If you’ve been considering taking up boxing for whatever reason but your spring chicken years are a distant memory, you may be wondering if boxing is a sport best left to the youth. You are never too old to box, and 2023 is as good a time as any to start, regardless of how many candles are on the cake.
Asking yourself “am I too old to box?” is a reasonable question to ask, especially if you are considering the competitive circuit. However, as a sport, boxing is great for any age, so here are some excellent reasons to start boxing in 2023.
The Best Time to Start Boxing is Now
If competitive sport was a passion in your youth, getting the itch to do so again during your more advanced years is perfectly natural. Whether you are 24 or 42, no age is too old to start boxing.
If you are looking for a more exciting way to get fit or lose weight, boxing can help at any age. Don’t disregard boxing as a competitive sport because you think you’re too old either. There are competitions for a wide array of age groups.
However, it will still take a disciplined approach to get to a competitive level. Fortunately, you don’t need to compete to realise the many benefits boxing can provide.
Your skill level will be the most important factor in competitive boxing. If you’ve never boxed before or you are not in your best shape, competitive boxing may need to be a long-term goal.
If you’ve kept yourself in good condition, you may find yourself in the competitive arena sooner than you thought possible. Regardless of your situation, a good coach will provide the support you need to achieve your goals.
What’s a Good Age for Kids to Start Boxing?
Kids of all ages can start boxing, but parents should let their kids take their time exploring their interests so they can make up their own minds. We believe that the best age for any child to take up boxing is when they start showing an interest in it, provided they are able to follow simple instructions and communicate effectively.
Boxing is an excellent sport for young people because it will teach discipline, build self-confidence, and keep them fit, healthy, and active. There are plenty of boxing programs tailored for children, with some starting them off as young as four and going up to 12 years old.
Not all gyms have programmes for young children, so you should always check with a boxing gym near you first before starting the signup process. If your child is showing an interest in boxing, here are just some of the reasons you should encourage it:
They will develop self-confidence: Learning a new skill is a confidence-building exercise for young children. Plus, kids who know how to defend themselves will feel a little safer in the world.
They will meet new friends: Boxing isn’t a team sport, nor is it a solo activity. Learning the sport at a boxing gym is a great place for kids to connect with others and forge new friendships outside of their school environment. Parents should also consider boxing as a way to spend quality time with their children away from phones, computers, and gaming consoles.
Boxing will teach self-discipline and responsibility: Extracurricular activities outside of school, especially demanding ones like boxing, provide another opportunity to teach kids discipline and responsibility.
Boxing teaches coordination, and balance, and improves reflexes: It’s always good to improve your reflexes, coordination and balance at any age, but kids who develop these skills are building a good foundation for a fitter future.
Boxing exercises the body and mind: Boxing is a physically demanding sport that engages the mind and body. Kids will develop an advanced ability to focus and concentrate on whatever they put their minds to, not just boxing.
Is 50 Too Old to Start Boxing?
There are plenty of “old timers” who have won titles when they were well into their 40s. George Foreman was 47 years old when he won a world heavyweight championship. Bernard Hopkins successfully defended his world title at the age of 49 and retired from competitive boxing at fifty-one.
Sure, these are examples of two of boxing’s greatest who had been boxing their entire adult lives. However, if it’s possible to win a world title when others of the same age are losing the battle of the bulge to an expanding waistline, then starting boxing training at that age is entirely doable.
Older generations considering boxing training will need to adjust their activity levels, especially if they are not used to physical training. There is no getting around the fact that training will be different for a 50-year-old than it will be for someone in their late teens or early twenties.
Constant improvement is the most important thing, so make sure you track your progress. Your coach can help you monitor how far you have come, but there are also plenty of apps for mobile phones that can easily keep track of your fitness level.
Is There an Age Where it’s Too Late to Start Boxing?
Boxing provides an excellent full-body workout because it includes a diverse range of exercises. As such, there is no age that is considered too old for boxing. Still, there will be plenty of challenges for more senior boxers. You may need to adjust the intensity and frequency of your boxing sessions, as well as:
- Increase the frequency and duration of rests
- Reduce the number of rounds
- Try less vigorous exercises during training (swap out jump rope for squats for example)
Even if you’ve briefly entertained the thought that you might be too old for boxing, we highly recommend giving it a try anyway. There’s no time like the present, so why not let 2023 be the year you finally give boxing a go? Boxing is great for building fitness, but it can also be a lot of fun. We guarantee you will love it and you will want to keep coming back for more, no matter how old you are.