As we stood outside the door, the heavy thudding sound reverberated through the floor, heightening my anticipation. With my friend leading the way, I stepped into the room, immediately hit by the damp and stuffy atmosphere. A loud fan was humming in the corner, failing to provide relief. Six individuals were spread across the floor, each moving and dancing to their own rhythm. I, being only 18 and having minimal experience with gyms, especially boxing classes, was the least fit among them.
Despite my lack of fitness, the coach instructed me through all the drills: shadowboxing in front of the mirror, punching the bag, and engaging in light sparring. The coach’s punches landed on my nose, forehead, jaw, and abdomen, serving as reminders to keep my hands up and keep moving. My legs were in agony, even the gentlest tap on the nose caused a sharp sting. (Of course, it didn’t help that my nose had been broken since I was 7.) Nevertheless, amidst the pain, I realized that I enjoyed martial arts.
My intention wasn’t to become an amateur fighter, but rather to continue becoming stronger and faster. The boxing classes I attended at my college gym and during summer breaks always involved sparring. The whole purpose of training was to improve my ability to throw and evade punches in the ring. I relished the tangible improvement I felt each time I faced a real opponent. However, after graduating, I discovered that the immediate induction into sparring that I experienced on my first day was nearly impossible to find.
In recent years, the popularity of “fitboxing” classes, which incorporate intense cardio, strength training, and ab workouts, has soared. These classes may resemble boxing, but there is one significant difference – the grand finale involves punching a bag, not a person. Many of these gyms are “noncontact” and those that allow sparring often charge an additional fee. I asked my coach, Bryan Corrigan, why he believes sparring holds value, why he started me on it from day one. He explained that it involves the mind game and the science of boxing. The fear of getting hit can be overwhelming, but through sparring, one learns to remain calm and strategize in the face of adversity. Without sparring, that crucial aspect is lost.
In the past, boxing gyms were synonymous with fighting gyms – a ring was an essential component. Bruce Silverglade, the owner of Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York, revealed that initially, these gyms were populated by professional players and amateur fighters. Many of these gyms were located in low-income areas and appealed to new immigrants and minority groups who saw the sport as a positive alternative to the streets.
However, as “fitboxing” gained traction, the landscape began to change. Professional boxing matches shifted to pay-per-view TV, raising concerns about the sport’s brutality. Fans started gravitating towards MMA fights, boxing shows relocated primarily to Las Vegas, and free programs that made boxing accessible to underserved communities decreased or disappeared altogether. Within and outside the sporting community, discussions concerning boxing’s violence and the resulting brain damage grew louder.
Meanwhile, fitness classes of all kinds were experiencing exponential growth – barre, hot yoga, spinning. Fitboxing joined this wave and attracted enough white-collar professionals to spark a significant shift. Michael Hughes, head trainer at Church Street Boxing in Manhattan, New York, believes this shift occurred around 2012. Boutique boxing gyms emerged to cater to this new clientele, while many traditional fighting gyms had to redefine their offerings. Silverglade shared that approximately 85% of his current members are businessmen and women seeking conditioning workouts.
These newer boxers, however, generally show little interest in sparring, according to gym owners. Consequently, even many of the more traditional boxing gyms no longer offer sparring or separate it from regular classes. Joey DeMalavez, owner of Joltin’ Jabs in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, explained that incorporating sparring is not financially viable, especially given rising rent and insurance costs. Furthermore, offering sparring within regular boxing classes would deter more people than it would attract. People want the experience of boxing without the risk of getting hit.
The fear of injury is valid, and many gyms, particularly those considered “old-school,” may not prioritize safety. Katalin Rodriguez Ogren, owner of Pow! Gym Chicago, acknowledged the tension, stating that an authentic boxing gym does not automatically guarantee a safe training environment. While these gyms provide an authentic experience, they may lack proper knowledge of injury prevention and safe training techniques. Rodriguez Ogren believes gyms can strike a balance between safety and authenticity. Sparring is not about inflicting harm or knocking someone out; it focuses on improving accuracy and reflexes. Accidents can still happen, as in any sport, but the punches are not delivered at full intensity. Being hit and being injured are two different experiences.
There’s nothing wrong with desiring a boxing-inspired workout, as all the boxing coaches I spoke with agreed. It offers genuine fitness benefits, including cardio, strength-building, and coordination. However, fitboxing is rapidly overshadowing traditional boxing rather than growing alongside it. The genuine boxing gyms I found in Manhattan and Brooklyn can cost over $100 per month to join. Furthermore, boxing without sparring fundamentally alters the activity. Comparing it to dance, Rodriguez Ogren explained that although Zumba is enjoyable, it isn’t the choice for someone wanting to learn how to salsa dance.
The risk of being hit provides direct and immediate feedback on one’s progress, offering an additional confidence boost and sense of achievement. Peter Olusoga, a senior psychology lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University specializing in sports and exercise psychology, explained that by relying on skill to stay safe, one gains discipline. The confidence that comes from recognizing continuous improvement and feeling more competent is highly beneficial. While simply practicing boxing moves, as in fitboxing, might provide a taste of this feeling, sparring takes it up a notch. Attempting to hit another person while protecting oneself represents a higher level of difficulty and intimacy with sparring partners.
For me, the inherent value of sparring goes beyond discipline and adversity. A boxing-inspired workout is an excellent way to get in shape, but sparring is a mind game. No matter how much I engage in it, I will inevitably get hit. Yet, I have learned to hold my own in the ring, most of the time. While I may never want to pursue professional fighting, sparring transcends a mere workout – it is a form of problem-solving that challenges both the mind and body. If you have an interest in boxing, I encourage you to step into the ring and give it a try.
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