7 Small But Important Things To Observe In Boxing Classes

Boxing classes are a great way to get your heart rate up and burn some calories, but they’re not just for fitness fanatics. Many beginners also enjoy the camaraderie of boxing classes. When you do participate in boxing kind of activities, there are several things that you should be attentive to so that you can get the most out of your experience. Here are five small but important things to observe in boxing classes:

1. Learn the right way to hold the bag

Much like in martial arts, boxing classes use punching bags. There are different types of bags for different types of exercises (sparring, heavy bags, speed bags). The first step is finding out how to correctly hold a standard punching bag.

You will want to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and bend your knees slightly while holding the top of the bag. Your arms should be slightly bent at your sides; do not let them relax down by your sides or raise them above shoulder level.

2. Maintain good breathing patterns

When you beat on a punching bag for several minutes, it can be easy to get out of breath quickly. One thing that helps is keeping a steady breathing pattern. It is important to try and breathe out as forcefully as you exhale. This will help ensure that you don’t run out of oxygen too quickly and also help you maintain your endurance.

3. Do not throw punches with your eyes closed

This may seem like common sense, but some beginners do this more often than they think they do. You need to keep both of your eyes open when throwing punches or kicks; the reason for this is that it will help you check on what kind of shape your opponent (the bag) is in and it will make it easier for you to dodge incoming attacks from other boxers (in case anyone decides to use any real boxing techniques). Failing to do so will most likely lead to you losing balance or hurting yourself.

4. Keep your hands up at all times

When boxing, it is very important that you keep your hands up at all times, even when not punching. Whenever you are standing in a “ready” position, be sure that both of your fists are raised above your head and close to the back of your head behind your earlobes with one hand slightly overlapping the other. This will help protect against any punches coming from either direction as well as make it easier for you to block kicks thrown by opponents. You can also use this time to practice deflecting punches without actually throwing counter punches right away (in case anyone does what I mentioned above).

5. Punch from the waist, not from the shoulder

When you throw a punch, make sure that it is from your waist and not from your shoulder joint. Throwing punches from the shoulder joint can be very strenuous on your joints and often leaves you vulnerable to counter strikes since you are standing more upright when doing this. In addition, it could leave open a hole in your defence which other opponents may try to exploit by throwing a strike of their own at an exposed area.

6. Keep your chin down

There is a saying that goes something like “Keep your chin down and it will keep you safe.” This can apply to boxing as well. It may seem counter-intuitive, but keeping one’s chin down does not make you an easier target for known or unknown opponents. It makes you harder to hit by decreasing the area that your face occupies in space while at the same time making it harder for people to get a clean shot at your vulnerable neck area. Keeping your chin down also helps align the rest of your body properly, which leads me to my next point.

7. Maintain proper posture

Maintaining proper posture should go hand-in-hand with everything else mentioned so far. If you do not maintain good posture, it could lead to your punches missing their targets and becoming off-balance which makes you more open to attacks from other fighters. Keeping a somewhat straight back but with a slight curve in the lower back can help keep you light on your feet and help take some of the pressure off of your skeletal system.

When it comes down to it, boxing classes are a fun way for beginners and experts alike to improve their cardio endurance level as well as strengthen their muscles through punching techniques. Hopefully, these tips have been helpful!