Bradley Simmons

AP Lang
2-11-19

When it comes to sports with intense physical demand, boxing is at the top of the list.

However, when it comes to being one of the safest sports, it’s nowhere near the top. Believe it or

not, there is a way to get the physical benefits, without the risk of being severely injured.

To begin with, it is widely known that exercise is good for the body in many ways.

Exercising is more than getting in shape and achieving whatever personal goal is set. Working

out is a feel good activity, even if it doesn’t feel good at the time. According to Psychology

Today, exercising will stimulate our body to release feel good hormones, thus making people

feel better about themselves. Further noted in this article is the fact that, when exercising, it is

also serving as a distraction from current concerns and damaging self-talk. While exercising is

seemingly used for the physical attributes, there are mental aspects, too. As written in the same

article, studies have found that exercising has the ability to reduce the possibility of mental

illnesses such as depression. Now that the advantages of regular exercise have been explored,

what about boxing?

Like traditional exercise, boxing is not all about the physical aspect. It is also about

improving mentally. To clarify, the boxing being described is all in a class that is non-contact. It

is strictly based on learning how to box. There are ample mental pieces, as stated in an RDX

Sports article, that go into learning how to box, but that gets overshadowed by the physicality

and fighting. When I took my first boxing class, my main goal wasn’t to learn how to fight. It

was to let my inner anger and stress out. People don’t realize just how good it feels to actually hit
something with no repercussions. The relief is absolutely amazing. Not only does the stress melt

away, there’s learning involved as well. Speaking from experience, learning the combinations is

rough at first, especially since you have to memorize them. This really tests your memory and

how quickly you can think. Once a combination is learned to perfection, that boxer feels good

about him or herself. At least, I know I do. Boxing serves as a confidence builder as well. The

coordination that comes with boxing is immense. Whether I’m the one holding the mitts or the

one with the gloves on, I’ve got to be ready. In either position, it’s all hand-eye coordination.

Boxers have to be ready to catch punches and see where punches are being thrown. And, it has to

be fast. As stated above, the benefits of boxing are great and the payoff is vast.

In conclusion, the mental health benefits of boxing range from stress relief, to a

confidence boost, to a memory test. The physicality is intense. So is the mental acuity. Boxing

helps build a healthier mental state for anyone who needs a break from the stresses of life.