If you told me two months ago that I would start boxing, I would’ve laughed. But now here I am — boxing every Thursday at the John Wooden Center. Initially, though, the $100 per quarter lesson fee and the $20 boxing gloves made me hesitate…is it worth the investment? I wrote this article to help inform you of what I got out of boxing so that you can judge whether it’s worth your time and money, too.
For context, I never learned any martial arts growing up. I had opportunities to start, but I avoided them because I was scared that I wasn’t “strong” enough. Another piece of context: I joined the class late. It started in Week 1, but I joined in Week 3. This meant that I missed all of the basic lessons and people there already knew each other/had partners.
So when I stepped into the classroom full of buff guys at my first boxing lesson, my heart sank. I didn’t belong here. But luckily, I found another beginner boxer who was willing to partner up with me. She was able to teach me all of the basics!
As I learned each boxing punch — like jab, cross, hook and uppercut (my favorite!) — I realized that I could do it! I could sidestep and duck down, as well as land punches myself. Of course, it was not all success: I got punched in the nose, my stomach and some other places that hurt. But that’s boxing. You can’t grow without getting hurt.
Boxing helped to force me out of my shell. After all, this was a sport I was intimidated by, but I was able to get over this fear. Moreover, it helped me realize that we can do anything we are interested in. I started later than most of my boxing classmates, but I was able to get the basics down and have a fun time! It made me feel free and powerful.
Although my physical strength probably didn’t change significantly, I feel stronger now. I really encourage everyone to try boxing, especially if you are intimidated by it! It’s a great confidence booster, and it’s never too late to start!