Are You a Boxer?

Boxing is something just about anyone can do. Doesn't matter how old, how young, whether you are in shape or out. Even people with medical and other health limitations can often box on some level. It is something one can do at their own pace, with very little equipment. Training to box non-competitively is relatively safe - you don't put the repeated stress on your joints that you do from running, one bad rep can't result in a major injury like from weightlifting, very little risk of ligament damage that comes from many sports, etc. Now of course, if you box competitively in the ring with someone else, there are plenty of major risks that come with repeated head trauma. But being a boxer does NOT inherently mean that you box competitively.

It pretty much used to mean that though. Years ago, if you wanted to box, you most likely needed to find a boxing gym where you would eventually be expected to compete on some level. That has changed over time. The workout one can get from hitting the heavy bag and mitts is exceptional. In fact, sparring or even fighting professionally is not going to be as much as a workout as you will generally have to restrain yourself in some way, the duration is shorter, and you get significantly fewer reps. You will get extremely tired from boxing competitively, in a way like no other, but it is not because you are getting more of a workout. It's being more tense, getting hit, and the massive adrenaline dump that comes afterwards.

Eventually, more and more people decided that they loved the boxing workout but not necessarily getting punched (or punching someone). So now there are plenty of gyms across the country, including ours, where you can train how to box without competing. Good places, especially ours, will teach you everything about the boxing experience because we know that the more you know and understand about the sweet science, the better your skills and overall fitness level will get, whether or not you have any interest in ever setting foot in a ring.

So if you train in boxing but haven't fought in anyone, does that make you a boxer? The answer is.....100% yes!! Just like if you went out jogging a few times every week but never entered a race, you would still be a runner. But what if you do train boxing but aren't super serious about it, as others are? You are still a boxer! You may not think you are, but you are. You may say that you are not a particularly good at boxing but yes, you are still a boxer.

Sometimes I have heard people make the distinction that they are not a real boxer because they don't box professionally and to them, boxing carries with it that connotation. Maybe we are getting too deep into semantics but I myself would not use that verbiage. I would distinguish with the word "competitive" as I did earlier. So I would say that the person is indeed a real boxer, just not a competitive boxer. Or you could also distinguish with "fighter" as well. Fighters are those who compete. This might all seem insignificant but I believe there is more value to these little details than meets the eye/ear.

The only other physical activity I do besides boxing is swim. But only sometimes. Like I will swim for a few months to mix things up and give myself a good steady-state exercise that isn't running or biking. I'll go swim laps in the pool with these people who definitely have more experience than me and swimming clearly seems to be their thing. Some of them are older and even overweight yet still, they manage to swim significantly faster than me. And they don't appear to get tired either. They just go from one end of the pool and back, effortlessly gliding across the water like magical dolphins. Even though I know better, I still feel kind of bad sometimes. Why can't I swim faster than these people? I'm reasonably capable and know the basics "Oh well," I tell myself, "it's not a big deal because I am not a swimmer. I am a boxer." They wear swim caps and have equipment but me, I just show up in shorts and swim. We can't be compared.

While these things might be true, the problem with this kind of thinking is that it gives me an excuse not to be better. I don't have to worry as much about pushing myself to swim harder too much because I'm not a swimmer. Those other people are, so they are in their own little bubble I will never be a part of. Just as they most likely can't throw punches like I can.

But I can still be a better swimmer (or anything). And I should try to get better- always. Maybe I will never catch some of the dolphin people at the pool but I can edge closer. I can improve myself. My speed, my endurance, relative to just me. Anyone, and I do mean anyone (especially you) can do this with boxing too.

This does not mean, however, that we should always compare ourselves to others and feel bad when we don't match up. We just shouldn't let it be an excuse for us to not try as hard as we can. There is no ceiling for how good you can get. Does not matter who you are. Thinking that there is that ceiling will just hold us back and certainly not do us any good.

I think this happens more often with boxing too, since it carries with it more of a stereotype of what a boxer is. People think that of course they aren't a boxer, they don't look like a boxer, they don't want to fight anybody, they are just doing this for a workout, blah blah blah - just like the stuff I tell myself at the pool. That will hold you back too. Whether you box once a week and have some other, main things,  you are a still a boxer. You are also an athlete. Doesn't matter if you feel uncoordinated or out of shape, you are still an athlete. You must believe that you are. You must believe that you are a boxer. Don't let anyone, yourself very much included, tell you differently. This can change everything, despite being just words.

Of course we can't just do this on our own. We all need help - coaches and other people in our lives who can teach us how to get better and hopefully motivate us to do so. While we can lead you to the proverbial water though, we cannot make you drink. That last bit of effort has gotta come from you. And it starts with believing you can do it!