question I am asked often is how boxing training relates to self-defense. Boxing teaches us how to throw punches and avoid punches, which can certainly correspond directly to an attack, but there are many other components to a street fight. Maybe you are grabbed and can't use your arms, maybe there is a weapon involved, multiple attackers, etc. These are all things that require specific training to handle properly but here are 5 reasons how learning how to box, specifically, will help you in a self-defense situation. Some may seem obvious but there is more to them than you may realize.
#1) Throwing Punches - Of course this is the obvious one that I already touched on but not only do you learn the proper way to throw punches- how to get maximum power, speed and efficiency - but you practice them over and over and over again, so that it becomes muscle memory and you no longer have to even think about it. Striking is not one of those things where someone can show you the mechanics of it and BAM, you've got it. There are multiple levels of understanding and development that can only come from practice and experience. Someone who's brand new to striking may have trouble using combatives in a real-world scenario. Someone who's thrown thousands and thousands of punches will have a much better chance striking effectively.
#2) Sudden, Explosive Movement - What makes a punch different than any other movement, like simply extending your arm, is that quick, sudden burst of force. Besides allowing us to put more power and speed on the punches, this kind of movement is generally analogous to how we must respond in a street fight, once the attack has come. All movements - where they are striking, defending or running away - must be swift and decisive. Once again, practicing this repeatedly is going to help us in a life-threatening situation. Boxing also develops skills like coordination, balance, reaction time - all things we can really use during an attack.
#3) Awareness & Changing States - This is a big one and something you might not think about. I previously trained in a martial art called Krav Maga, which is based completely around self-defense, and during that time, I worked with law enforcement as well as victims of violent crime. I myself have also been a victim of violent and one thing we all know is that it can be extremely difficult to go from a passive, maybe even distracted, state to an alert, defensive state. Most violent crime is not a fight, where two combatants square off against each other, ready to engage. Instead it is an assault, where the assailant attacks (or threatens) the victim before that victim even knows what is going on. The analogy I always use at seminars goes something like this: "Imagine you're an athlete and you show up to your game late, in the middle of the 2nd quarter, and you are not even sure whether you're playing football or basketball." That is often what an assault is like. You are caught off-guard and by the time you finally catch up, it is too late.
So how does boxing training help with this? Because we are constantly making a similar state change when we box. We go from a passive state - maybe you just woke up or just got off work - to a suddenly aggressive and attacking state. Even if you're just punching the bag, you are preparing your body for impact and as discussed in Reason #2, more ready to generate sudden, explosive movement. Also, with striking and combat on the brain at any level, you will be naturally more ready and can make that all -important state change a little bit quicker, which may be the difference between life and death!
#4) Confidence - One of the many benefits people get from boxing training is a new sense of self-confidence. Not just in terms of being able to defend themselves but general life confidence. You feel more empowered, more capable, maybe an inner fighter has been awakened - and this noticeable to others. They may not even be consciously aware of what they're noticing but they sense something different. Some predators are smart, some are very stupid, but most of them instinctively know how to pick their victims. They are looking for the person who has their head down, maybe is not paying attention, looks like they may already be scared, and will give them the least amount of trouble and resistance. The person who projects confidence does not fit this profile.
But beware false confidence! Just because you've had some training doesn't mean you should be getting into fights or escalating the situation. If someone is confrontational or threatening, remember that fighting should be the last resort, and only if you are certain they plan to do you harm. Diffuse the situation, get away and do whatever it takes to de-escalate. Even if you are able to successfully defend yourself from an attacker, it's not like, "Yay, you won!" There could be damage, mental and physical, there may very likely be legal consequences too. Never underestimate anyone or the potential consequences that come from a fight.
#5) Strength - Of course boxing is great exercise, the best way to get in shape that I know of, and just like how lions go after the weaker, sicker gazelles in the herd first, the same is true with many human predators. If you appear to be strong and healthy, that generally makes you a less appealing target. And if you are still selected, the stronger you are, the better you can move, the better chance of survival you have.
Again, there are other components to self-defense and I plan to touch on them in future blog posts but no matter what direction someone wants to go with their own training, I guarantee boxing will help and is a component that should not be overlooked. I have heard people promoting their own systems say things like, "Yeah, boxing is great and all but what do you do when you get taken to the ground? Or someone grabs your arms?" It is true that these are critical pieces to the puzzle but they do not invalidate other pieces. I trained in Krav Maga for years but there is no way I was able to strike as effectively as I do now that I have dedicated myself more to boxing. And just like I mentioned in Reason #3, that may be the difference between life and death!
Let me know if you have any questions or comments!
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