Corporate boxing. How to get fit enough in 2 months.
Discussion
Yes, yes - I know. Pugilism = council.
That dealt with, I have signed up for a charity boxing match on December 1st. Training starts in October and is held twice a week for 8 weeks - presumably to teach the standard moves and rules.
I'm not too unfit, and have been going to the gym at lunch 3 times a week for about 18 months, but probably need to shed about 3-5 kilos to be at my sveltest.... given that the match itself consists of 3 x 2 minute rounds, I'm guessing I'll need to work on:
Cardio (for stamina)
Diet (to lose the weight)
Strength
Giving up booze for 2 months
I'm 38 years old, 5' 10'', 77kg.
Any tips?
Ta,
Matt
That dealt with, I have signed up for a charity boxing match on December 1st. Training starts in October and is held twice a week for 8 weeks - presumably to teach the standard moves and rules.
I'm not too unfit, and have been going to the gym at lunch 3 times a week for about 18 months, but probably need to shed about 3-5 kilos to be at my sveltest.... given that the match itself consists of 3 x 2 minute rounds, I'm guessing I'll need to work on:
Cardio (for stamina)
Diet (to lose the weight)
Strength
Giving up booze for 2 months
I'm 38 years old, 5' 10'', 77kg.
Any tips?
Ta,
Matt
First up, boxing isn't "council"! Secondly, fair play for signing up to step the other side of the ropes 
I'm not a boxer, but I have sparred (with 12oz gloves) and all I'll say is that it's significantly more difficult than it looks (and I was in with a mate who, to be fair, wasn't looking to knock me out!). The biggest problems I found were trying to look around your gloves (they're massive) and even if you take punches to the gloves, it can still put you off your game when your own gloves hit you in the face. It is very, very different to sparring with an MMA grappling glove.
It'll be an anaerobic event and like the old saying goes "train how you'll race", so technique aside I'd concentrate on high intensity intervals building up to sustaining extreme efforts for the full 2 mins with 30s rest between intervals (x5). On the night I'll guess you'll have 1 minute between rounds, so in training make it harder for yourself.
Like most sports, you won't win it on the night, you'll win it between now and then. It's only 2 months out of your life - be disciplined, be consistent, don't skip sessions and work your ass off and most importantly listen to your boxing coaches!
Do all that and whatever happens come fight night, you'll have done yourself proud
Good luck and let us know how you're getting on!
I'm not a boxer, but I have sparred (with 12oz gloves) and all I'll say is that it's significantly more difficult than it looks (and I was in with a mate who, to be fair, wasn't looking to knock me out!). The biggest problems I found were trying to look around your gloves (they're massive) and even if you take punches to the gloves, it can still put you off your game when your own gloves hit you in the face. It is very, very different to sparring with an MMA grappling glove.
It'll be an anaerobic event and like the old saying goes "train how you'll race", so technique aside I'd concentrate on high intensity intervals building up to sustaining extreme efforts for the full 2 mins with 30s rest between intervals (x5). On the night I'll guess you'll have 1 minute between rounds, so in training make it harder for yourself.
Like most sports, you won't win it on the night, you'll win it between now and then. It's only 2 months out of your life - be disciplined, be consistent, don't skip sessions and work your ass off and most importantly listen to your boxing coaches!
Do all that and whatever happens come fight night, you'll have done yourself proud
Good luck and let us know how you're getting on!Can't argue about either of those two posts 
A massive amount of the energy you expend is actually your brain trying to cope with everything that is going on, as in 50% (broscience alert
).
As above, the less your brain has to focus on the boxing bit, the more energy you'll have for the movement bit.
Twice per week is no where near enough technical training. Get sparring as much as you can to reduce/eliminate the amount you turn your back, drop your hands and stand still.
You also need to get hit hard a few times as well. Sparring is great fun and you'll get buzzed a few times, but there is a very big difference between someone going 40% and someone trying to take your head off
Learn how to cover up properly. It's not complicated to get the basics of it right and once you realise that you can protect yourself effectively you will obsess less about being hit. Also realise that the best way of not getting hit is to keep hitting them
A massive amount of the energy you expend is actually your brain trying to cope with everything that is going on, as in 50% (broscience alert
).As above, the less your brain has to focus on the boxing bit, the more energy you'll have for the movement bit.
Twice per week is no where near enough technical training. Get sparring as much as you can to reduce/eliminate the amount you turn your back, drop your hands and stand still.
You also need to get hit hard a few times as well. Sparring is great fun and you'll get buzzed a few times, but there is a very big difference between someone going 40% and someone trying to take your head off
Learn how to cover up properly. It's not complicated to get the basics of it right and once you realise that you can protect yourself effectively you will obsess less about being hit. Also realise that the best way of not getting hit is to keep hitting them
You are not going to get “good” or even “ok” in two months.
I would buy a punch bag. The biggest obstacle is actually training the muscle memory to throw a punch when under pressure. It’s really hard. The only way around this is to literally throw thousands of pushes. Buy a punch bag, use it a lot (I wouldn’t even worry about being technical, I would just be looking at volume).
I would also be looking at shadow boxing, as much as you can fit in every day...muscle memory.
If you can get a floor to ceiling ball that’s great too, better is a mate to can hold pads for you.
For cardio, find a steep hill, jog to it, sprint up it, jog down it...repeat.
Also, as has been said, spar lots.
I would buy a punch bag. The biggest obstacle is actually training the muscle memory to throw a punch when under pressure. It’s really hard. The only way around this is to literally throw thousands of pushes. Buy a punch bag, use it a lot (I wouldn’t even worry about being technical, I would just be looking at volume).
I would also be looking at shadow boxing, as much as you can fit in every day...muscle memory.
If you can get a floor to ceiling ball that’s great too, better is a mate to can hold pads for you.
For cardio, find a steep hill, jog to it, sprint up it, jog down it...repeat.
Also, as has been said, spar lots.
I'm in the same boat, albeit a bit younger.
Just signed up for an event with Ultra White Collar Boxing.
My training starts 1st October and event is end of November.
I've done loads of reading - there's a thread on here about a PH member that done the same.
Fitness, fitness, fitness and more fitness is the key (I think)
I've read some people say the training they give you is pretty basic, so if you want to look half good in the ring then get down to your local boxing gym and tell them what your doing and get some sparring in, not everyone can take a punch.
Just signed up for an event with Ultra White Collar Boxing.
My training starts 1st October and event is end of November.
I've done loads of reading - there's a thread on here about a PH member that done the same.
Fitness, fitness, fitness and more fitness is the key (I think)
I've read some people say the training they give you is pretty basic, so if you want to look half good in the ring then get down to your local boxing gym and tell them what your doing and get some sparring in, not everyone can take a punch.
Learn to skip if you can't already and do 20-30 mins a day at home. It's great for conditioning and coordination and looks cool as if you get half decent. If you're terrible at it you'll get out of breath even faster which is good
There's load of instructional videos on youtube if you're new to it.
There's load of instructional videos on youtube if you're new to it.
Given that you already go to the gym and your limited time frame i would:
1. Practice getting punched in the face - get used to the feeling, learn how your body reacts etc
2. work on your jab, this will be with your weaker arm, so your technique will be shocking. The jab is all about speed and controlling the distance and setting yourself up for a 'power' punch with your other hand
3. Practice your breathing, in a fight the temptation to go all anaerobic is high, but if you don't breath properly the other fighter will be able to push you over by the end of the 1st!
That'll probably take you most of the 2 months
1. Practice getting punched in the face - get used to the feeling, learn how your body reacts etc
2. work on your jab, this will be with your weaker arm, so your technique will be shocking. The jab is all about speed and controlling the distance and setting yourself up for a 'power' punch with your other hand
3. Practice your breathing, in a fight the temptation to go all anaerobic is high, but if you don't breath properly the other fighter will be able to push you over by the end of the 1st!
That'll probably take you most of the 2 months
Who are you going to be fighting? In other words are you up against other enthusiastic beginners or more experienced fighters. If the former then a couple of months would probably see you make a decent (if ungraceful) account of yourself, if the latter, then you're going down in the first (5 seconds).
I boxed a bit in my early 20s and it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I remember sparing against someone who was pretty good. In the first round round they obviously took it easy on me and I even managed to land a couple of punches. In the second round I marched out confident I could land a few more and I didn't even see the cross that put me on my arse.
Good luck.
BTW, you don't realise how light the weight categories are. You'll be a super middleweight at your current weight. A mate of mine got volunteered to box for his unit in the army. He'd been deployed in Northern Ireland for 6 months (basically sitting around eating pizza) and he ended up in the heavy weight category against guys who were 95kg with about 10% body fat
He got pummelled.
I boxed a bit in my early 20s and it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I remember sparing against someone who was pretty good. In the first round round they obviously took it easy on me and I even managed to land a couple of punches. In the second round I marched out confident I could land a few more and I didn't even see the cross that put me on my arse.
Good luck.
BTW, you don't realise how light the weight categories are. You'll be a super middleweight at your current weight. A mate of mine got volunteered to box for his unit in the army. He'd been deployed in Northern Ireland for 6 months (basically sitting around eating pizza) and he ended up in the heavy weight category against guys who were 95kg with about 10% body fat
He got pummelled. Ha yes. 'Well at least you've learned you can take a punch' was my trainer's comment after my first fight!
Basics. It's all about the basics. Tyson may not be the smartest guy out there, but never was a truer word said than 'Everyone has a plan until they get punched on the nose'.
Don't overload your head with loads of complicated stuff between now and the fight because you won't remember any of it/it goes straight out of the window. Two months simply isn't enough time to learn complicated stuff to the point of being able to do it without thinking about it - it takes years, so there is no point trying.
As has been said already, repetition of punches to develop muscle memory. Movement. Not turning your back when you get overwhelmed. Keeping your chin down and hands up. Range is really important (it's all really important of course) but they can't hit you if you're out of range. Your range is also a lot longer than you think it is as well - beginners always punch too close to bags/pads/partners or break at the waist and lean on their punches putting their head in range whilst dropping their hands at the same time. If you spar, you'll learn this very quickly!
Basics. It's all about the basics. Tyson may not be the smartest guy out there, but never was a truer word said than 'Everyone has a plan until they get punched on the nose'.
Don't overload your head with loads of complicated stuff between now and the fight because you won't remember any of it/it goes straight out of the window. Two months simply isn't enough time to learn complicated stuff to the point of being able to do it without thinking about it - it takes years, so there is no point trying.
As has been said already, repetition of punches to develop muscle memory. Movement. Not turning your back when you get overwhelmed. Keeping your chin down and hands up. Range is really important (it's all really important of course) but they can't hit you if you're out of range. Your range is also a lot longer than you think it is as well - beginners always punch too close to bags/pads/partners or break at the waist and lean on their punches putting their head in range whilst dropping their hands at the same time. If you spar, you'll learn this very quickly!
From what I’ve seen of the UWCB training days they’re nowhere near good enough to get you ready for the real thing.
Go to a proper boxing gym and train as much as you can there. Do the bare minimum with The UWCB guys to keep them happy you’ll gain much more from a dedicated boxing gym and I wouldn’t be surprised if you stuck with it after your fight even if just for the fitness.
Go to a proper boxing gym and train as much as you can there. Do the bare minimum with The UWCB guys to keep them happy you’ll gain much more from a dedicated boxing gym and I wouldn’t be surprised if you stuck with it after your fight even if just for the fitness.
Thanks for the replies, all. Certainly food for thought!
'Induction night' is next Monday 1st. In teh mean time:
I have a heavy bag in the garage which I will be using
Squash a couple of times a week too, as per normal
Cardio at lunchtime (cross train at the gym)
Now I just need to practice getting hit in the face; its been a few years.
Everything begins on Monday, if anyone is interested I'll post my stats / progress etc.
cheers,
Matt
'Induction night' is next Monday 1st. In teh mean time:
I have a heavy bag in the garage which I will be using
Squash a couple of times a week too, as per normal
Cardio at lunchtime (cross train at the gym)
Now I just need to practice getting hit in the face; its been a few years.
Everything begins on Monday, if anyone is interested I'll post my stats / progress etc.
cheers,
Matt
To reiterate what others have said, you won't learn Boxing in two months and what you do learn will likely be forgotten once you get punched on the nose.
From experience, if you put two well matched guys in the ring for the first time it is usually the fitter and more aggressive guy who will come out on top.
Who can hold their gloves up and still put some snap in their punches in round 3? you need to train hard enough to be that guy.
From experience, if you put two well matched guys in the ring for the first time it is usually the fitter and more aggressive guy who will come out on top.
Who can hold their gloves up and still put some snap in their punches in round 3? you need to train hard enough to be that guy.
Hope the training is going well, to throw my 2p in.
Scrap everything else your doing that isn't related to the boxing, it's only two months, your time is best spent limiting the amount of punches you will take to the face.
Skip for Footwork and cardio, on your lunch break, press ups Burpees other body weight stuff work in rounds, 10 of each then skip etc.
Work on the basics, do as much pad work as possible, learn to cover up because the other guy is going to come out swinging to take your head off in the first 20 seconds and unload all the excitement of the night on you right away, weather that storm and then enjoy.
Scrap everything else your doing that isn't related to the boxing, it's only two months, your time is best spent limiting the amount of punches you will take to the face.
Skip for Footwork and cardio, on your lunch break, press ups Burpees other body weight stuff work in rounds, 10 of each then skip etc.
Work on the basics, do as much pad work as possible, learn to cover up because the other guy is going to come out swinging to take your head off in the first 20 seconds and unload all the excitement of the night on you right away, weather that storm and then enjoy.
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