Boxing is a great way to burn calories and build muscle. And in fitness boxing, you won’t be working with a sparring partner. Boxing fitness is done alone or with a trainer, which means you won’t face any potential safety hazards.
You’ll be throwing punches at a weighted bag, your trainers padded hands, or a target that you visualize in your mind (which makes this form of exercise somewhat therapeutic). Imagine yourself bashing your own personal demons in the face. You may throw punches at bad memories, at someone who broke your heart, at that annoying co-worker or your boss. This is a perfectly healthy way to release pent-up emotions, anger and stress.
Cardio Component
Boxing is often associated with strength and strategized punching, and fitness boxing can burn a surprising amount of calories. According to a study from Harvard Medical School, a 125 pound person who spars for 30 minutes burns 270 calories, while a heavier person will burn even more. Many fitness classes are designed around a type of cardio boxing that gets you moving and sweating. Watch a real boxing match sometime, and you’ll see why this is such a great workout. Boxers learn how to move their feet, and any boxing workout usually involves a lot of footwork. You’ll practice shifting and moving while staying on the balls of your feet. Meanwhile, all the effort of throwing punches can really get your heart rate going as well.
Strength Training
A boxing workout is great for building and toning muscle. Jabs, hooks, cross-punches and uppercuts engage muscles in your arms and shoulders. Even your stomach muscles come into play when you’re punching. As you move your feet and punch, you’ll be toning your thigh and calf muscles as well. Some classes will have you do circuit training, where you have to do 10 burpees or run laps around the room in between boxing.
Box Yourself Into a Better Body
Boxing is a fun way to relieve tension, burn calories and build up muscle strength. This is a classic sport, but it’s becoming more and more of a trendy new exercise that you’ll start to see more of in fitness studios and gyms. There’s even a new boxing game designed for fitness that’s playable on game consoles. Try a boxing workout for yourself, and see if this works well for you on your journey to getting the body you want to have.