Today we talk about the self defense benefits of enrolling in a boxing class. If you are learning self defense and are considering taking a boxing course to supplement what you have been learning, this article will be of particular interest to you.

First of all, find a good teacher! Ask people you know who they would recommend. See one class from every prospective teacher. Do they take the time to work with students who are struggling, or do they leave you alone to repeat a bad technique over and over again? Do they show equal attention to all students, or do they have their favorites that they spend the most time with? Are there warm-ups before class? Do they make sure you are solid on the basics before showing you more advanced material?

A good boxing coach will show you the proper ways to warm up, including stretching. Avoiding injuries during your workouts is key. A common complaint is “but I don’t have time to warm up while they attack me!” That’s right! But now you are not in a self-defense situation, you are doing demanding physical activities in class. If you are exercising, practicing self defense techniques, or taking a boxing class, then you owe it to yourself to prepare your body for what lies ahead.

Studying box will teach you the importance of your posture and how to move. These are the foundations not only in a self-defense situation, but in any fighting style or sport. You can quickly gauge someone’s experience as a wrestler by observing how they stand and move.

Boxing classes teach how posture maintains balance. You don’t want to lose your balance after a punch or a self defense move. Everything in boxing, karate, self defense, or any fighting style happens in a split second. Being out of balance for even a brief period makes you very vulnerable to your opponent (not to mention embarrassing you if you fall during class).

A boxing course will reinforce what self defense training preaches: keeping your hands in the proper position. Your hands should be raised at all times (but not in front of your face. Your vision is obscured and you can be hit on the head by your bare hands if someone hits them). Be ready to block a takedown, grab, hit, or kick.

Have you ever been through the kind of school that has big glass windows out front? Observe the class for a few moments. If the teacher yells an order and the students throw a punch, but keep their arms extended to their full length after the hit, waiting for the teacher’s next order, AVOID that school. The way you train determines the way you react in a self defense situation. Things happen very fast and you don’t have time to analyze what you will do next. If you don’t train to get your hands back into a defensive position immediately, you will knock them out and GET hit. Hard. If you need proof, turn on the television and watch a boxing match or UFC MMA. The fighters quickly return their hands to their position after each hit to avoid being hit by a counterattack from their opponent.

Physical fitness is another important benefit of boxing classes. Your cardiovascular health will increase by leaps and bounds. Your entire body is used during boxing. The legs are constantly moving, the abs twist when throwing punches, the back, shoulders, biceps and arms are worked non-stop. Hitting the bags more than 1000 times during an hour-long class is not unusual. Using the speed bag for 10 minutes straight will cause your traps to burn. When class is over, you’re drenched in sweat and it’s clear you’ve had one of the best workouts possible.

Finally, sparring will definitely sharpen your self defense moves. Let’s face it: Anyone can throw punches at a heavy bag. The bag won’t budge and won’t hit you back! Put on your gloves and helmet, step into the ring and your perception changes completely. It doesn’t matter if you never want to be in a boxing match. I recommend that you spar at least a few times with your training partner or coach. You will clearly understand what it is like for someone to try to hit you. You will see how quickly things happen, which is why I insist over and over on my self defense students to train the techniques in muscle memory. They must happen automatically, without thinking. Trust me, sparring will quickly turn you into a believer.

How do you transition from what you learn from boxing to a self defense situation? After all, when you are boxing you have big pillows in your hand to protect your face and body. On the street, you don’t. Well stay tuned for a future article!