"Am I too old to start boxing?"

[HerbM]

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

[Dizaster]

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

HAHA you don't hear that to often.. But when I started sparring I noticed the same thing.. I felt invigorated and relaxed after even shelling up and getting hit on my arms with decent power...

I've since learnt why and realise it is incredibly good for you, especially in modern society..
Sparring and getting hit forces you to be in that moment. You immediately go back to our natural, animalistic, survival instincts.. All the distractions of life. Bills, work, family, responsibilities,,,, we rarely get a break from them... And laying down and watching TV doesn't count.. But when you spar, all those things drop away real quick, and our mind being clear of those things for even a few moments can be like an awakening.. You can breath better and stand straighter.. Everything has less weight suddenly, and each time you free yourself from that stuff, it gets a little harder for them to swollow you again completely..

On a non-boxing note, another interesting way to get a similar feeling, albeit a little stupid is to do this whenever you are stressed or about to deal with a stressful situation.

You take a deep breath in.. Not a straining breath, but just breath in a comfortable amount, then you hold your breath for as long as you can. You hold until that very point where you panic and literally can't hold it any more, then at that point you count to 3, and breath out all that crap air..
At that moment where you kind of panic and feel like your going to not survive unless you breath, then count 3,,, it's at that point your brain clicks into survival mode and drops everything else away. You get a rush of adrenalin which does all sorts of good things for you psychologically, and you get right into that moment and can't really worry about anything else..

Anyway, that's just something fun for you to try anytime you feel like centering yourself.

Back on the subject of starting boxing :
I havn't been to boxing training for 2 years now, since I moved away from my gym, however i'm back near it now so I should go back soon, I miss it..
When I started their I was incredibly unfit. Could barely do 3 pushups and 0 sit ups (i could do 1000 crunches but that's different). I smoked a lot and had put a lot of toxins through my system..

But within 3 weeks of going there originally, I was able to run around the block then do 6 x 3 minute rounds of skipping plus pushups and lunges in between rounds.. Granted I had to stop for little breaks to catch my breath and prevent throwing up for smoking... But for someone who is very unfit, the first 2 or 3 times you exercise hard it will tear you a new ass.. Your body says, this is f'cked, i'm gonna feel so shit that you won't want to do that again.. literally anything after that though, your body realises that hey, we are doing this whether we like it or not, and it really quickly gets with the program and you'll be able to do about 500% more than you could do even 2 or 3 weeks back..

As for being new at a gym, the first time I walked up to sign up I was still in my suit and tie from work.. Everyone looked at me weird including the trainer.. But when I came back, of course I felt weird for a little bit, but by the end your happy, and then you just force yourself to second one, and there, your comfortable.. Withing a couple of training sessions you'll probably even see another new person come along...

[HerbM]

I have mentioned before that I am a Systema (Russian Martial Arts) guy, and the ideas of getting hit (and hitting) and doing a variety of breathing drills are right out of Systema.

Even exactly the idea, of holding your breath to try to get near that panicky feelling -- and ride it through, not really overcoming it, but finding a way to have peace with it.

The four principles of Systema work for just about any sport, but especially well for boxing: always be Relaxing, Breathing, Moving, and maintaining Form (posture and balance).

Those while HEETING are the keys to Systema.

I haven't mentioned that the only real issue that I have at 57 is some moderately severe and very chronic knee (and other large joint) arthritis.

My knees hurt almost all the time -- and frequently its the worst when I am sitting still or even lying in bed, but I seldom hurt at all when I am on the mat or in the ring.

The adrenaline and endorphins make the chronic aches and pains disappear.

As you say, there is something relaxing about getting a solid -- but non-damaging -- hit, both the hit itself and knowing you can survive it, roll with it, absorb it, dissipate it, and even use it to power your own counters.

I did a couple of rounds of jab only shadow sparring today and it was totally enjoyable as well, almost as good as real HEETING....

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HerbM