7 Reasons Why Boxing Is The Best Workout For You

Boxing and kickboxing workouts are addictive. At FightCamp, we know that sometimes getting in a workout can be a grind, so we're here to make it fun! Need more convincing to get started? Here are seven (7) reasons why boxing is the best workout for you.

7 Reasons Why You Should Start Boxing

1. Improves Sleep Quality

After an intense workout and a well-balanced meal, getting a solid night's sleep comes much more easily. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can push your body. The more you are pushed, the more tired you'll be at the end of the day. Doing boxing, kickboxing, and other forms of HIIT workouts will help improve your sleep quality on a daily basis.

• HIIT workouts can tire you out more easily, leading to an easier night's sleep

• Your body needs sleep to recover, the more you push it during a boxing workout, the more your body will need to recover

• We know that moderate aerobic exercise increases the amount of slow wave sleep you get

• People who engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise may see an improvement in sleep quality

2. Enhances Mood, Reduces Stress and Mental Illness

Boxing is known to be beneficial to physical and mental health. Studies have shown that being physically active improves your mental state. Just 15 minutes of moderately intense exercise can lift your mood, instantly triggering your brain's feel-good chemicals and acting as a powerful antidepressant. Staying active is essential in fostering better mental health. Boxing offers the perfect opportunity to combine physical activity with mental training.

• Boosts confidence and self-esteem

• Punching helps to relieve muscle tension that develops when you experience stress

• Helps increase production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins

• Boxing requires you to focus on each combination, allowing you to concentrate on the present moment and help clear your mind

3. Increases Alertness & Improves Focus

Not only are boxers getting the benefits of high-intensity exercise, but they also get a mental challenge.

When you are doing a complex combo and you have multiple steps to execute, you have to be focused. Controlling your hand speed, footwork, head movement, etc. involves a high level of mental focus and awareness. This level of focus requires you to have a clear mind during your workout which can carry over into the rest of your day.

• The mental challenge posed by complex boxing drills provides even more benefits for your brain, potentially improving reaction time and working memory

• Moderate to high-intensity workouts instantly boost brain power

• Studies show trying to hit a target with your hands improves eye-hand coordination, which as a result can make you feel more alert and attentive

• Boxing requires you to be present in the moment, with an awareness of yourself and your surroundings

4. Burns 25-30% More Calories Than Other Workouts

Boxing, kickboxing, and HIIT workouts can burn 25-30% more calories than other traditional workouts.

• Boxing is an extremely effective workout in terms of the number of calories burned in a 30-minute session

• Participants burned an average of 482 caloriesduring an 8-round FightCamp workout

• Men burned about 40% more calories than women

• Men burned an average of 595 calories during the workout

• Women burned an average of 369 calories during the workout

5. Boosts Endurance

When done on a regular basis, boxing, kickboxing, and other forms of HIIT workouts can help improve your endurance.

Endurance is an important part of your health. Improving your endurance keeps your lungs, heart, and circulatory system healthy. And of course, the better your endurance, the better your output.

• High-intensity workouts improve maximal oxygen uptake which can help improve your endurance

• These workouts can improve your cardiac capacity and your lactate threshold, helping improve your endurance

6. Strengthens Muscles Throughout Your Body

In boxing, your punching power comes from your entire body.

You must rely on your core strength, leg strength, balance, and endurance. From throwing a cross and ensuring proper hip turn, to slipping using your core and ducking using your legs, you have to use both small and large muscle groups all over the body.

• Boxers use their legs to propel their punches

• Strengthening your core muscles helps with stability, balance, and control of your punches

• Boxing workouts often include exercises to improve shoulder strength and endurance

7. Improves Coordination & Balance

Boxing and kickboxing challenge your baseline balance to help improve coordination.

The movements during a boxing and kickboxing workout, and through HIIT exercises improve your sense of balance, agility, and coordination.

• Challenges baseline balance

• Footwork and stance are two extremely important parts of boxing and kickboxing

• Helps bring awareness to both your upper and lower body

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