The Advantages of Boxing over Street Fighting?

[Hannibal Barca]

I've always been a fan of boxing, and though I've sorely wanted to, I've never had the opportunity to train in the disciplines of boxing. I grew up in Kansas City, MO, one of the worst cities in the nation in terms of recorded violent crimes. As such, I stayed in areas plagued with violence, whether it be gang or otherwise. Though I've never been "weak", or a "*****", I've never learned how to properly defend myself.

With that said, I'm now 18, and I've since commuted to Dallas. I'm an African American male, about 5'7, 145 lbs. I've found a local gym, and I'm interested in taking classes. My question is, are taking classes actually worth it? Will learning the art of boxing be an effective way of not only getting in shape, but teaching me how to properly defend myself? Also, am I too old to get into boxing now, and or should I pursue another discipline, along the lines of a martial art? And as the title says, what are the advantages of knowing how to box when in a street fight.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Here's a link to the gym.

http://www.barneyandmegym.com/

[GT-R]

buy a gun.

[Hannibal Barca]

buy a gun.

Who said anything about needing heat?

[2501]

I know MMA vs. Boxing threads are redundant. Especially in a forum where there are more fans of one sport than other. There is truly no objective discussion in a situation like this. So I will try to offer my best objective perspective about THIS aspect of the MMA vs. Boxing debate as a hardcore boxing fan.

We've all been in fights (except that one poster who said a street fight was just like an actual boxing match and because of that Floyd would destroy Manny in a street fight). Through out the majority of my life living in Houston, Mid and South Texas, Mexico, I SELDOM ever took part in a one on one street fight. SELDOM. The majority of the STREET fights Ive been in have involved 3 or more people. Why? Because when you're out and about, you're with a group. One dude talks ****, another responds, everyone gets hyped, someone throws a punch and all hell breaks lose. It was like that in school, too. Now, you have to ask yourself. Where are you most likely to be in a street fight?

Once you become of drinking age, the majority of you who actually have a life outside of boxingscene and the internet go out to clubs and bars. Tell me how many one on one situations you've been in there? What world do you live in where some **** pops off and everyone makes a circle and you're solo with homeboy? NO WORLD.

How is this pertinent to the topic?

When you're in an environment where there are multiple people engaging in a brawl, are you REALLY going to put someone in a triangle choke? are you REALLY going to try to do an ARMBAR on someone? If motha****ers are BRAWLING all around you? ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO TRY TO GROUND POUND? WRESTLE ON THE FLOOR? NO! you'll get your **** KICKED IN by the friends of the guy you're trying to make tap out.

Grappling, Brazilian Jujitsu, wrestling is almost useless in a TYPICAL, AVERAGE, REAL LIFE street fight situation. The fact of the matter is, the fastest way to a KO, the fastest way to hurt someone is with a PUNCH

I would rather be in a group of BOXERS in downtown Austin than a group of MMA fighters because Boxers are more effective at striking then an MMA fighter is. They can end the fight faster.

tell me how a ****en triangle choke would be helpful in this situation?




I mean, cmon, you guys have seen the examples..

Boxer
by warriorelite

But if I wanna be real about it? Real real? Kickboxing > Boxing in a streetfight situation

....................

[Chups]

I've always been a fan of boxing.

So sad for you coz boxers are cheaters who don't do OST. Why watch a sport full of cheaters? (except for maybe 2, May and Mosley)

[Tamis!]

Training for boxing for protection for streetfights? Not a good idea of shoulder rollin' with a punk arse trying to hit you. And most of all, not a perfect mix for self defense=sweet science.

Taekwondo, aikido, jiujitsu, muay thai are better IMHO.

[shadeyfizzle]

Any type of training is better than nothing. More specifically though there are 2 advantages of boxing over street fighting:

1)Conditioning = even the average person who is in decent shape will gas after throwing a couple of combinations

2)Muscle memory = the average person would wind up their punches from a mile away and swing for the fences. having training would allow you to react with proper form on instinct without thought process.

There are 2 giant disadvantages of boxing over street fighting however:

1)Boxing by concept is 1on1 = Hardly ever will a street fight be so simple as mono y mono. It will not teach you how to defend yourself against multiple attackers as several martial arts would

2)In a streetfight anything goes = On the streets almost anything can be used as a weapon. Martial arts training would give you the muscle memory to react on instinct for the unexpected. everything from your opponent throwing dirt at your eyes, sense someone trying to jump you from behind, someone pulling a knife or weapon on you.


So it truly depends on the goal you have set for yourself personally and are trying to accomplish.

[Walt Liquor]

i love when people think they are going to take people to the ground in street fighting...do that and you're wide open to get ko'd. you better stay on your feet and keep your head on a swivel...

[Walt Liquor]

Any type of training is better than nothing. More specifically though there are 2 advantages of boxing over street fighting:

1)Conditioning = even the average person who is in decent shape will gas after throwing a couple of combinations

2)Muscle memory = the average person would wind up their punches from a mile away and swing for the fences. having training would allow you to react with proper form on instinct without thought process.

There are 2 giant disadvantages of boxing over street fighting however:

1)Boxing by concept is 1on1 = Hardly ever will a street fight be so simple as mono y mono. It will not teach you how to defend yourself against multiple attackers as several martial arts would

2)In a streetfight anything goes = On the streets almost anything can be used as a weapon. Martial arts training would give you the muscle memory to react on instinct for the unexpected. everything from your opponent throwing dirt at your eyes, sense someone trying to jump you from behind, someone pulling a knife or weapon on you.


So it truly depends on the goal you have set for yourself personally and are trying to accomplish.

good post........

[S.G.]

I always consider boxing as more of a sport than the likes of muay thai, jiujitsu, etc. which have more relevence to actual street fighting.

I mean, practicing boxing will toughen you up an incredible amount (you'd be surprised by how few people actually know how to throw a punch properly) but if you're planning on like becoming a masked vigilante or something you're probably better off mixing it up a bit.