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How to Get the Most Out of Your First Boxing Classes
There's no secret to getting better at boxing. It's the compounding of time over months spent on the bags, reps, and keen attention in class. But there are a handful of small habits that noticeably help members progress faster. None of them require any special skills, and anyone can do them!
Arrive ten minutes early
Not necessarily just for punctuality. Though we LOVE it when you’re punctual. 🙏
When you arrive early, you have time to….
- Wrap your hands properly instead of rushing a wrap that'll loosen in round two.
- Start stretching or rolling out, so your body is ready to move at its smoothest and without creaking.
- Watch the class before yours finish up and pick up something by osmosis.
- Walk in ready to learn instead of ready to catch your breath.
Meet one person each class
Just introduce yourself to whoever's on the bag next to you, or the person wrapping up at the same time you are. Names, how long they've been training, maybe a one-sentence exchange about how terrible Austin traffic is.
Two things happen over the next few weeks. First, you start walking into the gym and seeing familiar faces. Second, you build informal accountability. When people know your name and expect to see you, skipping class gets harder.
Community isn't something that just happens to you because a trendy run club said it would by going to their random event. You absolutely have to be an active participant in it!
Pay attention to footwork, not just punches
New boxers almost always fixate on their hands. Power, speed, combinations. That's the fun part. But footwork is what makes the hands work.
Your stance isn't arbitrary. If your feet are wrong, you will be off-balance, and you won’t be able to connect the power of your legs to your punches. Punching is a full-body movement.
Give as much attention to where your feet are as to what your hands are doing. The punches will be more impactful faster if your base is right.
Tuning into your body and what each part is doing during your combinations is a phenomenal way to maintain focus and practice full-body awareness.
Ask questions
Every boxer was new once. There are no stupid questions. Your coaches LOVE questions. Asking questions means you are engaged with what you’re learning, you’re taking the time to notice that something is wrong or doesn’t make sense, and you’re willing to correct it! That already puts you several steps ahead of the boxer who isn’t taking the time to tune into their practice and what the coach is teaching them.
Bring the right stuff
You don't need much. But a few items make class better:
- Wraps. Always. Your own pair, washed.
- Boxing gloves. Gloves you love that are made of quality materials (usually leather), and are protective for your hands and wrists.
- A water bottle big enough to last the whole class. We do have a water fountain for when you need a refill.
- A hand towel. You'll sweat more than you think - especially if you’re well hydrated.
- Clothes you can actually move in. Boxing involves a lot of pivoting, stepping, and breathing hard. Whatever lets you do that comfortably.
- Your white band. Wear it on one of your forearms. Our martial arts style ranking system helps our instructors know approximately what skill level you’re at, and they can adjust the curriculum accordingly.
(More info on our ranking system can be found here.)
Don't apologize for being new
The urge to preface everything with "sorry, I'm new" is understandable. Being new isn't something to apologize for though; it's a temporary condition that lets you actually improve. Everyone started where you are!
Be honest when you don't know something. Be receptive to corrections. Observe your classmates and copy off of them (yes, cheating is allowed here! ). Show up again. Rinse and repeat!
Don't try to keep up with the room
In our boxing classes, you'll see people at very different stages. Some members have been training for years, some are on day three. And those boxers who have been training for years? Remember very clearly what their boxing skills were like on day three.
Basically, don't measure your progress against the person next to you. Measure it against the version of you that walked in six weeks ago. That's the only comparison that means anything.
Stay for a few minutes after class
Most of the conversations in a boxing gym happen in the five minutes after class ends. The coach has time to answer questions, members chat while unwrapping, and the social dynamic of the gym community becomes visible and alive in a way it isn't during the work.
Stay an extra few minutes. You don't have to make it a huge thing. Just be there long enough for it to turn into your third space, not just a place where you workout.
That's it! That’s all!
Super simple. Show up early, meet people, ask questions, pay attention to your feet, hang around. Do those five things consistently for three months and you'll be a different boxer than you are today, and you'll have the gym culture around you that makes it worth coming back to.
