Boxing Fitness Institute training boxing

It is an age old sport – fighter pitting his strength against fighter in a square ‘ring’ cheered on by a crowd of enthusiastic onlookers. What keeps interest in this oldest of blood sports alive? Is it the sheer brute strength demanded to win, the self discipline required to practice until you are the best or is it to win the admiration of the crowd by proving you are the best, the fittest and the strongest of men? The best can only get here by putting in hours and hours of rigorous training: boxing is surely the toughest of the sports!

In recent years there has been a revival of interest in boxing in its new form of fitness training. Boxing routines are followed and all the usual boxing equipment is used in the classes but it stops short of full contact exposure and competitive fighting. Kickboxing has also become a hugely popular form of fitness exercise worldwide for both men and women. It has been widely accepted as a ‘hip’ of ‘cool’ way to keep in shape but for all its fashionable status it is intense training and demands a rigorous program of classes for its followers. The classes usually follow a pattern of warm up exercises, work on improving technique and then a series of three to four minute ‘rounds’ which are each ended by a one minute rest period. These rounds are vigorous with participants constantly on the move following the age old pattern of training. Boxing clubs all offer this new program nowadays.

The ability to react with lightening speed is essential in boxing and exercises have been specially developed to decrease reaction times and increase acceleration and power. Professional boxers are amongst the world’s fittest athletes. It takes both incredible strength and lightening speed to be a top boxer and of course years of training. Boxing fanatics reward their favourite fighters with loyal devotion and admiration and make them international stars.

Of course heroes like Jack Dempsey, Cassius Clay ( Mohammed Ali), Joe Frazier and Leon Spinks provide models for younger men to aspire to and films like Cinderella Man, Rocky and Raging Bull have all rekindled the interest in the sport. For many poor young men boxing holds the hope that by sheer guts and brute courage one can still rise from poverty to become a hero in the eyes of your peers and win wealth and prestige. By dint of immense willpower and training, boxing can take you far. Sponsorship and advertising endorsements open up a world of riches – who hasn’t heard of the George Forman Lean Mean Grilling Machine?