4 Signs You Might Be Competition-Ready

When athletes start to get serious about their boxing training, there are two questions that often come up: “how do I find a coach?” and “when will I be ready for a competition?”. We covered the first question with last week’s post on finding the right boxing coach to help you achieve your goals. This week we’ll be addressing that second question. If you’re starting to wonder how to gauge if you’re ready to sign up for a boxing competition and step in the ring for real, then please read on.Two fighters engaged in a bout at a sanctioned boxing competition Continue reading “4 Signs You Might Be Competition-Ready”

Find the Right Boxing Coach for your Skill Level and Goals

A boxer prepares to hit the mitts with his boxing coach

Top athletes have a combination of talent and inner drive that goes a long way toward making them great. Without some inherent talent and the discipline and determination to work on your craft, it’s next to impossible to become your best self and beat out the competition. At certain points, though, you need some help, and that’s where a coach comes in.

This is particularly true in boxing, a sport that demands peak physical fitness, refined technique, and lots and lots of toughness. Without a coach who knows what makes you tick, it’ll be easy to hit a wall. As you start your boxing training as a newbie or alter it to get to a new level, do yourself a favor and consult our tips for finding a boxing coach who suits your skill level and goals. Continue reading “Find the Right Boxing Coach for your Skill Level and Goals”

The Proper Way to Wrap Your Hands

Boxers will face more hand injuries than other single type of injury over the course of their career. Because there are so many small bones in your hand, it is absolutely imperative that you take every precaution available to protect them. Proper hand wrapping is the best method of preventing an injury that could keep you out of this great sport. We recognize the importance of protecting your hands and have provided the following instructions to teach you the proper method using a standard hand wrap.

Please keep in mind that this is a general guide and other methods do exist. We feel that the method below is a good starting point and covers all the basic points of proper hand protection. Continue reading “The Proper Way to Wrap Your Hands”

What Are the Best Resistance Bands for Boxing Training?

To succeed in the ring, a boxer must possess technique, strength, speed, and power. Boxers use a lot of different tools to build these attributes. One of the most common implements you’ll find in a boxer’s toolbox is a set of resistance bands. Proper training with resistance bands are scientifically proven to help boxers develop quick hands, a strong upper body, and endurance in their shoulders.

man using resistance band

While it’s no secret that resistance bands are a vital tool in training, the question we’re asked all the time is how to pick the best resistance bands for boxing? If you search for resistance bands online, you will likely be overwhelmed by the sheer number of results. Sifting through everything to find the best product seems cumbersome, so we’ve decided to take our experience to make it simple for you. Here’s what you want to look for when you’re purchasing the best resistance bands. Continue reading “What Are the Best Resistance Bands for Boxing Training?”

Why Hand Wraps Are Crucial for Boxers

hand wearing ringside handwraps

Boxers cannot afford to train or compete without quality boxing gloves or hand wraps. In boxing, your hands will endure repeated impacts with other objects (heavy bags and opponents being the most common). As you train, your skill level and technique will improve. With better technique your punching power will increase. Sounds great, right? But we have to remember two things — your hands! Generally, the stronger your punches become, the greater the risk of injuring your hands. Learning how to punch properly—including clenching your fists firmly on impact—can mitigate the risk to a certain extent. However, your hands are composed of flesh and bone and need to be protected from repetitive impacts. While boxing gloves are the most obvious method of protection, hand wraps are just as important. Let’s take a deeper look at why hand wraps are so important to boxers. Continue reading “Why Hand Wraps Are Crucial for Boxers”

MMA Gear for Beginners: 4 Must-Have Items

The mma championship ring. You'll need the right MMA gear to get here.

Mixed martial arts is not for the faint of heart. The sports can be tough, and brutal at times. If you’re keen on training and potentially competing in these sports, you should be properly prepared. With the right MMA gear, you can train safe, allowing you to give 100% when it’s time for the actual fight.
Continue reading “MMA Gear for Beginners: 4 Must-Have Items”