Boxing Fitness, A Knockout In Gyms!
Find out why Boxing fitness is taking the fitness world by storm, why it's catching on and who it's for and lastly, why this is great for the sport. We also tackle several common questions asked by those considering Boxing to stay fit.
Boxing Stats for the UK Summary
Our Sporting Life reports 775,000 people participated in Boxing in 2020. 400,000 were women from 2018-2019. There were 10.7 billion views on TikTok for #boxing. There also looked are regional searches which showed Liverpool and Leeds are the hotbed for boxing interest, and Birmingham had the most searches, with more than Leeds and Liverpool combined.
Statista.com reports that 493,400 participated in Boxing in 2021, but while the data might be accurate, the impact of lockdowns is evident it reduced participation significantly. Up to this point, popularity in Boxing had been climbing YoY, with 2020 being the most significant year to date (Period 2016-2021).
Data from Boxing England suggests that the popularity of Boxing is higher in more deprived areas, and this could be because of the lower costs for participation vs other sports.
While the data is unavailable for Boxing in 2022, we have reviewed the available data for 'gyms', which has exceeded the highs in 2020. It is, therefore, reasonably conclusive that we should expect the same occurrence in Boxing. But why is it popular, and how can Boxing help?
How good is Boxing for fitness?
Let's start by looking at how good Boxing is for fitness and its benefits.
It works for the following areas:
> Upper body, shoulders, chest and arms.
> Core, stomach and back muscles as you punch and brace.
> Legs, quads and calves as you move and pivot.
> Cadio, thanks to the intensity and movement frequency.
More can be found in our article How Effective is Boxing as a workout
What this means for your fitness
It means that you use many of the muscle groups during a workout, and importantly, this is typically in non-traditional ways, using parts of the muscles that are not commonly used in this way. The benefits of Boxing are high-calorie burn, muscle strengthening and toning, increased stamina and fast results.
Boxing has become popular in Gyms and Gym classes because it is ideal for lessons and gets results fast. Fast results for Gym goers are perfect as the results are the reward, which keeps them going. Boxing is a fantastic tool for general fitness and keeps the participant supple and enthused.
One of the more notable benefits of Boxing is that it is based on strategy and technique. Even in Boxing Fitness classes, Hook, Cross and Uppercut require some practice and technique. Add to this Boxing Equipment, and you have a highly enthused and highly engaged audience.
While some might say Boxing Fitness is not helpful to the sport, we might say differently and here's why.
Boxing fitness introduces people to the sport.
It can help feed their interest and bring them into a boxing club.
Being involved with Boxing fitness highlights the sport and increases its popularity benefiting professional sports.
Boxing Fitness is helping amateur fitness enthusiasts increase their general fitness and stamina.
According to Delrayboxing.com. The increased awareness around Boxing since 2020 has seen a surge in competitive Boxing and more joining the sport to become professional boxers. Additionally, they confirm that Boxing Gyms have become more popular, allowing more people to take up the sport and learn the fundamentals.
Why is Boxing better than lifting?
Depending on your fitness goals, suppose you want to improve your general fitness. In that case, Boxing is better than lifting because it provides more workouts for your muscles and increases your cardio output, contributing to a better sense of well-being and fitness. Lifting is a great sport to be involved with too. Boxing impacts more muscles and burns more calories, so it is growing in popularity worldwide.
Who is Boxing for?
If you only intend to train and not fight in the ring, then anyone with no apparent health conditions. If you are set on entering competitive fights, then you, your coach and a health professional should decide this based on your progress, health and stamina.
Why is my Boxing stamina so bad?
You may have had a trial session and thought you were fit; because you exercise, you may run. All of this will mean little for Boxing. While it helps if you have a good general fitness level before you start, it will still be challenging to have good stamina. The primary reason is that it is doubtful that you are used to using all of the muscles required for Boxing, and therefore, it will come as a shock when you start. It's like a 10k runner attempting a marathon, not implausible but only recommended with appropriate preparation and training. Even experienced runners must double or triple their activity over 3-4 months to prepare for a marathon.
How do you punch faster in Boxing?
If you've had a trial and found that punching as fast as others was more challenging, this is simply because of training. You must train your muscles to become fast, using explosive exercise. You can do this yourself at home by buying a punch bag. Mirafit sells a Free standing punch bag for home or garage use, perfect for training and speed work. It is around £139.95; you can get mits and speed ropes to complete your speed training equipment.
Why Boxing Fitness is excellent for the sport
That data suggests an apparent growth in the sport and that Boxing is an accessible sport for all levels of wealth, even in the poorest areas of the UK.
We have also explained how Boxing fitness is positively impacting general fitness. It is sparking interest in the sport, feeding the sport in the gyms and helping it gather momentum for professional support. It means that more people are entering the world of Boxing, raising the quality of fighters like never before. It is keeping the discipline and traditional boxing gym comradery alive. If you are interested in joining a Boxing Gym, find one near you that will let you come and trail a session or watch others doing their workouts to inspire your to get involved.
We hope this article has helped answer your question, and if you would like to read more articles like this, refer to our blog.