Boxing

Boxing description, strikes, history, videos, and more.

Quick Reference: About History Description Benefits Boxing Videos Modern Gear Punches

About Boxing

The history of pugilism cannot really be stated as having a beginning per se. Fighting with fist has come naturally to human beings since our existence. The sport was first organized in Ancient Greece however.

The ancient Greeks, and later Romans, were the first to hold organized events. Clinching with your oppenent was strictly forbidden, and there were, unlike modern styles, no weight classes. These ancient Greek fights were not separated into rounds and had no time limit like today's standards. The fights ended in a knockout, a fighter abandoning the fight, or in the event of death.

Modern day styles were transformed in Europe, and more particularly Great Britain. It is popular around the world and it's prominence was definite throughout the 20th century. Much of this is attributed to the invention of radio and television which allowed the broadcasting of fights throughout the corners of homes everywhere.

Today it is on the decline however. This is directly attributed to two main reasons. One is the rise of professional mixed martial arts. MMA fights incorporate the use of stand-up fighting, kicking, and wrestling techniques. Many today consider MMA fighting to be the next evolution in human sport combat. The second reason boxing is on the decline is corruption and greed. As boxing's popularity rose, and with the technological advances of the latest century, much money was to be made...and was. Matches became more of a PPV spectacle to many instead of a true contest between two individuals.

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Boxing, an Olympic sport

Did you know boxing was not held in the 1912 Olympics? It's true, Swedish law banned the sport at the time and since the Olymics were held in Stockholm, no boxing was allowed.

It has however, been in every other summer Olymipics since it's inception in 1904. Many famous fighters have participated in Olympic boxing as well. A few notables are Joe Frazier, Oscar De La Hoya, Cassius Clay, and George Foreman.

Boxing Description

Boxing is in principle a sport, more than a martial art. Matches are heavily regulated and when it comes to punching technique and power, and there are few martial arts that are as focused on fist strikes as pugilism is. In addition, fighters are well known for fantastic footwork and the manipulation of angles to beat their opponents. Combined, these two a spects make these athletes very dangerous in fights.

Carried out in a series of rounds (up to 15) that usually last anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes, fights can be very lengthy. In between rounds, contestants are allowed to rest for one minute. During this time, water is given as well as immediate and temporary first aid. This aid is usually designed around tending cuts and bruises to prevent them from interfering with vision.

Hand wrapping stabilizes the bones in the hand and allows hard punches to be thrown that would otherwise break the bones. Heavy gloves are also worn over the hand wraps that protect their hands and their opponent from injury. Although bare-knuckle styles can cause more damage with less strikes, skilled boxers with gloves will inflict heavy and powerful damage regardless. Death in the ring is not unheard of.

Boxing gear usually consist of gloves, shorts, and boots. Shorts are usually designed for free movement and also for fighter identification. The gloves are used, as mentioned above, to protect the fighters. Boots are worn to to allow for stability and traction while still maintaining the ability to speedily move the feet.

Boxing punches are designed to be either quick or very damaging. Different punches have different uses. The four main punches are the "jab", "cross", "hook", and "uppercut". Punches can be thrown to either the body or the head. Your boxing stance will determine which hand throws which punch. Left-handed people typically box "south paw" which means your right foot is forward and left hand is back. The traditional boxing stance is for right-handed people with the left foot forward and the right hand back. Professionals usually will be able to effectively fight from both stances.

Army Boxing Jab Punch: The jab is designed to be a short and fast punch. It comes straight out from the lead hand and is not thrown with maximum power. It is often used as more of a "feeler" punch to gauge distance. Known as the "set-up" punch, it is usually followed by more jabs or more powerful strikes.

Cross Punch: The cross is thrown from the rear hand is thrown with more or maximum power. Its delivery is straight out and designed to knock your opponent out, or at least bring them closer to being knocked out. Delivered correctly, the cross can bring heavy damage to your opponent.

Hook Punch: The hook is thrown in a looping motion from the side. It is designed to "hook" around your opponents guard and strike them in the temple or side area of the head. The hook gains its power by a pivot of the body. Many people improperly throw a hook by only rotating their shoulder. Doing this can damage your arm and does not carry the same amount of power.

Uppercut Punch: The uppercut is a devastating punch that, when properly thrown and landed, will definitely hurt your opponent. Like other punches, the uppercut can be thrown at the body or the head. This punch is brought buy shooting your fist in an upward fashion with the back of your fist towards your opponent. Like the hook, the uppercut's power comes from inertia gained by using your body to generate power, and not just your arm.

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