So here's my story - I am 5'8" and I weigh 127 lbs (9-10% bodyfat). I am comfortable and healthy at this weight but I look very skinny. I am interested in gaining muscle and strength - muscle for aesthetics and strength for boxing. I'm 20 so this is still my peak growing time, I don't want to lose out on a chance to put on some muscle easier now than I could at age 30 etc.

I have a copy of Infinite Intensity by Ross Enamit and in the book Ross talks about how boxers should focus on gaining strength and not muscle as muscle can cause restrictions and some guys are not meant to fight at certain weights. For example, Felix Trinidad fought at middleweight and was being called a blown up welterweight. So do you guys think it's a bad idea to bulk up in muscle? Ross provides a proper way to build muscle if moving up in weight. I was thinking of probably bulking up to 140 lbs and then that would enable me to fight at 132.

So here's my story - I am 5'8" and I weigh 127 lbs (9-10% bodyfat). I am comfortable and healthy at this weight but I look very skinny. I am interested in gaining muscle and strength - muscle for aesthetics and strength for boxing. I'm 20 so this is still my peak growing time, I don't want to lose out on a chance to put on some muscle easier now than I could at age 30 etc.

I have a copy of Infinite Intensity by Ross Enamit and in the book Ross talks about how boxers should focus on gaining strength and not muscle as muscle can cause restrictions and some guys are not meant to fight at certain weights. For example, Felix Trinidad fought at middleweight and was being called a blown up welterweight. So do you guys think it's a bad idea to bulk up in muscle? Ross provides a proper way to build muscle if moving up in weight. I was thinking of probably bulking up to 140 lbs and then that would enable me to fight at 132.

well to start 132 is the limit, if you were 140 you would fight at the 141 class

you are a good height for that weight, lose 2 pounds and you could fight at 125, or if you could manage it, down to 119 (although you dont really need to cut lots of weight for ya first few fights) and would be a good height for that weight, if you wanna gain strength do a ton of bodyweight exercises such as push ups chin ups dips etc these wont make you put on weight

Yah I understand, I am saying that I would bulk up to 140 and then cut down to 132 for fights. I guess my main concern is, do you guys thinking gaining muscle will hinder my boxing performance?

Lean muscle is good. Bulky muscle is bad.

The more bulk, the more fat....in the long run.

IMO...if you're gonna lift weights, less weight more reps to get hella toned.

10% body fat is good...but technically 13% is ideal especially for people who burn a lot of calories like us.

Yah, I was thinking of following this idea:

http://www.rosstraining.com/articles/hardcore.html

Ross talks about how he put on mass while improving his strength and fitness.

well I weigh about 140lbs at this time I have never lifted weights before and I look pretty good, hitting the heavy bag has left me toned I wouldnt suggest you lift weights man...it will take away some speed. The only thing close to lifting weights is shadow boxing with 2lb weights in my hand, they tone you up a little and increase your speed pretty good. NO HEAVY LIFTING DUDE!

Well I can see how bodybuilding can be detrimental to a fighter because you're packing on mass w/o helping your tendons and joints strengthen at the same time which can cause injury. I'm just talking about putting on some lean muscle to improve my asthetics...it can kind of get annoying looking like a 13 year old when you're 20.

Just do push-up and pull-up variations, and dips. Much more convenient and won't get you all bulky as might be the case with heavy lifting. You'll gain strength as well.

Look at gymnasts. As far as I know, they don't lift weights, and are probably some of the strongest athletes simply from the many different bodyweight exercises they do.

Just do push-up and pull-up variations, and dips. Much more convenient and won't get you all bulky as might be the case with heavy lifting. You'll gain strength as well.

Look at gymnasts. As far as I know, they don't lift weights, and are probably some of the strongest athletes simply from the many different bodyweight exercises they do.

Most professional athletes these days lift weight. But the term "lift weights" has a bad connotation for some people, mostly in boxing, because they associate lifting weights to becomming big, bulky body builders. But body builders become like that because thats all they do.

So lets call it "strenght conditioning". Personally i do "strenght conditioning" only to gain strenghts. This includes: weight lifting, resistance exercises/ plyometrics. The weight exercise are kept only to gain physical strenght.

My dead weight exercise consist of: Bench press, curls, squats, overhead press, shoulder shrugs, dead lifts and a couple more i don't know the name of. Once a week, high weight, low reps.

I do plyometrics twice a week. This includes: Clap push ups, pull ups, Medicine ball slams, medicine ball throws. Sledge hammer + tire and plyometric jumps.

Mentioning this, i train boxing 5 days a week and add my plyometric drills two of those days. The only days i don't train boxing at all are friday which is the day i do my lifting and saturday, which is my day off.

I can honestly say that the dead weights help me just as much as the plyometrics. I eat good, lots of protein but no protein shakes or any of that bodybuilding powders garbage. Of course i gained a bit of muscle in the first year but at this point i keep getting stronger but i don't get much bigger.

The saying that lifting weights is totally bad for boxing is still perpetuated by people who have no idea what they are talking about. Of course if you start lifting weight like a moron and completly forget about boxing it won't do you any good.

My two cents.

If pro's do weights they always do them light in similar reps/sets to what they do in calisthenics. TBH when starting out as a fighter you want to be as lean as possible so you are fighting smaller guys with your maximum power. If you move up in weight divisions before oyu have even started, you mgiht be dealing with bigger stornger guys earlier than you should and for no reason! Stay lean and fast and as LIGHT as possible!

Thanks guys, Equilibrium and JCC gave me some solid answers as did the rest of you. I think I will lift for strength - I'm sure some muscle mass will be gained in this process, but probably not that much as opposed to doing bodybuilding. I'm going to follow some of the workouts in Infinite Intensity. Even if I do gain a little more mass I think it should be easy for me to cut, I have a fast metabolism and I burn weight quickly. 125 is a good weight for me, I feel fast and light on my feet not to mention I have an excellent reach and height advantage over my opponents.

Thanks guys, Equilibrium and JCC gave me some solid answers as did the rest of you. I think I will lift for strength - I'm sure some muscle mass will be gained in this process, but probably not that much as opposed to doing bodybuilding. I'm going to follow some of the workouts in Infinite Intensity. Even if I do gain a little more mass I think it should be easy for me to cut, I have a fast metabolism and I burn weight quickly. 125 is a good weight for me, I feel fast and light on my feet not to mention I have an excellent reach and height advantage over my opponents.

I would suggest getting some medecine balls too. A heavy one for slamming and a light one for throws. These will develop explosive power, which is needed for boxing.

Slamming is basically this: Start with the ball behind/over your head. Hold it with both hands and slam it to the ground, catch it as it bounces. Rince and repeat. Do sets of 20-40.

Medecine ball throws: You need a lighter ball, you need to be able to hold it with one hand, so about 4-6 pounds. you place yourself in your boxing stance and throw the ball in a punching motion with your back hand. You can throw it at a wall, but personally i throw it at the heavybag. Then you switch to soutpaw and do the same with your left.

I got this from this article on rossboxing.com, been doing it for over a year and it's great.:

http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym/thegym25.htm

I suggest you check that site out for other articles too. That guy really has some great tips.

Cheers!

To gain strength without entering the hypertrophy range do 5-6 rep max weight for 3/4 sets of 4 reps. Gaining weight has everything to do with eating, so keep account of your calorie intake. Body weight exercises are not the end all for fitness for boxers, for you to improve your power you first need to improve strength otherwise plyo work is next to pointless, especially in the arms.

most Professional Athletes These Days Lift Weight. But The Term "lift Weights" Has A Bad Connotation For Some People, Mostly In Boxing, Because They Associate Lifting Weights To Becomming Big, Bulky Body Builders. But Body Builders Become Like That Because Thats All They Do.

So Lets Call It "strenght Conditioning". Personally I Do "strenght Conditioning" Only To Gain Strenghts. This Includes: Weight Lifting, Resistance Exercises/ Plyometrics. The Weight Exercise Are Kept Only To Gain Physical Strenght.

My Dead Weight Exercise Consist Of: Bench Press, Curls, Squats, Overhead Press, Shoulder Shrugs, Dead Lifts And A Couple More I Don't Know The Name Of. Once A Week, High Weight, Low Reps.

I Do Plyometrics Twice A Week. This Includes: Clap Push Ups, Pull Ups, Medicine Ball Slams, Medicine Ball Throws. Sledge Hammer + Tire And Plyometric Jumps.

Mentioning This, I Train Boxing 5 Days A Week And Add My Plyometric Drills Two Of Those Days. The Only Days I Don't Train Boxing At All Are Friday Which Is The Day I Do My Lifting And Saturday, Which Is My Day Off.

I Can Honestly Say That The Dead Weights Help Me Just As Much As The Plyometrics. I Eat Good, Lots Of Protein But No Protein Shakes Or Any Of That Bodybuilding Powders Garbage. Of Course I Gained A Bit Of Muscle In The First Year But At This Point I Keep Getting Stronger But I Don't Get Much Bigger.

The Saying That Lifting Weights Is Totally Bad For Boxing Is Still Perpetuated By People Who Have No Idea What They Are Talking About. Of Course If You Start Lifting Weight Like A Moron And Completly Forget About Boxing It Won't Do You Any Good.

My Two Cents.


Thread Starter, Lisen To This Guy, He Is Right In Everything He Says Dont Lisen To The Freaks Saying It Will Make You Bulky, Bulky People Eat Like Horse's And All They Do Is Weights And It Takes Years Of Dedication, Using A Heavy Object To Apply Some Resistance To Your Arms Will Of Course Make You Stronger

Well I can see how bodybuilding can be detrimental to a fighter because you're packing on mass w/o helping your tendons and joints strengthen at the same time which can cause injury. I'm just talking about putting on some lean muscle to improve my asthetics...it can kind of get annoying looking like a 13 year old when you're 20.

If you want to build up do it on the off season. Just find a basic core strength program such as this one http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=998224 which is actually originally for strength training, this will only do positive for you regardless of if you want to increase in size or not.
To increase in size you need to EAT! more calories in than out, around .8-1 gm of protein per pound and decent amout of carbs and fat. If you do the above program and not eat enough you will still get strong, just no real increase in bulk or weight.

Or you could do a program from Ross training and just increase your calories, make sure you dont too too much cardio and you will still grow. Depends on what is more important to you really.

It is very tough to train to gain muscle and train for boxing at the same time. You need to lift heavy to gain muscle, which means your body will always be sore and torn up, assuming that you will need to max out each lifting session to grow your muscles. This also means that you need a longer recovery time.

I train at my boxing gym 3 times a week, and lift twice a week. I do light cardio and stretching on a weekend. Sometimes when I lift heavy, my training at the gym is affected because my muscles are all torn up and sore, my range of motion becomes limited.

I suggest that if you are training to gain muscle, make sure you do your heaviest set 2-3 days prior to your boxing training if possible so you have enough time to recover. I eat a lot of natural protein sources like dairy and meats, and I also take a half serving of creatine after I lift. Creatine helps your muscles recover, but do not take too much of it because creatine retains water, which will make you gain water weight. Take a daily multivitamin or eat a banana to help you get some Potassium back in your body.