Hello Everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Adam Howes.
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Boxing is not just about pummelling your opponent to a pulp. In fact, rather than being an aggressive, male-dominated activity that dulls the senses, it is one that can help to exercise the mind just as much as it exercises the body. It is also a rare sport in which perseverance and resilience can be just as important as skill and strength.
As such, over the years, boxing has become extremely popular with people of all ages, both male and female, helping individuals to build both confidence and strength whilst simultaneously having a great deal of fun and getting a great mental workout.
Below, I explore the very best of these many pugilistic pros:
1. It’s Great for Weight Loss
Depending on your size and just how intensive your session is, boxing can burn far in excess of 500 calories an hour. Due to the intensity of the exercise, boxers can continue to burn calories long after they have hung up their gloves for the day too, making the sport one of the very best for those looking to shed some pounds.
2. Building Core Strength
Unlike many sports that will strengthen only very specific areas of the body, boxing offers an all-round workout that helps to strengthen and tone one’s entire physique. It is not just about throwing punches and keeping your guard up and instead, by bouncing, ducking and dodging, you will work almost every single body part, even improving the likes of balance and muscular endurance in the process.
3. Self Defence
Boxing is not just about fitness. Repeated training will also ensure that individuals gain a greater understanding of how to defend themselves too. Not only will boxing build power and strength, which could turn out to be integral when facing an aggressor, but the confidence gained through sparring will also ensure that those needing to defend themselves will be able to do so in the most focussed way, without panic, and that the skills needed to evade an attack can be used as second nature.
4. Stress Relief
Boxing is as much a mental workout as it is a physical one, and each session of training will help individuals to cleanse their bodies and minds of stress or tension by offering a physical outlet for emotional strains. Almost any physical activity will help reduce stress, boosting levels of mood-enhancing chemicals in the body. However, boxing is more effective than most others, allowing participants to get the excitement of developing new skills whilst ensuring they rid themselves of a little more tension with each and every punch.
5. Self-Esteem
Whilst stronger muscles and bones, along with a more powerful heart, are all great benefits of boxing, these can all be achieved by taking part in other sports. Where boxing steps up to be head and shoulders above most other athletic pursuits is through improving self-image. Not only will weight loss, an increase in strength and the development of skills all help those taking part to feel more confident in themselves, but the way in which boxing helps one to focus, adapt their approach to given situations and embrace modesty will help many people to have a far more rounded and positive view of themselves in general.
Author Bio:
Adam Howes is a freelance writer, blogger and exercise enthusiast. He regularly writes articles about the various benefits of different sports, visiting sites such as LeSports to stay up to date with all the latest news and developments.