All posts in Boxing

Are There Health Risks For Women Visiting The Boxing Gyms In London

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years on from when women were first allowed to compete in the Olympic games, womens boxing made its debut at the 2012 Olympics. This was not without controversy, such as Lennox Lewiss opinion that it was a freak show. Womens boxing is continually a stormy issue dividing public opinion.

However, attitudes are clearly changing, and official support is also there, with almost 2million invested in the womens Olympic boxing squad. This may make the difference in bringing British womens boxing towards a similar level to nations who already have successful women boxers e.g. China and America.

Many women have been inspired by the recent achievements of women boxers and there are now many boxing gyms in London offering classes specifically aimed at women. For example, at Gloves Boxing Club in West Hempstead, and Miguel’s Boxing Gym in Herne Hill. Amateur boxing for women is dramatically on the rise. In fact, 40% of boxing gyms now run classes aimed at women, and 25% of people attending boxing clubs are women.

It seems incredibly that only a few years ago many women would have been turned away from boxing gyms. So is there really any basis to the concerns?

According to a neurosurgeon at Queen Mary University, the risks of injury are no greater for women than for men. The International Boxing Association went even further and concluded that women actually have less risk of suffering severe injuries and concussion than men. This is due to the more flexible and less muscular form of the female physique making women more able to absorb punches and deliver less damaging punches. There is however the risk of suffering breast injuries.

Supporters of womens boxing stress that there is a big difference between amateur boxing and professional boxing. Women learn to box in amateur boxing gyms and these are completely safe, uncompetitive environments where they can learn the skills of boxing while aiming to score points, not competing in knock outs. There are also other potentially dangerous sports which women are allowed to compete in e.g. fencing, and ice skating, which have the same risks of head injury as amateur boxing.

Additionally, amateur boxing gyms in London have safety measures which protect newer women from the risks of boxing. These include:
Unwritten rule that women do not punch in the chest
Protective headgear is worn
Larger gloves are worn
Fights last for 3 rounds, as opposed to the usual 10 in a professional fight.

Using Boxing Protective Gear

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Boxing involves two participants who fight with their fists with each other. Boxing is a physically demanding sport that requires strict workout regimes, which are accompanied by special training equipment that keeps the boxer safe during fights. Because of the nature of boxing, you need to wear protective gear whenever you box. When you wear the right gear, boxing can be at least as safe as other contact sports such as football or wrestling.

The safety boxing equipment includes headgear, groin guards, hand gear, shin guard, chest protector and mouthpieces.

Wear well-padded, professional boxing headgear to absorb punches thrown to your head, preventing serious injury. In addition to absorbing the shock of a punch, it also protects your eyes and your ears. There is a continuous debate about whether boxing headgear prevents head injuries or not. Still, there is no question that a proper fitting headgear reduces the risk of cuts, bruises and other eye injuries. A good headgear must snug comfortably and properly that a blow would not move it and obstruct your vision.

Protect yourself with a cup, or groin protector, which is heavily padded and worn beneath your trunks. This piece of equipment ensures that your groin or hips aren’t damaged by a misplaced punch that falls below the belt.

Bite down on a mouth guard, or mouthpiece, whenever you box. You wear a mouth guard inside your mouth, holding it in place with your teeth. The mouth guard protects your teeth from getting knocked out, as well as protecting your lips from damage and swelling that would happen if they were driven against your teeth.

Use Boxing Gloves as you train and as you box. Training gloves are different than competition gloves, and are more heavily padded to absorb shock and prevent injury to both parties. They also have wrist protection to make sure you don’t injure your hands or wrists when you throw a punch.

Handwraps reduces the boxer’s hand injury both on training and in actual boxing match. Make sure that an expert demonstrates the proper way of wrapping the hands. If it is not available, remember that the fingers must be separated to allow freedom of movement and the knuckles should be padded evenly.

Don a breast protector if you’re a woman who boxes. A breast protector goes under your top and absorbs the shock of any punch thrown to your chest. Because you’ll take many punches to the chest, you can cause damage to sensitive breast tissue if you neglect this important piece of gear.

The boxer should use all the boxing equipment available in the market as these equipments ensure safety of the boxer and help him during training. The most essential boxing equipment is the confidence and willpower of the boxer so that he can punch and protect from the opponent with ease. The boxer should take the suggestions of his trainer about equipment and search them online on different websites. As various online retailers offer information regarding different boxing equipment and even offer guidelines regarding proper boxing techniques.

Benefits of Boxing Training for Fitness

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You may improve your health and have a physically fit body by getting into boxing training fitness programs. This is the best way for you to have a stronger body and gain confidence. Boxing workouts can help you to be at your best fighting form as well.

Many people see positive results from boxing trainings. You may build stronger and more defined arms and legs. These programs and classes also help you to gain a sense of inner strength and emotional balance.

Boxing training classes got across to the mainstream of physical fitness training a few years back. They have seen the benefits on the cardiovascular and toning of the muscles by these boxing training workouts. Tae bo work out videos also popularized these boxing and kickboxing exercises.

Cardio boxing training classes and the innovative variations of the sparring jabs, power punches, defense, and fitness has all blends of aerobics exercises. You will learn the proper execution of the punch and kick combinations for a more intensive workout that can help you become stronger and more confident.

The combinations you perform on the blocks, jabs, and kicks are executed to an imagined opponent. You may see classes where participants throw punches and kicks on the air. You will also find training camps that have quality equipment such as punching bags and you may also have the option of getting a partner that has padded hands.

You may also enjoy more benefits aside from the physical aspects of boxing trainings. Cardio kick boxing workouts allow you to burn out 350 to 500 calories in just an hour. It also helps maintaining the heart rate at 75 percent to 85 percent regular beat. This has been proven to be good and is the recommended range if you are exercising or into training.

Moreover, these boxing training classes improve your speed, resistance, and strength. Flexibility and the reflexes of the muscles are also enhanced. Repetitive motion on arms by sparring and jogging while you punch helps your arms and legs gain strength and power.

These workouts also enable your joint movements to build very efficient fitness results. These movements require you to develop balance and coordination that enables your body to be stable and maintain a good form.

These physical benefits you gain from boxing and kickboxing are just few of the many benefits that they can provide. You will be able to learn more about defense mechanism skills, which you may use in case of unwanted instances. You will also feel the satisfaction when you punch or kick. Relaxation and self-motivation is also developed.

You will feel a sigh of relief and feel that you are released from stressed. It also helps you to get rid of that anger that is inside of you. Once these things are releases, you may feel lightness into your body and peace of mind as well.

Many aerobic and fitness experts recommend boxing training lessons for beginners. It allows you to workout on your desired pace and body condition. Boxing classes let you to push yourself to the limit as long as you are safe and well conditioned.

Positive results await you with boxing training. You will enjoy a physically fit body and will keep you in better shape. You have the option working out and exercising at your preferred level and skill. Enjoy the fun of these boxing training programs.

To help you out and give you more ideas on what program to choose, go to http://bit.ly/cD99hq where you can get tips and tool guides on achieving your desired health & fitness, weight, and treatment.

Boxing Notebook Corrales-castillo Iii Should Be Mucho Macho!

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Code Red! Code Red!

Saturday is the final clash between Diego Chico Corrales (40-3, 33 KOs) and Jose Luis Castillo (54-7-1, 47 KOs) for the lightweight championship of the world. Though 70 pounds south, theyre true heavyweights. Sportsbook odds are Castillo -220, Corrales +180 – based on what?

Tale of the tape: Corrales, 28, is a lightweight freak, 5-11 with a half-inch fist, forearm and thigh advantage over the 5-8, 32-year-old Castillo plus a one inch bigger expanded chest, reach, bicep and calf. Castillo needs a ladder to reach him (on paper).

Corrales has had great success against smaller, aggressive guys. Castillo is strong enough mentally and big enough physically (He demonstrated that last time with Chico) to mete out plenty of pain of his own.

But the physical discrepancies dont apply here. Chico doesnt fight tall. He likes to walk in and unload hooks and rights bang on the inside, fight short. He likes it physical.

Reviewing their first bout, I was amazed at Corrales success when he made space. When he pushed off on Castillo and attacked from the outside, he was effective dropping right hands and short hooks. He used the jab to control the pace – Castillo had no answers.So, why doesnt he stick with it? Hes like the guy that threw himself on cactus and when asked why said: It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Think back to Corrales-Casamayor II. Stick and move. Outbox the guy. Corrales’ trainer, Joe Goossen, should put it in letters of fire on a ringside billboard. Also, Castillo is prone to cuts. Spear him with the jab; open the scar tissue. Double-jab right over the top, keep moving. Do that all night, and Corrales gets the W. But, it isnt a safe bet.

Chin Check: Corrales is no stranger to the canvas.

Floyd Mayweather dropped him five times one night. Castillo and Joel Casamayor scored five knockdowns and one knockout against him. You can develop muscles, strengthen your mind, but you cant train a chin. Plus, Castillo has found something with that short left hook.

In a recent FHM interview, Corrales analyzed the punch:

I got a left hook in that second fight and that was purely my mistake. I caught him with my right hand, and he was ready for it. I felt him pulling himself down and really losing some steam. I need to make sure my hand is at home and never cocked.

You can read the full interview here: http://www.fhmus.com/articles-1267.asp?cnl_id=5&stn_id=46&idx_id=1267

These guys bristle with macho. Expect the first few rounds to be more controlled: Corrales moving and setting the pace. Once Castillo breaks through, its MACHO TIME. Ill agree with the sportsbook odds – if Corrales chin holds up, hell land enough punches to eke out a split decision.

Jhonny Gonzalez-Fernando Montiel: Is it over yet?
Who made this fight? Was this a Barrera concoction? Maybe law school has him out of touch. Being Guatemalan, I can relate to the poor souls who were expecting a slugfest and got a snoozefest.

Look, when you match Mexicans, you dont expect Leonard vs. Benitez. To Latinos boxing equals fighting.Hit and get hit. We dont want a ballet. After a 12-hour shift, getting a crap paycheck, my wife yelling at me and my car breaking down all I want to do Fridays is hang with the boys, suck down some Coronas and watch two guys trying to kill each other cause they’re pissed.

How about an Im sorry bout? Daniel Ponce De Leon was on the same card, and he scored another KO. Doesnt a guy with a 90 percent KO ratio deserve to be on TV?

Joe Rein describes De Leons style: “Hes a clenched fist, sparring – an impatient 5-5 southpaw he brings it! -with little give in his legs over-wide stance – and constant I-want-to-kill-you lead lefts, making his handlers cringe.But he shrinks from no exchange – head down, squared-up, furiously winging to knock down a building. None of it by design, more a random act of violence.

Many of his free swings are blocked or parried, but when his sparmate steps back, thinking hes out of range, Ponce brings new meaning to “reach out and touch someone” with a wingspan just shy of Marcianos. The shudder when he lands makes it clear why hes dangerous.

Read more about De Leon here: http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3849/are-you-making-any-money/ . Next time a fight sucks, HBO should sneak in a bonus bout. Who cares which, as long as its brutal.

Last Round
Chad Dawson should look awesome against Eric Harding in his first light heavyweight go.Hardings not lacking confidence:

I am willing to fight for winner-takes-all, he said. Dawson has made a big mistake. This is like a man against a young kid. He better be ready. Every fight is a must-win for me.

Harding outpointed Antonio Tarver in a WBC eliminator on June 23, 2000. He also fought ex-world champs Montell Griffin and Glen Johnson. Harding, the WBC No. 10/IBF No. 9 contender won USBA and NABF 175-pound crowns in his past two starts, 12-round decisions over David Telesco and Daniel Judah.

Dawson, the WBC No. 7/WBA No. 15 contender, said, I am looking forward to this. It is a great fight for ShoBox. I am a still an improving, young fighter who is stepping up in competition. Harding is a great fighter. He has a good resume, but I definitely think I am the stronger fighter. I am in great shape. The world will know my name when I walk out of the ring with a victory.

Dawson knows how to deal with awkward fighters. I was at Dawsons bout against Ian Gardner in New Haven, Conn. with TN promoter Jake Donovan, who commented about the fight:

The first few rounds were typical of a Gardner fight, even if the southpaw wasnt in complete control. Dawson carried the action, but Gardners awkward style caused him to miss nearly everything. Action was so dismal, that many in press row were more interested in the war of words between the two camps at ringside.By round five, Dawson took over for good. Gardner offered an occasional straight left, but seemed more concerned with a shot that caught him above the bridge of his nose. By rounds end, Gardner was slow to walk back to his corner, grabbing his head, as if something was amiss.

Chad Dawson was amiss. The guys the goods.

You can read the full story here: http://fightbeat.com/badchadfinal.php

10 seconds
WBA welterweight champion Ricky Hatton will sit ringside in Las Vegas on Saturday for Castillo-Corrales III, intending to challenge the victor of this epic trilogy, says his dad, manager Ray Hatton.

“He’d like to fight the winner, although we have heard rumors that Castillo will jump right up to welter afterwards and possibly fight Miguel Cotto.”

Im skeptical of a Cotto-Castillo bout coming off. On June 10, Paul Malignaggi has his own plans.

Boxing Shoes For The Beginner

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Everyone in boxing had to start at some point and they needed some starter boxing shoes. These can be found in any size, style or color you want but you want to be sure that you are getting the right sort of shoe to fit you. This is especially true when you are just beginning on the road to learning how to execute boxing moves. Kids need to be especially fitted correctly so that they can strengthen their feet and ankles as they learn different boxing techniques and to stay away from injuries. Their bones are still maturing so they will need to have definite ankle support.

Other features that are needed for high quality boxing shoes are light weight material such as soft leather and suede, rubber soles or non-slip patterns on the bottom for traction, and plenty of ventilation so that your feet can breathe without excess sweating. This keeps you from sliding around inside your shoes like the rubber soles keeps you from sliding down outside of your shoes. Ankle support is also very important especially when you are just beginning. For this reason, high top shoes may be the best choice to begin with. They offer more support to your ankles than low tops.

While leather and suede offer very high quality boxing shoes, they are often very expensive. That is why synthetic man made material can offer just as much quality as the leather at a fraction of the price. These work out especially well if you are buying them for a child because childrens feet just keep growing and you would do well to make a less expensive investment for those shoes. Of course, you want to make sure that shoes you get have all of the best safety features you need, but you can get them at a cheaper cost through researching it.

Why Should You Buy Kids Boxing Gloves

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Nowadays, kids are getting into fitness at a younger age than ever before and are joining various sports of their choice with excitement and energy. This means that you end up in the market to buy various sorts of sports equipments for your kids like punching bags, kids boxing gloves, jerseys, footballs etc. although there are many sports which kids happily play and participate in, but boxing has become one of the most popular sports for the kids, in the world. It is just because in boxing, kids learn a sport as well as a self defense art. It helps, you know, just in case some sort of self defense is needed. In order to help your kid in performing better at this sport, you should buy kids boxing gloves for your adorable kids. These gloves are very to standard adult boxing training equipment. However there are some important differences and some other points you should remember before buying these.

Of course, the boxing training equipment which is made specifically for a child will be smaller in size than standard sized equipment. This is important because a child should not use full size equipment which may be too big or heavy for them to use safely and accurately. Kids boxing gloves are basically the same as adult gloves, just scaled down to a smaller size. Sport equipment companies make these gloves as small as four ounces; however more typical sizes are six ounces and eight ounces.

Generally, these gloves are made of fabrics like Velcro or something similar and laces are not necessary unless the child is preparing to compete in amateur competitions. If your child is preparing for amateur competitions, you should buy boxing gloves which have a white patch over the fist. This white patch helps the judges in determining when a punch has landed cleanly or when it missed.

Now you will need to buy a punching bag for your child too. So you should again buy a scaled down version. A full size 80 lb or 100 lb bag is just too big and heavy, and if you opt for a hanging bag, a kid might not be able to reach it properly.

Therefore most people buy freestanding punching bags for their kids. These are easy to set up and can be adjusted to different heights, allowing you to keep the same equipment as your kid grows a bit. You should look for a bag which is about 40 lbs in weight. As you can see, buying kids boxing equipment shouldn’t be too difficult. A punching bag for kids will be very convenient if it is small, freestanding and adjustable. Kids boxing gloves are available in several different sizes and obviously padding and comfort are the most important factors. When you have a child who wants to pick up boxing, you have to do everything in your capacity to make sure that they stay safe and train properly.

Mma Is Taking Over! The Essentials Remain The Same – Boxing For Mma Is A Must!

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Interested in MMA? Mixed Martial Art is a new fusion of all known martial arts in the world-two great champions fight within a ring and whoever’s style is best, wins the competition. Mixed Martial Arts includes skills from various foreign self defense arts, such as Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Judo, and Kung Fu among others. There also many basic defense type including boxing. So if you’re into mixed martial Arts, you better know about a thing or two about defending yourself. Because this competition, is way larger than what you’ll expect.

With mixed skills involved, it is important for every MMA athlete to know the basics. Every beginner starts with the fundamentals. And boxing is one of the fundamentals of this type of martial arts. So what are you waiting for? If you’re into some routines intended for a boxing training for MMA, better prepare yourself come good punch bags because this is definitely a not a the kind of exercises to belittle. This is a type of sport where people take a lot of courage to even join. But winning is proving a lot. So if you’re interested, read these few tips before you begin.

Start off with a high quality punch bags that could go around with your gradually stronger kicks and punches. These bags are meant for heavy duty hits and are usually a bit expensive. But then again, never even think about buying for yourself a cheap punching bag-you’re just wasting your work out and your money as well. If you’re intended to go with the MMA practice, you’ve got to have the best equipments because you sure will be going against the best martial arts experts.

If you go to a specialized MMA gym, you can study the martial arts bag that professionals use. You can see the quality of material and the heaviness of the bag that is required to increase each user’s strength and ability. Each mixed martial arts artist depend on speed and strength for their self defenses. A good basic boxing training can go a long way if you’re really disciplined and are focused to pursue a higher goal. Do not be content of just firm muscles and some mediocre punches. If you want to gain more power, you have to strive for it. Good punching bags can be perfect companions for you, so better get the high quality ones to get the best effect!

Boxing Day Sale

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The Boxing Day Sale tradition is alive and well in 2009. Retailers and buyers alike are ready for shopping holiday madness where you can grab some great bargains both online and at your favourite local outlets on what could turn out to be a Super Saturday. Rather than face the mayhem of your local high street or shopping centre, we have put together a list of online sites you can visit to get the best after Christmas sales from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

By the time Boxing Day comes around, the last thing many of us want to do is face shops which are packed out, just to find the one or two bargains of the day were snapped up at 5am. Shopping online from the comfort of your own home means you can see the best prices on items and purchase them securely with a few clicks of a mouse. Much easier than facing the day after Christmas sale crowds and madness which are featured on local media every year.

If you have friends & family visiting, or other time commitments, spending a day after Christmas shopping just may not be an option for you. Also many people may be in rural areas, housebound, ill or many other reasons the shopping holiday may not be suitable time to get to the stores.

Each year, media outlets are full of deep discounts for the sale day which are not available at any other time of the year. Discounts as deep as 90% are used as loss leaders to get people to the sales. Popular purchase items include major electronics and household appliances including whitegoods, clothing, gifts for the next Christmas as well as entertainment items and smaller electronics such as GPS, mobile phones. Online shopping for bargains makes it much easier to compare prices, and look at a variety of brand names for each of your planned purchases without running all over town.

If you have never considered shopping online as an alternative to going to the stores for Boxing Day sales, why not try it out as soon as you read this? You can head to google and type in Boxing Day Sale, or head to our link below to find our list of recommended Boxing Day sale online outlets. You can start familiarising yourself with online purchasing straight away so that you are ready when the sales hit!

Boxing Shoes High Top Boxing Shoes

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High top boxing shoes are meant for boxers who are very particular regarding their boxing practice. The boxing shoes are designed with latest technology in such a way that the boxer gets the best comfort from them. This technology is called tire tread technology. The boxing shoes are made up of a super combination of rubber and style that gives the player maximum quality traction required during any boxing events or in practice sessions also. The shoe also comes fitted with a flexible sole that prevents the boxer from slipping due to sweat while playing or practicing on the wet floor.

These high top boxing shoes last longer if purchased from a known and reliable brand. The outer sole of the shoe is made up of a compound called Michelin hydrolast which is the best thing you can have in your shoes. This makes you feel firm and confident while standing since it holds the foot very nicely ARTICLETEXTZZZ provided proper cushioning as needed. This material present in high top boxing shoes also provides the boxer shock absorption feature through the EVA mid sole. The boxer feels cool at the feet throughout the event or practice due to the breathable mesh panels which are fitted in the critical areas of the shoes. For further support these boxing shoes also have authentic leather uppers.

One of the famous branded companies that manufacture this kind of shoe is Ever-last and so it has named the shoes as Ever-last Michelin Hydrolast Lockdown High Top Boxing Shoes. Ever-last provides the lightest weight shoes which feature the synthetic mesh and leather upper to increase the support and durability of the shoes. Ever-last also uses the thermo plastic heels in the shoes to help you carry out very fast footwork.

Necessary Tips To Buy Boxing Shoes Of Good Quality

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Boxing is a very tough physical sport. You have to be physically very strong to play the game. Yes the game does involve some kind of mental toughness too but it is not very easy for everyone to just stand up after every fall and get beaten. It takes a lot of courage and mental toughness to stand up and get beaten. At the same time getting beaten is not the goal, its about conserving energy and giving the right blows to your opponents. Thus the sport is about good defense technique, swift moving with agility across the ring, mental toughness and never say give up kind of attitude, smart thinking and pretty fast reflexes along with immense concentration.

I can say the sport is all about decent defense, good reflexes, swift moving and killer punches to generalize it. It is pretty clear how moving quickly along with good fast reflexes is equally important as punching harder and defending. It helps us to conserve energy, not get beaten badly and think quickly as we move regarding the game plan. It also helps us to observe and analyze the strengths and weakness of the opponent player. Whether we play the sport for fun and fitness reasons or we dream to become a professional, moving swiftly and proper reflexes are pretty crucial either ways. And for that we need a decent pair of comfortable boxing shoes.

Boxing shoes are usually made up of suede and leather and it works out as best for most people. Remember, being able to execute your moves in a comfortable position is quite imperative for your success as it helps you to think quickly in a relaxed manner. These boxing shoes come in various colors and sizes. There is no precise apt pair to fit and define your comfort from an outsider point of view. They can be purchased in two possible ways. One is through online booking and two is through wholesale retail shops available in the market.

The former is not advised because you never know what fits you best and keeps you comfortable unless you try the particular pair. Besides if the website does not have refund or replacement policies, you might end up with the wrong pair. Besides ordering online imposes delivery charges upon you and it might takes weeks to be delivered. The goods can also get damaged on its way before delivery.

The latter is better suited for deciding the best pair, as you have the opportunity to try as many pairs as possible and choose one among them. See to that there is enough ventilation through your feet. There is nothing worse than huge amount of sweat building in our shoes and eventually giving us a slippery uncomfortable feeling. This disrupts us from moving freely across the ring which in turn would affect our performance. Your shoes must also have workable rubber sole which gives you a decent grip while you move. Else slipping down would become a common factor. If you want ankle support as well go for high tops boxing shoes.