[teawithsunshine]

Hi!

I'm curious... I've been watching "Million Dollar Baby" and I also watched "Girl Fight" (boxing films).

How come the trainers in the films advocate that you take up a lot of running in addition to learning how to box? Is there something in that kind of cardio that is of more benefit to boxers than other types of aerobic activity?

thanks!

~ tea

[mkroyer]

I am both a runner as well as a former boxer ( not competitively, however). The runnig serves two purposes- the first is overall conditioning!! Boxing is BY FAR the HARDEST workout you will EVER DO. im being completely serious...im very athletic, and no other type of workout has made me throw up ( or want to throw up) almost everytime!! Seriously to anyone out there looking for something that will kick your butt like NO OTHER...try boxing ( and i DONT mean the "kickboxing" they have at gyms for classes---the real deal). Ok, the second reason boxing and running go hand in hand is CORE conditioning...you need a GREAT core in order to be able to perform either activity...

[aneleh]

i just started kickboxing (at a club mkroyer, not a gym! lol) and I think the running helps SO much with just overall cardiovascular conditioning, if done at a high intesity (aka out of your comfort zone). But you could also do things like jumping jacks, jump rope (double jumps are insane!) that are just as effective. We do those things in class to warm up. I don't think running really strengthens your core that effectively, however a strong core makes your running better.

[Shannon in ATL]

I took kickboxing at a martial arts studio from an ex-marine who used to box in the service. We did a lot of sprinting, jump rope, heavy calisthenics as warm up. He also encouraged running on the off days from class. I always figured it was to build up the endurance. I can see the core benefit being helpful as well. I still box on a bag in my garage and it wears me flat out.