Boxing, more than just throwing a punch

Today it gives me great pleasure to welcome the amazing Jarrett “Juarez” Owen who is experienced in mixed martial arts, Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, boxing and kickboxing. For the past two years Jarrett has focused on his professional boxing career and is building a strong profile on the Australian boxing scene.

Also a qualified personal trainer, Jarrett helps his clients achieve their health and fitness goals at Coorparoo studio, Granite Personal Training wwww.granitept.com.au.

Today Jarrett shares his expertise knowledge on boxing exclusively with our FFS readers;

"It’s that time of year where we’re thinking about having to get back into our togs and perhaps regretting our less-than-perfect diet and exercise regime over the cooler months.

Things might be less firm and sculpted, and perhaps our summer wardrobe is not fitting as well as it did this time last year.

The good news is that you’re not a lost cause by any means and there is a great way to get fit and back in shape for summer and beyond—boxing!

And, I’m here to tell you that it’s not only great for fitness; there are many other benefits that come along with it too.

First, let’s talk about how great it is for health and fitness.

As a PT I’m regularly incorporating boxing into my client’s workouts because it’s a really effective form of exercise and a great way to get fit.

People who box regularly see many benefits including weight loss, muscle growth and improved fitness levels overall.

Boxing is a full-body workout that tests your agility, coordination, strength and control, as well as being a great cardio and core workout.

I think the popularity comes from the simple nature of the sport – you don’t need much space or equipment – the basic principle behind it is human power, and we all have it, but the art is in harnessing that force.

And, it’s not just for guys or muscle bound, incredibly fit people either. Boxing really is something that anyone can participate in. Anyone from any fitness level can take part and build their fitness along the way.

I see many people take up the sport for the fitness benefits, but they soon realise there are many other benefits to be had too:

-       Greater self confidence – boxing challenges you; it forces you to push your boundaries (physical and mental) and people really surprise themselves. Knowing how much they can achieve gives them renewed confidence.

-       Work ethic and discipline – it’s a sport based on technique, discipline and respect. Even if you’re not competing, boxing instills those things in you.

-       Self defense – understanding how to protect yourself is a powerful thing. You feel more confident and know how to conduct yourself in those situations.

-       Sportsmanship and teamwork – there is a strong sense of camaraderie and respect between opponents or anyone you train with. You’re learning new skills from these people all the time, and discovering how to create strong teams can be applied to other aspects of life.

I’ve been boxing professionally for a number of years now and I’m hooked. I’ve learned so many life skills from the sport – discipline, respect, commitment, teamwork, sportsmanship and more.

Everything I’ve learned in the ring can be applied to other areas of life and can really influence your approach to life in general. I’ve seen the positive effect not only on my own life, but on others’ too.

Who wouldn’t want to equip themselves with skills that not only strengthen your body but your mind too?!

Now, if you haven’t boxed before, I’d recommend that you follow a few simple steps to ensure you have a positive boxing experience:

·       Do some research – look into the gyms and fitness professionals in your area that provide boxing training and see what they offer.  Most places will offer you a free trial as well, so take advantage of it and find a place that works for you.

·       See an expert – make sure you start off with the right technique to avoid injury. Consult an expert boxing instructor to help you.

·       Ease into it – make sure you have a solid warm up before you start increasing the intensity, if you haven’t done any boxing before some of the movements will be a little foreign to your body. This will ensure you don’t pull up too sore the next day and lose motivation after one session.

·       Change your diet – nutrition, energy and balance is important when beginning a new form of exercise – especially a high-intensity one such as boxing. Start to alter your diet now, so that you can reap the full benefits.

·       Grab some friends – by doing this as a group, you’ll stay motivated, make some new friends and you can help each other along in those first few sessions. It’s a great way to catch up with people for those time sensitive individuals!

Boxing is a really fun way to train; you’re doing something different all the time, which means you’re not getting bored and less likely to lose motivation and stop training.

You’ll be learning something about yourself along the way too.

If you commit to a balanced and realistic training and nutrition program, you will begin to see results before you know it!

Go on, get fighting fit."

Thanks again Jarrett for taking time out to share these amazing tips to our FFS readers. Wishing you all the very best in the future and look forward to boxing with you one day ;-)

Are you a fan of boxing?

Much love and friendship,

xxDani