Needs Of A Boxing For The Street Fighting Champion

Street boxing champions are often well taken cared of especially when preparing for a
fight. However, there are still some blind spots that are mostly overlooked or neglected,
but are very necessary to achieve peak fight performance. Good coaches and trainers see these
things and carefully check them out, but others often miss them. Here is a checklist of some of
those other frequently unchecked needs.

A. PHYSICAL

1. Breakfast. Boxers, and in fact everybody, need a good breakfast to start the day. It is
definitely wrong to be in training and skip breakfast. Some think that skipping meals
is a good idea for reducing weight. Experts have found that skipping meals has little
to do with weight loss and may actually even do the reverse. They say eating 3 meals
a day in moderation (minus in-between meals or snacks) is the answer to effective
weight loss, and that moderation means not too much on carbohydrates and fats
(macro nutrients), and more on veggies, fruits, and nuts (micro nutrients). Other
nutrition experts think that supper could be skipped now and then, or could be limited
to vegetables or fruit salad. However, breakfast is the most important meal and must
include a balanced diet.

2. Rest and recreation. All work, and no play makes everybody (not just Jack) a dull boy
or girl. Rigid training is good, but equally important are rest days to let the body
recover from muscle sprains or injuries, and to let the mind and soul recuperate from
pressures. In fact, some athletes say doing some artwork helps ease the mind. (Even if
you are not good at drawing or painting, just scribble away!) Treat yourself out for a
vacation trip occasionally. See a comedy show. Go boating with friends. Better yet,
read good books. It will sharpen your mind some more.

3. Sense of humor. Hard boxing for the street training is needed and can be enjoyable, but it’s different when
nobody’s laughing anymore. It has been reported that some boxers actually die while
training, not because of any ailment, but because of intense pressure that became too
much for their hearts. Laughing can ease pressures, put sense again into winning, and
make you human again. Too much training turns you into a robot and degenerates
into nothing more than input and output. It pays for trainers and trainees to have good
laughs together while training now and then.

4. Cross train. Not only can other sports help you do better in boxing (which is
often done today), but other activities also can help tremendously.
Some traditional cross-training activities:

a) Mountain climbing or hiking. No matter what your sport is (Tae kwon
do, boxing, skiing, football, swimming, polo, or even chess, billiards,
or golf), you should try mountain climbing or hiking on the
countryside or forest every now and then. Taking up different
challenges will enrich your spirit and imagination. It can also help
your stamina.

b) Tai chi. Most training programs teach your muscles to flex and be
rigid. Very few teach them to relax and rest. A long time ago, Chinese
kinetics discovered that agility is really perfected once you have
mastered the combination of muscle tension and relaxation, among
other things. Tai chi teaches you to masterfully combine the hard and
the soft, the fast and the slow, working out and at the same time
relaxing. Athletes in any sports will find tai chi very helpful in
controlling breathing, in concentration, in conserving energy, and in
adding speed. Tai chi is getting popular as a cross training tool.

c) Swimming. Not only swimmers should swim, but also any athlete who
wants a complete workout of all his muscles without sustaining muscle
injury. Swimming is an excellent cross training tool for chess, table
tennis, and billiards players, and also for car racers and horseback
riders, among others. It keeps them fit without getting too tired or
muscular.

d) Running. Like weightlifting and gymnastics, running is one of the
most common cross training sports for all athletes.
Some non-traditional cross-training methods:

a) Ballet dancing. Helps firm up muscles and makes them flexible.
Martial artists will find this activity very beneficial to their form,
balance, grace, and leg and hand reach. Pole vault players, high
jumpers, divers, gymnasts, and hurdle runners will similarly benefit
from this.

b) Hang gliding. A view from high above affording a panoramic scene
always clears the mind and improves perspectives, aside from getting
fresh air. Climbing mountain peaks gives peculiar self-elation, but
flying high above gives you a strong feeling of conquest. Hang gliders
often say, “It seems everything is possible when you’re up there.”
c) Cooking. Now, this is a real eyebrow raiser. Expertly cooking
elaborate dishes (the more foreign they are, the better) helps your
accuracy, timing, organization, focus, and judgment while in the
“arena” that is the kitchen, says athletes who have tried making
cooking a part of their routine. It also improves logic and good taste,
of course.

d) Carpentry and making crafts. These activities help your mind and hand
coordination in trying to figure things out. It’s a kind of problem
solving that uses acumen and hand skills. Ancient civilizations usually
had warriors who were also metal or wood artisans. Carpentry in itself
teaches teamwork and cooperation. The two also strengthen the will
and patience
.
e) Fishing. Either by the deep sea or by the river (fresh water fishing),
fishing affords relaxation but keeps you still at work, nonetheless.
While relaxing, it sharpens your senses and judgment. It is a gentle
workout too.

Physical needs of a street boxer are not addressed in rigid training alone. Some needs are met
outside the gym and training schedules. They are met in non boxing venues. Some needs, on the
other hand, are met partially in rigid training, and still need follow up through other vehicles.
These needs are better met if done with your father-trainer.