"... hit & not get hit ..."
Boxing is one of the most simple, ancient and widespread martial arts ever created by humans. The first historical evidence of Boxing goes back to the 3rd Millenium BC around the area that later on became The Persian Empire. Boxing has been developed since ancient times in many regions of Africa, Asia and Europe. The Greek & The Roman Empire made Boxing very popular due to the Olympic Games and to the gladiator fights from the Colloseums . In Ancient Greece, Boxing became a very well organized and regulated discipline, with properly developed techniques and protective gear.
It is, probably, one of the simplest martial arts in the world. The opponents are only allowed to throw fists at the upper body and head. Only the front part of the fist is allowed to be used. So, no palms, no hammer fists, no spinning back fists, no elbows. No hits are allowed in the genital area, in the back of the head or in the spine. The idea is very simple - hit and not get hit! Evading hits is usually preferred to blocking them, since you have to use less energy and have a better chance to counter attack. Punches are thrown in a straight way (Jab & Cross), in a circular way (Hook), or in an upward way (Uppercut). Fights are won by decision or knock out.
The origin of the word Boxing is still uncertain. From Latin, the word "pugnus" (fist) lead to the term "pugilism". The term Boxing may come from old germanic/dutch words - "boke", which meant "fist blows", "hits". Or, it is more likely that the term has been created after the sport gained popularity in the late medieval England. After fencing with swords was banned, fist fights were organized in circles. After a while, they started using 4 poles and ropes, to close the circle, so that the space used for fighting is better defined and the spectators don't get involved. So, it may rather come from the idea of a "squared circle", which resembles a box - hence boxing.
WHY BOXING
First of all, because it is simple. It can be used for fighting professionally in the ring to develop the sport, entertain others and make a living. It can be used for self-defense. Or, it can be used for health & fitness and as a form of therapy (stress management, reflex training, focus training, decision making training).
When people think of Zen Buddhism & Meditation, they very often question the link between such a kind and peaceful practice as Zen and such a brutal and violent practice as Boxing. Zen practice, to my understanding, is about having a present minded attitude, being attentive, sharp, focused, having a clear mind and not being dull or sluggish in your mental processes, as well as not being trapped in projections of the past or future. Boxing is an application of Zen. It can be used to train your focus, awareness, attention, sharpness. If you are not paying attention while Boxing, if your mind is not focused - you get hit. If your mind is not sharp - you fail to react intelligently and counter attack at the right timing. Being about hitting and not getting hit, the feed back is quite instant. It is a good way to test your Meditation. During seated meditation you have very little feed back. You may slip into long trips in your mind, thinking in circles for minutes in a row until you become aware of your lack of awareness.
In Boxing, you become aware of your lack of awareness by getting hit. It is not supposed to be a form of punishment, but a form of training. You don't start at full speed and without protective gear. You receive training. You start with basics and you build up. You gain confidence. You repeat the same techniques and counters over and over and over again until they become your reflexes. And slowly you can move to Light Sparring, then to Full Contact Sparing with Protective Gear, and then to actual Fighting/Boxing.
Watched from a distance, with an uneducated mind and an untrained eye, this sport may not seem like a martial art at all. It may seem just brutal. It may seem as if two men are randomly throwing punching at each other, and whoever is faster, stronger or bigger may win. That is brawling. That is not even street fighting, that is just not knowing how to fight. Some fights appear to be like that even when professional fighters are involved. But, generally, every fighter knows his job well. Some may be better at it than others, but there is something to learn from every fighter.
Boxing is actually very mathematical, very scientific. Every attack has a counterattack. Every move has a counter move. Most successful fighters out there fight the game, in their minds, before they enter the ring. They have plan A, B, C... etc. They already know how the opponent can react if they throw a straight punch, how the opponent is going to react if they throw a hook or an uppercut and so on. Therefore, it can become just as a strategic mind game as chess is.
Have a look at the boxers in this video, please! Watch the way they throw punches, expecting/knowing the opponent's reaction and reacting before their reaction. Watch the way they move, control the ring, evade hits and counter attacks.
The origin of the word Boxing is still uncertain. From Latin, the word "pugnus" (fist) lead to the term "pugilism". The term Boxing may come from old germanic/dutch words - "boke", which meant "fist blows", "hits". Or, it is more likely that the term has been created after the sport gained popularity in the late medieval England. After fencing with swords was banned, fist fights were organized in circles. After a while, they started using 4 poles and ropes, to close the circle, so that the space used for fighting is better defined and the spectators don't get involved. So, it may rather come from the idea of a "squared circle", which resembles a box - hence boxing.
WHY BOXING
First of all, because it is simple. It can be used for fighting professionally in the ring to develop the sport, entertain others and make a living. It can be used for self-defense. Or, it can be used for health & fitness and as a form of therapy (stress management, reflex training, focus training, decision making training).
When people think of Zen Buddhism & Meditation, they very often question the link between such a kind and peaceful practice as Zen and such a brutal and violent practice as Boxing. Zen practice, to my understanding, is about having a present minded attitude, being attentive, sharp, focused, having a clear mind and not being dull or sluggish in your mental processes, as well as not being trapped in projections of the past or future. Boxing is an application of Zen. It can be used to train your focus, awareness, attention, sharpness. If you are not paying attention while Boxing, if your mind is not focused - you get hit. If your mind is not sharp - you fail to react intelligently and counter attack at the right timing. Being about hitting and not getting hit, the feed back is quite instant. It is a good way to test your Meditation. During seated meditation you have very little feed back. You may slip into long trips in your mind, thinking in circles for minutes in a row until you become aware of your lack of awareness.
In Boxing, you become aware of your lack of awareness by getting hit. It is not supposed to be a form of punishment, but a form of training. You don't start at full speed and without protective gear. You receive training. You start with basics and you build up. You gain confidence. You repeat the same techniques and counters over and over and over again until they become your reflexes. And slowly you can move to Light Sparring, then to Full Contact Sparing with Protective Gear, and then to actual Fighting/Boxing.
Watched from a distance, with an uneducated mind and an untrained eye, this sport may not seem like a martial art at all. It may seem just brutal. It may seem as if two men are randomly throwing punching at each other, and whoever is faster, stronger or bigger may win. That is brawling. That is not even street fighting, that is just not knowing how to fight. Some fights appear to be like that even when professional fighters are involved. But, generally, every fighter knows his job well. Some may be better at it than others, but there is something to learn from every fighter.
Boxing is actually very mathematical, very scientific. Every attack has a counterattack. Every move has a counter move. Most successful fighters out there fight the game, in their minds, before they enter the ring. They have plan A, B, C... etc. They already know how the opponent can react if they throw a straight punch, how the opponent is going to react if they throw a hook or an uppercut and so on. Therefore, it can become just as a strategic mind game as chess is.
Have a look at the boxers in this video, please! Watch the way they throw punches, expecting/knowing the opponent's reaction and reacting before their reaction. Watch the way they move, control the ring, evade hits and counter attacks.
Some may be tempted to think that Boxing only develops the Upper Body. It really trains the whole body. Strong legs are very important in Boxing, for movement and for not getting knocked down. Strong legs will also give you confidence in a self-defense situation, since fear can take away your full control over your legs. Boxers usually run very long distances, very regularly. That builds up strong legs and good stamina. Also, you get to skip rope a lot. Skipping Rope is a great exercise also for your internal organs. Bouncing has been medically proven to be efficient for treating certain imbalances in the body. Google it. Skip Rope will increase your stamina and train your cardio, coordination and focus. It can also strengthen your wrists, shoulders and ankles and flatten and build up your core. It is easy to do and you can do it anywhere.
Core is very important in Boxing, since it is used as an armor that protects your internal organs from powerful blows. A hit to the liver can leave you on the ground in unbearable pain, without having a good core. Ribs can get broken without a good core. It is also good for offense. A strong core will help you generate more power in your strikes.
When it comes to Upper Body, having to use your arms as your main weapons will create a good and harmonious development of your arms, shoulders, chest, neck and back. Bag Work (punching the heavy bag) is actually very beneficial for straightening the spine. The shock of the hits to the bag will go from your fist through your shoulder, then through your spine, hip and into the ground. Using correct technique and correct alignment, these blows will safely push back the vertebras to their optimal position.
Boxing will give you functional power, explosiveness and accuracy. Besides your Muscle Training, you should have a good cardio training that puts a bit of shock in your body to fix the joints in their place and to make your muscles relaxed, fast and explosive.
Boxing can be used to manage emotions. Depression, anger, frustration, grief can generate a lot of energy and tension in the body that can leave you drained. Unless this energy is used and transformed.
In our daily lives, we may experience unexpected and unpleasant events. Jobs and work, housing and moving, relationships, weaknesses and addictions. Boxing can help us release this stagnant bad energy. It can transform frustration and aggression into training motivation and further on into feelings of relief, peace and contentment. When we feel very down and the mind is very agitated, overwhelmed, finding itself in a crisis, in which thoughts circle in the head at speed too fast to process, then we may find it too difficult to sit in meditation. Then, it is a great time to do Boxing Meditation. When you punch, you only focus on your punch and on your breath. Hitting the bag will give you a good intensive training that will challenge your body and stamina well enough to get you out of your head. Before you know it, you are fully enjoying every punch you throw and are no longer trapped in the problem-solution pattern of your stressed out mind. Shouting at every punch you throw will help you release accumulated tension, frustration and will deliver more power. Shouting is also very beneficial for your mind - as it keeps you present, focused. You cannot think of anything else while shouting as hard as you can. The shout will disperse the thoughts in your mind like an explosion. After such workout, you will feel refreshed, far from being drained, and your mind will be a bit clear, better prepared to deal with the problems that you were facing.
Boxing sharpens our reflexes and speeds up the decision making process. Having hits coming at you can be quite stressful, yet you have to remain calm and you have to take decisions very fast. This way, you can deal better with personal situations that may cause you to feel on the edge of collapsing.
Boxing can be very empowering. It enables us to feel and control our power. This will give us confidence and enjoyment. It will increase the feelings of self appreciation, it will make you feel better about yourself. Each time you hit the target - whether the target is a pad, a bag, or a partner - you get instant satisfaction.
SHADOW BOXING
Shadow Boxing is using your imagination to create a fight. The origins of the term are just as uncertain as the origins of the term Boxing. You are fighting a Shadow or an Imaginary Opponent.
Shadow Boxing is good for training your Visualization. You don't just randomly throw punches. You visualize a whole fight. You visualize the opponent, the distance, you throw the hit, you visualize the opponents reaction and counter attack. You react, you move, you defend, you attack. You sharpen your technique and sharpen your movement. Movement is vital. You can't fight while being locked in the ground. Usually, traditional martial arts (Kung Fu as well) train you to get grounded, to get very well fixed in the ground. That helps a lot with your posture and your fighting as well, but during fighting that quality cannot be used at all times. Otherwise you are stuck. Being stuck makes you a target. You have to keep moving all the time. Always changing the rythm. Always going in and out and sideways. Not always attacking on a straight line.
Shadow Boxing helps us to sharpen our combinations, our movement, our fighting strategy and prepares us for a real fight.
Seen from a non fighting perspective, it can be regarded as a Form of Dynamic Stretching. Kicks and punches are now different types of stretches, and not blows meant to hurt somebody. Kicks and Punches will make our bodies more flexible, more explosive and will hold our joints together. You may practice different forms of Static Stretching and you may gain good flexibility, but that is not enough for a strong and healthy body. You want to have your body light, agile, easy and ready to use. Shadowboxing is great for that!
It is also a form of expressing yourself freely. Traditional martial arts have fixed, choreographed forms such as Kata for Karate, or Taolu for Kung Fu & Tai Chi. These forms have their own benefits and their own role. These forms are actually ancient types of Shadow Boxing! Now, we can create our own forms, the way we want to move, the way it is more suitable for our styles and our bodies.
Shadowboxing can also be used as Warm Up. Warm Up can be boring sometimes, Shadowboxing will make it fun. It trains the whole body, it is good for balance, good for stamina and it is great for the spine and back muscles.
OUR WAY OF TRAINING
We use Boxing to translate the punches from the Kung Fu Forms from traditional punches - designed for power, balance and coordination - to modern punches - designed for attack and self defense. Boxing can help us understand the self defense movements hidden within these ancient forms. We can absorb whatever we find good in Boxing, whatever we find good in Kung Fu and then put it together and make our own style.
When it comes to Self Defense, I know from my own experience that most street fights are fist fights that don't last for very long. It would be good then to have good punching techniques, good body movement and sharp reflexes.
Then again, speaking of Self Defense and Fighting... having practiced Martial Arts will make your body stronger and your mind more calm and confident. With a strong body and a good attitude, most bullies won't even bother pick up fights with you anymore. Therefore, I believe, the better a fighter you become, the less fights you will have to fight and the less damage will you have to deliver to stop a fight, in case of a fight breaking off. If you box and shout in training, you will have to box and shout less, or not at all, in your day to day life.
__________ ____________ _________________
