| Boxing - where two powerful athletes square off | | | | the footwork necessary to continuously adjust |
| and apply the 'sweet science', keeping their heads | | | | range and angle to keep your foe's attacks |
| in the game even while getting punched in the | | | | ineffective, and the simple discipline and endurance |
| face - is an exciting sport, but can it make for | | | | needed to take a fight all the way to the end. A |
| effective self defense training? Boxing does | | | | fight is a dirty mess, and it takes aggression, skill, |
| require a degree of physical fitness and | | | | power, and tenacity to win. Boxing will give you all |
| conditioning that many people on the street | | | | of that. |
| simply don't have, but is that a good reason to | | | | Martial arts are good for some things, but the |
| discard it as a self defense option? | | | | simple fact is that a reverse punch no matter |
| The simple answer is no. | | | | how perfectly executed is a waste of motion and |
| Any self-defense course, properly undertaken, is | | | | a massively telegraphed attack. Compare that to |
| going to improve your fitness level. Even if it's a | | | | a straight jab - a simple acceleration of your |
| 'sporty' version of self defense training like Tae | | | | knuckles into your opponent's face and snap right |
| Kwon Do or 'soft' martial art like Tai Chi, you will | | | | back into guard position -- and you'll see why all of |
| have to work at first to get fit enough to | | | | those martial arts throws and counterattacks rely |
| continue practice. Boxing is the same way - the | | | | on a reverse punch to work. They assume you're |
| practice might be a little more active than Tai Chi, | | | | going to overextend and then remain extended, |
| but if you're going to commit enough to self | | | | and they have to assume that because those |
| defense training to get fit for it, you might as well | | | | tricks don't work on a boxer who stands back |
| go for the gold standard. | | | | and snaps off fast jabs, period. All the fancy judo |
| You might not ever be fit or strong enough to be | | | | self defense training in the world won't help you; |
| a Golden Glove, but if you're looking to protect | | | | you'd better have pepper spray or know how to |
| yourself from an aggressor, that's not terribly | | | | box right back. |
| relevant, is it? | | | | Watch some points sparring competition |
| When it comes to real-world self defense training, | | | | sometime to see a glimpse of the difference |
| you have to expect the worst-case scenario all | | | | between the dojo and the squared circle. Points |
| the time, and boxing prepares you for just that. | | | | sparring is almost always scored by the person |
| The presence of mind it takes to string together | | | | who uses the simplest technique, because simple |
| a knockout combo after you've been slammed in | | | | techniques are faster. So why not cut out the |
| the face a dozen times is the same presence of | | | | crap and concentrate on making those simple, |
| mind it takes to protect yourself from a mugger | | | | fast techniques as devastating as they can be? |
| who just smacked you in the skull with some | | | | That is the essence of boxing - one of the most |
| brass knuckles. | | | | effective self defense training sports in the world. |
| Boxing teaches vital areas of the head and body, | | | | |