Benefits of Boxing

Boxing might have a bad rep due to once being a sport that included killing off one of the opponents, but a lot has changed since then! It's also very different from mixed martial arts, or MMA. To win a match, fighters must spend countless hours training not only their bodies but their minds if they want to come out on top as the champion. Training can be brutal, but the outcome is great. Here are some of the benefits found from boxing fitness classes when you train like a pro!

Weight Loss‍

If you are looking to lose a few pounds, then boxing is a great option for you to improve your fitness levels by leaps and bounds! Not only will you find that you can burn over 500 calories per class, but your body will continue to burn calories throughout the day because of its high-intensity nature!

HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training and is one of the best techniques used today to help turn your body into a fat-burning machine! HIIT consists of giving it your all with maximum effort through an intense and quick burst of exercise. It is then followed by a short but moderately active recovery period. This technique is really effective because it increases the body’s need for oxygen when you are pushing yourself, thus creating an oxygen shortage. When you deprive your body of oxygen, it needs to then rebuild itself to bring those oxygen levels back to normal. This is known as the after-burn effect. The body is forced to work much harder to replenish oxygen levels, burning calories up to 24 hours post-workout.

So, if after a challenging high-intensity boxing workout you want to sit on the couch and binge-watch your favorite shows while still burning calories – you can! Boxing is not only a great way to get strong, but it will also help you to burn fat to support healthy weight loss.

Heart Health

Did you know that the number one cause of death in the United States is due to heart disease? We are given one body with one heart to protect. Knowing that heart disease is on the rise, don’t you think taking care of your heart is important? Boxing is not only a great way to build strength, but it is also an amazing way to improve your overall cardiovascular health!

The whole purpose of cardio is to place a moderate amount of stress on your lungs and heart. By doing this through exercise, you are challenging them to make beneficial physiological adaptations to support the higher level of physical activity. This can help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, strengthen blood vessels, and improve the flow of oxygen throughout the body which will help your heart to get strong. If you are new to boxing, be prepared to always be moving as it is an incredible form of aerobic exercise!

Mental Health

One of the best benefits that many people experience from boxing is the effect it has on mental health. Boxing is a full-contact combat sport. Although it might be considered quite brutal to some, the spirit of boxing is freedom, strength, and good health! For many, boxing is a path to self-discovery with the perfectly sculpted abs being just a bonus! Boxing helps to open your mind to possibilities, teaches you to never give up, and always push forward.

Boxing is also a great way to alleviate stress! Like we mentioned earlier, boxing is a HIIT workout. This means that when you are pushing yourself and giving your workout 100% with your cardio & punching, you will notice that you do not have much mental power left to worry or think about whatever was causing you stress in the first place!

Muscle Strength‍

Okay, so we now know boxing is a great way to torch fat and help with heart and mental health, but what about muscle strength? Great question! Boxing improves overall fitness by incorporating both cardio and strength into each workout, sculpting every muscle in the body. Boxing is a full-body workout. Some of the muscles that you will strengthen through boxing are:

• Core – your core is one of the most vital muscles in your body, keeping you stable and balanced. With every punch that you throw in boxing, your core will engage because it is what transfers power to your arms!
• Arms – boxing is a great choice for those looking to strengthen their arms because it works out both major muscles: triceps and biceps. Your triceps sit on the bottom portion of your arm and are used to extend the elbow, helping each punch to land on its target. The bicep sits on the top of your arm and ignites each time you throw a hook or uppercut.
• Legs – all power comes from the ground up making your legs one of the most important muscles that you will strengthen from a boxing workout! Your legs are responsible for pushing off the ground to generate power throughout your entire body. This is why all proper punches are typically thrown with the legs pivoting and rotating. The two largest muscles in your legs that are specifically used in boxing are the quads and calf muscles.
• Shoulders – when your arms get tired, it is typically always felt in your shoulders first, making it incredibly important to strengthen. All of the power that you develop from your legs and core need to be filtered through the shoulder joint to help you to throw a strong punch. If your shoulder muscles are weak, you will not only throw a weak jab, but you also will not be able to hold your hands up to your face properly to protect yourself. This will leave you vulnerable to your opponent.

Gone are the days where it was once considered a sport meant only for the beasts of men in the world - boxing has come such a long way since then! It is not only an incredible sport loved by many, but it is also a really great workout and a proven self defense method. If you are someone looking to spice your exercise routine while improving your overall health, then we highly recommend giving Legends Boxing a try – with a great location in Cottonwood Heights, we know you will not regret it!