Boxing as a hobby

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rl692

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When I think of real boxing, and by real, I mean an actual boxing gym getting in your usual bag, double end, speed, etc and most importantly sparring, not nowadays doing boxing cardio classes hitting the bag and classifying yourself as "doing boxing". I think of boxing as a way of life not a hobby. If you want to get good, you need to factor not just all the hours put into the gym but also outside between the roadwork to improve your cardio. When you look at other arts like BJJ, many just do it as a hobby. People with careers, familys, heading over to the gym after work, if they can't make it, no biggie. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of BJJers who do it for a living. Boxing though, it seems you really need to put it at the top of your list if you want to get good. See that 12 year old in the ring looking sharp at a tournament? He's probably gotten 50 fights already. Now onto sort of main point, is boxing as a hobby and taking hits if you compete worth it if you have no aspirations for turning Pro?
 
If you enjoy doing something, do it. You're over thinking this.

Compare this to literally any other interest in the world. Hundreds of millions of people play football or judo or drink heavily with no intentions of doing it for a living, because they like doing so.
 
so are you saying you either you need to 100% commit and aim to go pro and make it your life, or just not bother?

but... but... i like boxing

the reality is for the majority of people, myself included, doing it "seriously" is probably not realistic. Bills have to be paid, kids have to be looked after, wives have to be placated, etc. etc. Doesn't mean you should stop. If you love something, you do it as much as you can - even if that is very limited. You can still get good at it if you put your time in, it'll just take longer. Will you be as good as a guy who trains all day every day, and lives it? no - but do you need to be to enjoy it?
 
Nah, training boxing can totally be a hobby. And not cardio boxing either, I mean real, honest-to-goodness boxing training alongside pros. An old coworker's husband used to train as a hobbyist at Wild Card, there's proof in the pudding right there.
 
It's worth it if you get something out of it for yourself, e.g in the form of increased self worth or self belief, fitness or entertainment, increased social circle etc, that's all, same for most people who box including those who choose to compete. Best bet is to try and see if it's having a positive impact on your life, and if it is then the time you're putting into it is worth it. If it's not then even if you could commit more hours it proably isn't for you.
 
I would say it's wiser to avoid or at least minimize sparring if you don't plan on going pro. Seems hard to justify the brain damage if you aren't getting paid for it.
 
rl692 said:
When I think of real boxing, and by real, I mean an actual boxing gym getting in your usual bag, double end, speed, etc and most importantly sparring, not nowadays doing boxing cardio classes hitting the bag and classifying yourself as "doing boxing". I think of boxing as a way of life not a hobby. If you want to get good, you need to factor not just all the hours put into the gym but also outside between the roadwork to improve your cardio. When you look at other arts like BJJ, many just do it as a hobby. People with careers, familys, heading over to the gym after work, if they can't make it, no biggie. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of BJJers who do it for a living. Boxing though, it seems you really need to put it at the top of your list if you want to get good. See that 12 year old in the ring looking sharp at a tournament? He's probably gotten 50 fights already. Now onto sort of main point, is boxing as a hobby and taking hits if you compete worth it if you have no aspirations for turning Pro?
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I don't know what planet you live on but that isn't happening unless it's mexico. No kid from a Western country is going to have 50 fights by age 12.

And to get good at BJJ you have to put in the hours. Do you have any idea how long it would take the average joe to get a blackbelt and how much time they would have to spend training? Obviously you don't. And if you think guys that compete in BJJ tournies don't put in the hours rolling? I've had far more injuries on the mat than from boxing training and that's just from rolling not even competing.

You most definitely can do boxing as a hobby and plenty do. I did it for quite a few years before the urge to test myself in the ring got the better of me. But even competing I still considered it a hobby. I had no need to fight and I was never going to be a world champion I just did it for the buzz.
 
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fluffball said:
If you enjoy doing something, do it. You're over thinking this.

Compare this to literally any other interest in the world. Hundreds of millions of people play football or judo or drink heavily with no intentions of doing it for a living, because they like doing so.
Click to expand...

First response nailed it. I enjoy boxing, I'm not very good at it, I'm not in very good shape and I don't plan on getting very serious about it any time soon. Its just fun
 
It depends on what you mean by "get good".

If having an amateur fight (or even an exhibition bout) is good for you, then yes boxing can be a hobby.

If you want to be a decent amateur then boxing can still be a hobby (I used to train for 10 hours a week when I was gearing up for fights which is still less than the hours of an average part time job).

Obviously if you want to be a world champion, then you pretty much have to start young and focus your life around it. That is the same for every combat sport though - DC was a little boy when he started wrestling, Ronda was 8 when she first started judo etc.
 
I work a regular job, have other activities and interests and I simply train 2 hours a night 3 nights a week at my boxing gym. I do the drills, bag work, occasional sparring. I consider it a hobby, I have no aspirations of becoming a talented amateur I just do it to get better fitness and sharpen skills.
 
I'm not sure why anyone is responding, TS just had the whole argument in his OP.
 
You are focusing on the end when in your case you have stated it is about the journey. Just start.
 
rl692 said:
He's probably gotten 50 fights already. Now onto sort of main point, is boxing as a hobby and taking hits if you compete worth it if you have no aspirations for turning Pro?
Click to expand...

Only I can decide if something is worth it to me or not. Can't let other people answer those kinds of questions.
 
I guess you guys are right lol.


Just from my time in a boxing gym, it also seems as if the trainers don't really care much for you unless you have high aspirations on making it far in amateurs or turn pro.
 
rl692 said:
Just from my time in a boxing gym, it also seems as if the trainers don't really care much for you unless you have high aspirations on making it far in amateurs or turn pro.
Click to expand...


There's ways to change that.


Hint:

It looks like an "S" shape with one or two lines running down the center
 
rl692 said:
I guess you guys are right lol.


Just from my time in a boxing gym, it also seems as if the trainers don't really care much for you unless you have high aspirations on making it far in amateurs or turn pro.
Click to expand...

Well I just went to a boxing gym for the first time ever (I'm 34 and fairly overweight) and I get good attention from the trainers. It's only a boxing circuit but they do come around to help with technique etc and generally give me some attention, and I'm really enjoying it.
 
There are no rules so everybody should get what they need. Roadwork is not necessary if you are just playing.

HOWEVER, if you decide to compete in a match then you better make sure you train to fight a beast who is way over your level. The workouts are great but getting hit is serious. Always think worst case when it comes to fighing. THat means imagine those lambs set up to fight Mike Tyson in the early/mid 80s before he got his reputation locally. THey thought they could play too. If you decide to fight, train with the idea that every second will require you to be precise and a beast.
 
ahheadlock said:
so are you saying you either you need to 100% commit and aim to go pro and make it your life, or just not bother?

but... but... i like boxing

the reality is for the majority of people, myself included, doing it "seriously" is probably not realistic. Bills have to be paid, kids have to be looked after, wives have to be placated, etc. etc. Doesn't mean you should stop. If you love something, you do it as much as you can - even if that is very limited. You can still get good at it if you put your time in, it'll just take longer. Will you be as good as a guy who trains all day every day, and lives it? no - but do you need to be to enjoy it?
Click to expand...

Nice answer, nice AV
 
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