Today i start my training! I've been a boxing fan for a couple of years now watching matches whenever i can. Always telling myself how good a shape these guys are in and that i want to be in that good of shape. I've been out of sports for two years now and I feel myself getting a little sluggish so i decided to man up and do something about it. Last night I stopped by my local gym and got all the information i need and the coach in there said to stop by tomorrow for my first training day. I'm mad excited about it because i know this is going to be good for me and by the enthusiasm i see from other people involved in the sport just makes me want to do it more. I wrestled for 5 years and coached wrestling for about 2 on and off helping out where i can. I was a goalie in Lacrosse for 2 years in college and mid field for my last 2 years. After two years off i'm curious how decent shape i am in and if i actually have what it takes to become a decent boxer. I know it will be awhile before my first match but thats up to me to stick to my training and try to master my body and technique so i can achieve my goal. Thanks

Kami, Long email but hope to give some advice you could use. I have been reading your commments, and you are very knowledgable about boxing. I was a trainer for several years put myself through college etc. I trained myself and won powerlifting contests, did triathlon, marathon. Trained other lifters to win or place, some bodybuilders (pretty boys)which I liked the least of training but paid the most. Anyway, the most rewarding were beginners, older people and fat women. (When fat women and people over fifty start looking and feeling better you can see their whole life change and they are interesting because they do exactly what you tell them in and out of the gym. You can really see your training results without variables.They refer others to you, and gym rats and other people start noticing you.) The main thing I have seen about you is you always add positive reinforcement. Most important. Some suggestions that may work in the boxing arena of training from my experiences. Tell them like I did with athletes in highschool. Tape a fight, game, etc. and tell them when the announcer says great combo, big right, great footwork, or the same when bad like leaving open or wide throws play back in slow motion and watch the move study it over and over. worked well with pitchers,linemen, & defensive ends. Boxing would be good experience, but perhaps you can hook up with a good trainer or gym. Print up your comments on this site and your mug as champion and make a resume with other experience. (Running a cash register, willing to clean at closing time, mantaining eqip, and working strange hours like friday and sat night got a LOT of points from my applicants). Ask to work in the corner as a cutman etc. or ask to train new guys coming in as beginners. When your beginners start to evolve in the gym with good basics, motivation, and conditioning competitive boxers and trainers are going to notice. Before long perhaps you can manage a gym, or start training some golden glove fighters. Be willing to travel if a good opportunity arises. The last thing that will really help is get an anatomy chart and learn the function and what the individual muscle movement is. When throwing punches working out etc. you can target accessory muscles and find week points in strength for each persons differences, avoiding the shotgun approach. ex: when the fighter jabs does he throw from frontal or medial deltoid muscle. Are the serratus muscles along the ribs weak or need more explosive power for throwing and receiving body shots? What is causing a recurring injury or pain? If you know these things you are going to know training that you won't learn in the ring. I personally trained and judged for local bodybuilding shows, taught posing, etc. and would never compete in the sport. Hope this helps, if it does keep me informed on your progress and feel free to ask. I will tell you what worked or did not work for me, but I want give advice by guessing or BS. You are on the right track I think to be in the boxing field. Everyone wants to be a champion fighter, thinking training is for has beens or retired fighters. May be, but starting young you can wind up a young sought after trainer like the guy (I forgot his name) that trained the golden boy against Mayweather. bhadams