Starting to Box

[Stromprophet]

I'm new to the forum and I am also just starting to box.

I have not really even started, I have just been trying to maintain a work out schedule and a healthy diet for the most part.

Though my work out did include jump rope and lots of heavy bag practice. I tried to practice on the bag by also keeping myself moving (to work on foot-work) and practice technique while punching.

I have been working a lot lately (at my real job) and I also lived in 2 cities until just recently.

I live in the Lafayette, Indiana area and I was wondering if anyone knows any good gyms in the area or any local trainers?

I really think I need a good trainer. I know a lot of stuff about boxing, I like learning about it, but I think I need to put it into action to really know what I am doing.

I have a few things I was wondering if I could get help on.

1) I'm about 158 walking weight, I still have some fat I believe, even though I am 5'10 1/2 and that is within the weight range for that height, would it be possible to get to 140 without draining myself too much or causing to much harm to my health?

2) I am trying to decide on some good heavy bag gloves. I like everlast, but bought some of their gel-wrap gloves and wore them out in 2 months hitting the heavy bag. I don't know if they should be 16oz, 14oz, 12oz, etc.

3) Does everyone wear wrist wraps when they hit the heavy bag? My gel-wraps have wrist straps, but I find I hit the bag hard enough to still make my wrists a little uneasy. (Such that I can't push too hard on weights or I may injure my wrist ligiments)

4) I think I have a bad knee, I know not to run on pavement, but I think even running on grass or a treadmill it may bother me. Any recommendations? (I have a knee brace that helps, to me I get the most endurance when I work the heavy bag, that's when I get the most tired, but I need to build lung capacity)

5) How much is acceptable to pay for a trainer? I have heard anywhere from 15$ and hour to 90$ an hour.

6) I just turned 25, is it too late to get into this seriously? I want to get sparring and in amatuer boughts as soon as possible, but I want to at least have 1 pro fight to really decide if I can go through this.

7) Here is my daily diet, and has been for some months (occasionally I eat restaurant meals on the weekend, 1 or 2)

Apples, Carrots, Bannana, Breakfast Cereal, Salad, low-fat yogurt (though it has some sugars (6g I think)), Mangos, Turkey sandwhich with wheat bread - cheese, 1 burrito (has a lot of protien, but also high in sodium, though not over my daily allowable limit), fat free pringles, fat free rice cakes. Usually some milk everyday.

I usually eat maybe 2,000 calories, possible a little more if I snack. I worked out about 4 times a week on average for about maybe 4 months (I took last month off), I noticed some diffinent improvement all around, however, I still think I have some gut (at 158 I don't see how, but it looks like it to me), I can see some of my 6-pack but not the full definition I would like.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[KingDosia]

I'm new to the forum and I am also just starting to box.

I have not really even started, I have just been trying to maintain a work out schedule and a healthy diet for the most part.

Though my work out did include jump rope and lots of heavy bag practice. I tried to practice on the bag by also keeping myself moving (to work on foot-work) and practice technique while punching.

I have been working a lot lately (at my real job) and I also lived in 2 cities until just recently.

I live in the Lafayette, Indiana area and I was wondering if anyone knows any good gyms in the area or any local trainers?

I really think I need a good trainer. I know a lot of stuff about boxing, I like learning about it, but I think I need to put it into action to really know what I am doing.

I have a few things I was wondering if I could get help on.

1) I'm about 158 walking weight, I still have some fat I believe, even though I am 5'10 1/2 and that is within the weight range for that height, would it be possible to get to 140 without draining myself too much or causing to much harm to my health?

2) I am trying to decide on some good heavy bag gloves. I like everlast, but bought some of their gel-wrap gloves and wore them out in 2 months hitting the heavy bag. I don't know if they should be 16oz, 14oz, 12oz, etc.

3) Does everyone wear wrist wraps when they hit the heavy bag? My gel-wraps have wrist straps, but I find I hit the bag hard enough to still make my wrists a little uneasy. (Such that I can't push too hard on weights or I may injure my wrist ligiments)

4) I think I have a bad knee, I know not to run on pavement, but I think even running on grass or a treadmill it may bother me. Any recommendations? (I have a knee brace that helps, to me I get the most endurance when I work the heavy bag, that's when I get the most tired, but I need to build lung capacity)

5) How much is acceptable to pay for a trainer? I have heard anywhere from 15$ and hour to 90$ an hour.

6) I just turned 25, is it too late to get into this seriously? I want to get sparring and in amatuer boughts as soon as possible, but I want to at least have 1 pro fight to really decide if I can go through this.

7) Here is my daily diet, and has been for some months (occasionally I eat restaurant meals on the weekend, 1 or 2)

Apples, Carrots, Bannana, Breakfast Cereal, Salad, low-fat yogurt (though it has some sugars (6g I think)), Mangos, Turkey sandwhich with wheat bread - cheese, 1 burrito (has a lot of protien, but also high in sodium, though not over my daily allowable limit), fat free pringles, fat free rice cakes. Usually some milk everyday.

I usually eat maybe 2,000 calories, possible a little more if I snack. I worked out about 4 times a week on average for about maybe 4 months (I took last month off), I noticed some diffinent improvement all around, however, I still think I have some gut (at 158 I don't see how, but it looks like it to me), I can see some of my 6-pack but not the full definition I would like.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

You are new and not sure you want to go through with this boxing thing. I hate to hear somebody say somthing like they want one pro fight to see if they want it or not, because you have to want it like no other just to get to that first pro-fight. It takes time. and a lot of training. Some trainers will wait as long as a year to let their guys start sparing insisting on perfection of there style and technique before that step comes. 25 is an over ripe age to start. by about 12-15 yrs. Not to discourage you. I'd tell any body within good health to try it if they love it. You just have a lot to learn in a short amount of time.
yoiur q's
1) If you are in good shape at 158 with your heigth I'd say stay around middle weight 155 max. not lower than 145. You don't need to kill yourself getting down to the 140's
2) Youre glove. abandon the heavy bag until you get a trainer! I'm serious one of the worst mistakes people make is training on there own with a heavy bag or a w/a friend. bad habits set in stone it seems. You are going to need a good set of training gloves. You don't need multiple sets for the bags and sparing etc. One good pair will do right now. If you go Everlast you'll need the good ones. no 19-40$ pairs you can find in any sporting good store. a nice pair will run you 79-100 you need real leather. And good padding for the knuckles and wrist I like Title's and the Cleto Reyes gloves.
3) you need to wrap your hands. don't get the short Cheap everlast ones "you see a pattern here co's like Everlast's bread and butter is selling cheap garbage at high volume. They need to be long and somewhat elastic. Once again I use Title "I get a discount on Title stuff because of a contract I have with them" I think they are 180" You need to learn a good way to wrap up to. there are several ways to do it. "a trainer can help you"
4) Your knee is gonna be tested. There is a ton of cardio, endurance and strength training you are gonna need to do. check out http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=91152
it's a sample of what I do. Forget my weight training routine. thats somthing that is fighter specific. just take in everything else that is going on. Youre knee is going to hate u
5) I pay 44$ an hour for my one on one sessions. 40$ a month for gym membership, and use it every day multiple times. My trainer is good 25+ yrs experience with some amateur natl champs and several pro fighters
6) If you train hard take a lot of fights "and win of course" youre age will be ok. don't focus to much on that.
7) You need high protien for muscle recovery. Low fat intake aside from essential fatty acids. 2000 calories would depend on the depth of your training really get rid of processed food go all natural. is my advice. Sodium is frowned upon as well, Need to abandon dyarhedics, You can dehydrate quickly doing this

Do you have the heart for this? I'm up at 3:30am every day doing roadwork,most peoples idea of roadwork is wrong, Here sprints are more beneficial then long distance running. I am in the gym by 6am. I then go to work and return to the gym that evening for skills training. Not every program is like mine. I'm sure I don't have the perfect routine. Not many chalange it aside from my weightlifting rouitine. But there is no one answere to this thing. everybody is different. I hope I helped you out. Good luck

[Stromprophet]

That is all very good information.

I work pretty hard at my job, so the kind of schedule you describe would be impossible during the week.

As far as heart I know I have it, and I know I love boxing.

1) Is there any good online instructional information for wraping wrists, proper punching, etc. Things I could look at before I go to a gym and look like a jack***.

2) I consider myself to be pretty intelligent, it's making my body work in concert with my brain that I am working on. Which, is why I think I like the sweet science so much. The art of hitting without being hit.

3) I learn a lot by listening to various experts about fundamentals, and just various all around information. I've read a lot of stuff from Emanual Steward who would have to be my favorite trainer.

[tebe6sm]

Here's some info on boxing gyms in Indiana:

http://www.boxinggyms.com/addresses/indiana.htm

[KingDosia]

That is all very good information.

I work pretty hard at my job, so the kind of schedule you describe would be impossible during the week.

As far as heart I know I have it, and I know I love boxing.

1) Is there any good online instructional information for wraping wrists, proper punching, etc. Things I could look at before I go to a gym and look like a jack***.

2) I consider myself to be pretty intelligent, it's making my body work in concert with my brain that I am working on. Which, is why I think I like the sweet science so much. The art of hitting without being hit.

3) I learn a lot by listening to various experts about fundamentals, and just various all around information. I've read a lot of stuff from Emanual Steward who would have to be my favorite trainer.

I IMAGINE YOU HAVE YOUR MIND MADE UP. YOU HAVE TO MAKE TIME FOR THE TRAINING. OR MAKE TIME FOR LOSING. THATS THE FACT. THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN APPONENT WITH EQUAL SKILLS. EVEN IF PHENOMINAL, IN THAT CASE THE WINNER WILL BE THE STRONGER BETTER CONDITIONED FIGHTER. BOTH IN BODY AND MIND. IT'S ONE THING TO BE INTELIGENT. BUT YOUIR MIND CAN PLAY TRICKS ON YOU WHEN FIGHTING. YOUR BRAIN CAN COMPLETELY SHUT YOUR BODY DOWN IF IT THINKS IT IS HURT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE DRIVE AND WILL POWER IN THIS THAN ANYOTHER SPORT. HERE IS A GOOD LINK FOR THE HANDWRAPS WHILE YOU ARE OVER THERE CHECK OUT ANYTHING THEY HAVE http://www.boxinggyms.com/tips/wraps/ribbon/index.htm
THEY WILL ALSO LEAD YOU TO A GYM IN YOUR AREA. "CHECK EM ALL OUT TO SEE WHAT YOU LIKE, AND WHICH ONE EMPHASIZES SKILLS TRAINING FOR SOMEBODY OF YOUR BODY TYPE. TELL THEM YOU WANT TO COMPETE. AND NEED TO SPAR ASAP. YOU CAN'T RUSH THINGS BUT NEED TO ACCELERATE THE LEARNING PROCESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WHICH MEANS ANY FREE TIME YOU HAVE SHOULD BE SPENT ON SKILLS AND CONDITIONING. STRENGTH CAN BE WORKED ON OVER TIME. BUT YOU ABSOLUTLY NEED THE ENDURANCE TO TRAIN FOR LONG SESSIONS. YOU NEED TO DO EXTRA BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE. "EXTRA EVERYTHING" COMPARED TO WHAT THE 13-15 YR OLDS START OUT DOING.
OH YEAH WHEN WATCHING FIGHTS DON'T TAKE WHAT ANOUNCERS AND EVEN SOME OF THE TRAINER / ANOUNCER GUYS ARE SAYING AS BEING GOSPEL IT'S A JOB TO THEM NOW AND NOT THE LOVE THEY ONCE HAD. TEDDY ATLAS AND EMANUAL STEWART ARE GREAT AS TRAINERS, BUT WHEN COMENTING A FIGHT EVEN THOSE GURU'S SEEM A LITTLE OFF KEY. THE ANOUNCERS, HOWEVER ARE 90% FULL OF B.S THEY ARE BASICLY REPORTERS. AND WE ALL KNOW HOW REPORTERS MAKE THE STORY UP SO WE ALL PAY ATTENTION. I WILL NOTE BOTH TEDDY AND EMANUAL HAVE A BOOKS WHICH ARE WORTH CHECKING OUT. BOOKS WILL NEVER EVER SUBSTITUTE A PERSONAL TRAINER. I MEAN NEVER. NOR WILL LISTENING TO MINE OR ANYBODY ELSES OPINION ON THIS OR ANYOTHER WEBSITE.
GOOD LUCK