, leave everything you think you know about boxing at the door....along with your ego. If you can do that, you're light years ahead of any guy your age who is starting out.

Good luck to you.

Really good advice they mate!Dont feel stupid mate,there's nothing to worry about.Everybody has to crawl before they walk mate!I started when i was 10yr old at my local boxing gym(ABC,Boys welfare)in the North-East of England.I enjoyed every minute of it.Yeah i was a bit worried,thats only natural really.At the end of the day my mate there wont throw you straight in the deep end by putting you in sparring straight away!Their had me shadow boxing in front of the mirror for me to concentrate on me stance and guard and head movement.At the time with me only being young at 10yr old i thought shadow boxing was naff.I was like..."What im i doing throwing punches in front of the mirror for like a idiot?!!"I just wanted to jump through the ropes with me head guard and gloves on and fight someone(Daft young mind of my at the time,ha).It was all great stuff though because you need to start off with light work"FOUNDATION WORK"starting from the bare roots of the art form sport.Not just shaddow boxing!Same goes for Skipping,speedball,punch bag,jogging etc!).Most of all my friend if its a well know gym with coaches who know what they talking about...."ENJOY IT and take in all of the lesson given and you will notice the benefits in due course.

Welcome to the site my friend.Keep tuned and keep intouch.Let me know how things go if you like!

[iceman]

the only time i saw/heard some kids laugh at another boxer, their coach yelled at them in front of the entire gym, telling them they couldn't even last a round sparring so shut up...after the parents came to pick them up, he wlked over handed the parents his coach fee back, and said i don't want them back here they were disrespectful. now my last match, the crowd laughed at my opponent, he tucked his head and threw wild haymakers,while i backed up slipped right then left then threw a puniching overhand into his cheek bone...after several times of this and his daddy yelling at him he became shall we say over anxious and his technique really went to hell. he hasn't fought since. so laugh as they may, it all comes out in the wash...