Hello, TRP. I have fully internalized the importance of exercise, and about goddamn time, too.
However, I am a big member of my college's boxing team, and I have my first match coming up soon that I'm working my ass off training for. My question would be if there's any distinct importance in TRP between lifting and mastering a martial sport that might put me at a disadvantage in the SMP?
I don't see nearly the amount of hypertrophy from boxing that I would be experiencing if I was lifting, but I thoroughly enjoy the sport and I've been told that lifting and boxing simply do not mix in terms of the mobility needed to best use the ring.
SalporinRP 5y ago
I mean a lot of it depends on what weight class you want to fight in. I'm an amateur boxer with a few bouts so I feel I can dispense a bit of knowledge.
I'm 5'10 and I currently fight at middleweight which is 165. That means I normally walk around at around 168-170 because fuck cutting like 10 lbs before a fight and dehydrating yourself.
Being a pretty chiseled 170 at 5'10 is completely fine for me in terms of being proud of my body and how much muscle I carry on my body.
And whoever told you that bs about how lifting and boxing don't mix doesn't know shit. You probably won't be able to lift 5-6 days a week if you're training for a fight but 3-4 is completely do-able.
It's hard to give you advice because you haven't told us anything about your body. How tall are you, what's your weight, what's your bf%, how many days do you lift a week, how many days do you train boxing a week, etc.
Another big question is how far do you wanna go in boxing? If you want to go pro or do high-level amateur fights the answer might be different than if you're just doing it for fun.
Vintage_Cola 5y ago
It's good to hear from somebody experienced in this.
I'm 6'5" and 200 lbs. I'll be fighting at 195-6 and my bf% is approx. 20%. So I'm not chiseled, but I'm still athletic. I train 6 days a week on heavy cardio + bodyweight + high rep/low weights.
Most important, I have 2 meals a day on a high protein, low carbohydrate diet (fruits are fine). Idk if that's a good idea for a boxer, but I'm so used to it that a carb-heavy meal just makes me feel sluggish.
Personally I'm only planning to compete at the intercollegiate level. My goal isn't to become a boxing legend: it's just a hobby to me. In the end, I just want to be at a good place I'm proud of.
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
20% BF is going to harm your mobility way more than cutting to low teens and replacing it with muscle mass.
SalporinRP 5y ago
At 6'5 and 200 you have quite the frame you can tack muscle onto. I'm not sure how the collegiate weight classes work but at the amateur level in the US the heavyweight limit is 201 lbs so I'd assume that's where you would be fighting at. I wouldn't recommend coming in 5 lbs under the limit if I were you. I would try to put on a bit of muscle to get you to 205-207 and then do a small cut down to 201 before the fight.
When I first started to balance lifting and boxing I did a routine like this to start with so I wouldn't get burned out.
Monday: Chest/triceps
Tuesday: Boxing
Wednesday: Back/biceps
Thursday: Boxing
Friday: Legs/shoulders
Saturday: Boxing
Sunday: Rest
cardio 5-6 days a week and abs every day
3 long-distance days (3-4 miles at a steady pace)and 3 HIIT days (1 minute sprinting, 1 minute jogging, repeat)
When you get adjusted to that schedule after 3-4 weeks I would incorporate another day of boxing on leg/shoulders day.
As for the diet I would try to keep the carbs low but they don't have to be crazy low. You need the fuel for the boxing workouts and the roadwork you'll have to do to get your cardio up.
DiggerClam 5y ago
20%bf? Good luck Butterbean.
th33unsaltednutt 5y ago
I do muay thai myself and my coach says lift if you want but the time doing that, you can be working on technique,sparring, conditioning and etc.
Flamethrowa21 5y ago
Stick with boxing if you enjoy it. Great sport.
maljo24 5y ago
Lifting! Don't beat up your brain. You're going to need that someday.
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
Total broscience, which unfortunately there is a lot of in boxing.
Lifting is essential cross-training for virtually any athlete.
AWorseManThanYou 5y ago
I grew up hearing that lifting heavy promoted the wrong twitch type. It doesn’t matter what your maximal strength is in a ring. How confident are you that this is wrong?
SalporinRP 5y ago
Not true, and if you are lifting to supplement boxing you should be doing a lot of explosive training anyways.
AWorseManThanYou 5y ago
This is what I was hoping he’d talk about instead of lifting heavy. Explosive training is key.
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
All other attributes are ultimately limited by maximal strength. Explosive training is great for intermediate trainees, but most people who haven't already invested a lot of time in the weight room will get the best bang for their buck improving maximal strength in big compound movements.
SalporinRP 5y ago
I agree. Ideally you should do a good mix of both. For instance my leg day consists of squats, hamstring curls, leg extensions, and box jumps as well as another plyometric exercise like depth jumps.
I also do sprints for cardio which is great for explosiveness.
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
What twitch type do you think is "the wrong type"?
Stronger fighters will hit harder and be more resistance to damage.
100%
AWorseManThanYou 5y ago
Slow twitch, stronger does not mean hits harder, you avoid damage by dodging and blocking not with your muscles.
I was more behind you before you posted this response. Stronger does not equal harder is a pretty basic tenant of boxing. It’s all speed, accuracy, and technique.
I thought you were going to talk about the benefits of endurance and explosive movement training. And then you went the only wrong direction with that you could.
Sheesh you shoulda been less confident. Or just stuck with the benefits of explosive movement training instead of max strength nonsense.
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
Heavy lifting promotes the growth of fast-twitch fibres.
Utter nonsense. All explosive athletic endeavours are assisted by more strength and power. Why would striking be different?
What do you think absorbs the impact when you block?
OK but simply asserting some cliche isn't an argument.
What tissue accelerates the body?
That's great, but not hampered by strength development.
AWorseManThanYou 5y ago
Aww man, I am still really rooting for you because I think lifting has a place in boxing, but you’re just coming at this wrong.
Cross training looks different for different sports. Your one size fits all stance just isn’t right. SMH.
I was more hoping you’d shed light on what types of weight training is most useful. For example, deadlifts are fantastic overall but aren’t as useful as pull-ups for boxers. Power cleans aren’t widely used for strength training but are great for boxing.
There’s nuance here you’re missing. Sorry man.
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
For most non-elite trainees, sports-specificity in lifting is highly overrated. Improve general strength with big compounds, and then you can apply that strength with sport-specific training.
How so? Aren't boxers always talking about how punching power comes from the legs/hips/core?
FWIW I think both movements are great.
ArbitraryArlom 5y ago
Boxing is much cooler, more interesting to girls, still gets you really fit. Stick with it.
RicoDunne 5y ago
Indeed going to a fight is a social event, while going to the gym is just not the same
RedKnightTime 5y ago
Boxing.
WiredT 5y ago
Lol look like you could kick an ass vs actually kicking an ass
Hmmmm lmao. I heard you take a girl to your match and those lips get moist...at least thats what my friend told me.
anonymousva 5y ago
Pick one to focus on and use the other as a compliment to your training. I did some MMA in college and tried to keep up a regular lifting routine at the same time. I wanted to be aesthetic and I benefited from the strength boost but I had trouble revovering and didn't always perform well in practice. Honestly trying to juggle both and neglecting flexibility is part of, amongst other things, the reason I have lower back issues. Its really a pain in ass to deal with and effects my QOL. If I could go back I would have cut back on the lifting (not completely cut it out) and do more stretching and cardio, although strength is still neccessary due to the heavy grappling aspect of MMA so some lifting has its place.
In any combat sport conditioning and technique is most important, particularly boxing. Also combat sports have a high rate of injury as is. Lifting at the same time may or may not help. I would definitely stick with boxing since your already on the team and commited. Lift maybe twice a week, basic compound movements with strict form. Could help your punching power for sure. Just know that heavy sqauts and deadlifts can leave you feeling drained and slow you down. Obviously if you have a fight coming up, big lifts are ill advised. Alternatively, and maybe even better for your situation, stick with low impact exercises like pullups, dips and lunges for strength in addition to regular boxing practice and running/conditioning. And get a good stretch routine going! Winning an upcoming fight is most important and you may not get another chance to compete. You can always focus on lifting later in life. Good luck bro
cufflad 5y ago
I tried to maintain Muay Thai and lifting - it's tough, and they often contradict.
I ended up stopping MT, and focus solely on lifting. A few points I noticed:
Since I've stopped MT, I've gone from 160lbs to 175lbs. My aim is to be 180lbs shredded at 5ft11. This would have been unachievable in the past - I used to compete at 154lbs.
I'm much stronger, bigger, and well-rested. Obviously my cardio fitness and flexibility have suffered.
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Decide what you want.
If it's an aesthetic body, fewer injuries, more flexible training schedules and lifestyle, then lifting trumps martial arts every time.
If you want a hobby/dedicated lifestyle, competition, socialising, then martial arts is better.
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embracingtheredpill 5y ago
Do both if you have the energy for it. There really isn't a problem here. I used to alternate between lifting and boxing.
nu121x 5y ago
Getting hit in the head is really bad for you. It accumulates over time and my guess (just from watching the regression in body movement and verbal ability of boxing greats over time) is that the more IQ you have the more you will lose to microconcussions.
Lift instead or pick BJJ instead. At least then you'll have injured ligaments but your brain will be fine.
As for looking like you can kick ass vs being able to kick ass... the best thing you can do in any situation where a fight is imminent is to run. If you're outnumbered 2 to 1 with someone in the street, you're at a huge disadvantage. Someone of equal boxing skill has 10 pounds on you? Another disadvantage. Someone who you have 20 pounds on? They might have a knife or a gun.
If you want to take up MMA to make friends with other strong men, it's a great place to do so. But taking it up so you can fight is stupid. It will give you a false sense of security and cause you to needlessly escalate conflict.
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
This really depends on your individual psychology. Some people get a bit of skill and want to punch on at every opportunity to show it. Others have nothing to prove after already having sparred or competed that week, and understand how fragile the human body can be.
WalterBlackPC 5y ago
Listen dude. Listen to the 1 thing I gotta say (people got a short fucking attention span, I know) and I'l keep it simple.
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If you got a fight coming up, dont fuck up your fight training and conditioning with un-coached gym sessions. Your coach has a plan for you and drills you accordingly. By doing things at the gym like a retard (we are all retards, especially at that Uni age) we could possibly fuck up the muscle dynamics of our body and possibly (most-likely) catastrophically destroy a part of your body. Examples of possible damage include ACL tears, shoulder dislocations, torn biceps and basically any other injury that you could think off that would arise from not training for the sport you're trying to perform in.
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SalporinRP 5y ago
Not remotely true. If he wants to fight in the amateurs for boxing the earlier he can start, the better. He will be fighting against people who have trained since they were 10-11 years old.
I lift and box as well. It's not easy by any means but I handle it.
th33unsaltednutt 5y ago
Im not sure if you have ever done a combat sport but do you realize the amount of discipline,willpower and conditioning to even partake in a fight in the ring and or cage.
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RedKnightTime 5y ago
Oh okay.
RedKnightTime 5y ago
OP, disregard this comment. It doesn’t look like they even read your post.
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RedKnightTime 5y ago
What kind of autistic babydick retard logic is that?
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RedKnightTime 5y ago
Only if he wasn't in any kind of shape to begin with.
So are most sports. Go pop your mom's titty out of your mouth sometime.
Bigdoggg323 5y ago
Doesn’t boxing ruin your nose and ears? Which would ultimately lower smv..
th33unsaltednutt 5y ago
It varies from person to person.
I have been hit in the nose plenty. Not broken once. I have other friends that have glass like noses. Break easy and bleed all the time.
Ears: You can still get cauliflower in striking from a hard enough strike.
One of my coaches during his fighting years got a right hook to the ear once and got cauliflower ear. On the other hand my head coach 24 years of striking and grappling but no cauliflower ear.
The only permanent injury(besides built up brain trauma) is i have a scar right above my left eyebrow from an elbow.
Bigdoggg323 5y ago
I have some cauliflower ear from bjj and Muay Thai and am self conscious about it. It fucks with my abundance mentality cuz every time I don’t close I think it must be my ears. It’s not to noticeable but it fucks with me. Sucks cuz I love the sports but no girl wants to bang a dude with jacked up ears
Throwaway-242424 5y ago
The kind of girl to dig "bad boys" would probably be into it.
RedKnightTime 5y ago
I have cauliflower ear from wrestling. I had some pretty gnarly surgery over it because one side was like a fucking golfball at one point.
But that aside, no girl gives a fuck, and you're just using it as a faggoty excuse to be self-conscious.
Actionable advice: Consider cognitive-behavioral therapy over your insecurity over your ear(s).
Bigdoggg323 5y ago
But looks are everything in the SMP. Bitches don’t wana fuck a dude with jacked ears cuz they’re retarted and think I was born with it
RedKnightTime 5y ago
They're important, but they're not everything.
It doesn't work like that at all. I'm not sure how you got that idea into your head or if you just dreamed it up yourself, but it's not the case at all. To put it one way, your ears being fucked up are not a signal that women look to when deciding if you're sufficient to reproduce with.
You seem like you know just enough to get yourself in trouble with huge misconceptions, and that's a tough situation to be in because it seems real to you.
Bigdoggg323 5y ago
It really does man. I can’t hold frame cuz of my ears. I used to have abundance then I got jacked up ears and they protrude and now I’m self conscious. What are the signals they look for then? It just makes me needy now man. I can’t have abundance with fucked up ears. No girl wants that.
Bigdoggg323 5y ago
What do you advice I do