Staying active and engaged is vital at every stage of life. And if you’re tired of morning runs and mundane gym sessions, mixing in a boxing workout at home can be just the change of pace your routine needs. Not only is boxing physically & mentally beneficial, but the exhilaration this combat support provides can help keep you motivated to achieve your fitness goals.
There’s only one question: how to start boxing workouts at-home.
If all you know about boxing comes from watching movies and TV, you may assume you need a dedicated gym just to get started. But even if you only have a modest space to work with, you can have a purposeful boxing workout at home. To help show you how, let’s take a look at the essential boxing equipment you’ll need and some tips on how to get started.
Essential Home Boxing Equipment
If you were opening a professional boxing gym, you would want to furnish it with all the latest gear possible. After all, you want to attract clientele by offering something that the competition can’t.
However, for your home equipment, it’s more important to focus on gear that will be useful at your experience level.
A Training Space
The first item on our checklist isn’t a piece of equipment per se, but it will dictate the shape that your home training area will take. Your training space will be specific to your living situation, but there are a few key things to look out for.
Rooms like garages and basements tend to make good options. For one thing, they’re separated from the rest of the home, so there’s less chance of your training sessions disturbing neighbours or housemates. The floors also tend to be unfinished cement, which is preferable to avoid slipping.
If slippery floor surfaces are the only options you have available to you, investing in some training mats that you can put down for stability will be beneficial.
Hand Wraps
As far as equipment goes, the most fundamental thing that you need is a good set of boxing hand wraps.
Hand wraps provide basic protection for the small, delicate bones of the hand, and help stabilise the wrist to prevent injury. Even dedicated professionals are vulnerable to hand and wrist injuries during training or bouts, so this is one piece of boxer equipment that you don’t want to neglect.
Wraps also help extend the life of your gloves by soaking up sweat or blood that would otherwise damage them. And since replacing your wraps will be far more cost-effective than replacing your gloves, it makes financial sense.
Boxing Gloves
On the subject of boxing gloves, a solid beginner’s set is essential for working out with a punching bag.
Gloves come in many different styles, each serving different purposes. Dedicated heavy bag gloves are small and lightweight, and are the best choice for the beginner. Choosing your boxing gloves can seem daunting at first with an abundance of options, so check out this blog on how you can tell which is best suited for you.
A Training Bag
The last piece of fundamental equipment is a punching bag. They come in a few varieties, with the best option for you again depending on your housing situation.
A heavy bag either hung from the ceiling or on a purpose-built heavy bag stand, is the preferred choice if possible. If you rent, though, it can present complications. Hanging it from the ceiling would require permission from your landlord, and a bag stand can scratch unprotected floors.
For these situations, freestanding bags can be more practical.
Next-Level Boxing Training Equipment
Those are all the basic pieces of at home boxing equipment you need to get started. But if you have the extra space, there are some additional pieces of boxing gym equipment you can use to take your training to the next level.
So while non-essential, consider integrating these training supplies into your routine.
A Reflex Bag
A heavy bag is great for general practice. But to elevate your skills, you want to have a reflex bag available, too.
They work a lot like heavy bags, hung from the ceiling or secured to a stand. The difference is that it presents a much smaller target and is spring-loaded so it will bounce back at you after being struck.
They make excellent tools for improving your timing and coordination. And as small as they are, they’re simple to take down and store after use.
Skipping Rope
The biggest hurdle most beginners will encounter is the level of endurance needed to train for extended periods.
Skipping rope is a great way to boost your cardio while improving your footwork and coordination. And as equipment goes, it’s as compact as it gets.
How to Start Boxing Workouts at-Home
Once you’ve established you’ve got your boxing workout equipment, it can be tempting to dive headfirst into the proverbial deep end. But if you’re only starting, you should be cautious of trying to train too hard too quickly.
Boxing is an intensive workout, burning up to 800 calories an hour. At that intensity level, being too eager with your training is a good way to overtax and injure yourself. Instead, start with slower-paced, low-intensity sessions and let your body get used to the movements over time.
Taking it slow will also allow you to perfect the basic techniques. Anyone can let loose a flurry of wild punches, but mastering the fundamentals takes time and patience. It’s worth the effort, as perfecting the basics will let you advance your skills with each workout.
And most of all, don’t lose heart if you don’t make huge leaps in progress right away. Boxing is a skill like any other, and in the early stages, it can take a while to build up the stamina and finesse it requires. But keep at it, and transform your body while boosting your self-esteem in no time.
Learn Boxing at Home the Right Way
Boxing is one of the most efficient workouts you can do. It combines intense cardiovascular training with muscle building and toning and helps increase balance and coordination, so you reap a wealth of benefits for the time you invest.
But as with any workout style, you must prioritise safety, as injuries will cost you precious time and progress. To prevent time-wasting accidents, check out our top tips on how to practice boxing and other combat sports safely and constructively.
