Pros & Cons To Start Boxing At All Ages: What’s Too Old Or Young

Boxing is a great challenge to take on. Physically, it builds your endurance, increases your strength, gives you confidence, and teaches you discipline. The optimal age to start boxing is around the age of seven.

You would be too weak to endure the training and exercises at any age younger than 7 years old as your bones and muscles would still be in the development stages.

If you plan on starting after 40 years old, you will face some difficulties such as depleted stamina, less endurance, and fatigue. Therefore, some might consider it too late to start.

Physical sports are always an excellent way to let off some steam, stay fit and have fun all at the same time. Among the many popular sports, boxing is one that is loved and enjoyed by many all around the globe.

Boxing also improves your cardiovascular system, increases hand-eye coordination, and is great at decreasing stress.

I started boxing as a child, but I’ve seen people start boxing at much later ages, and there’s nothing wrong with that. This blog will answer all your queries about the right boxing age and compare them too. 

Here’s what you can expect!

1. Best ages to start Boxing.
2. The pros and cons of starting Boxing at an early age.
3. The pros and cons of starting Boxing at an older age.
4. Can you be too old to start Boxing?
5. How long does it take to be a good boxer?
6. What equipment do you need to start Boxing?

Boxing is a sport not restricted to any age group, and there’s no perfect time to start boxing.

Depending on the level you aspire to compete on, any age can be suitable to start. Experts recommend beginning training at eight years of age for an athlete who aspires to compete on the highest level.

However, rushing into boxing may lead to injuries and unpleasantness that may discourage you or demotivate you to quitting the sport altogether.

It’s essential to observe discipline, start slow and gradually build the strength and endurance you desire.

Since there is no specific age that is considered perfect for boxing, each age group defined below has its own merits and demerits, let’s talk more about each age group now.

Here’s a quick summary table for you:

Age Range	Can Start Boxing	Remarks
< 8	No	Body haven’t fully developed
8 – 15	Yes	Strong enough to start under heavy supervision
16-30	Yes	Best age group to start
31-40	Yes	Start slow because you are slightly older now
> 40	No	Risk of injury is high. Focus more on cardio

 

Starting Boxing: Ages 7 and under

A child will not be strong enough to hit a punching bag until they are at least 7 years old. However, they can start cardio exercises and practice drills at any age. 

Boxing is a sport that can be challenging and tough on the body, and your child will need a decent amount of strength, balance, and coordination to begin their training.

 

Starting Boxing: Ages 8-15

At 8 years old, a child is strong enough to practise boxing and take on punching bag. However, It’s crucial that all of the above is done under heavy supervision and proper procedure is followed so that no injuries or fatigue is induced upon the child.

You can introduce footwork circuits and delicate counter shots while doing some pad work to begin working on defense.

In later stages of their lives, athletes who turn into professional athletes usually start their training under supervision in this age group.

 

Starting Boxing: Ages 16-30

Ages 16-30 is the best age to start boxing. Your body increases in strength and muscle mass, and you have great stamina and endurance to take on the rigorous training required for boxing.

Most people who turn professional belong to this age group and if you’re thinking of taking boxing up as a career, now is definitely the right time!

 

Starting Boxing: Ages 31-40 

At ages 31-40, you’re still in good shape and can start boxing. Because of your slightly older age, you need to be careful, start things off slowly, and gradually build the strength and endurance required to train hard.

 

Starting Boxing: Ages 40 and above

At ages 40 and above, you are now a bit too old to be thinking of going pro. At this age, your body starts to weaken, and the risk of you injuring yourself is too high.

High-intensity training is therefore not recommended, but you can still do Low-intensity cardio and shadow boxing exercises to maintain a healthy physique.

Starting at an early age can give you an edge over others as it will improve your hand-eye coordination and fitness and teach you discipline. Starting early will also help you learn and master techniques faster than you would if you start at an older age.

On the other hand, you may suffer injuries to your hands and wrists if proper equipment and methods are not used, and in some cases, head injuries may occur as well. Seeking help from an experienced instructor and trainer will help reduce these problems.

As a kid, boxing will fascinate you, and you will take it as a fun, challenging activity instead of gruesome training, which is also an added benefit of starting at an early age.

To add more detail, I have listed the pros and cons of starting boxing at an early age below.

 

Pros of Starting Boxing at a young age

1. Builds strength and endurance. Boxing will provide a full-body workout for you, strengthening your arms, legs, hips, core, chest, and shoulders.
2. Strengthens discipline. You will follow a training routine which will not only help you in boxing but also teach you how to handle yourself in a disciplined manner in front of the world.
3. Encourages a healthy lifestyle. You will adhere to a healthy routine, eat a healthy diet and overall be much healthier compared to others your age.
4. Develops self-confidence. You will feel stronger and better about yourself once you start training and will have an entirely new perspective on life.
5. Calms mind. You will learn to remain cool under pressure and be able to perform better in stressful situations.
6. Builds a sense of teamwork and cooperation. You will also learn how to progress forward as a team and will learn to cooperate with others which is an essential skill in daily life as well.

 

Cons of Starting Boxing at a young age

1. Increases risk of injury. At a young age, your bones will not be fully developed so there is a risk of sustaining an injury as some bones may be weak.
2. Weakens physical conditioning Sometimes, as a kid, you may end up focusing too much on one activity and to ignore other essential activities which have an impact on your  physical conditioning.
3. It may be too challenging. Some kids who start boxing early may find the routines and exercises too gruesome or challenging for them.
4. Body is not fully developed. At early ages, your bones and muscles are still in their growing/development stages, boxing at an early stage may affect the growth and development of these bones and muscles.

Boxing is an excellent way of staying in shape and keeping yourself healthy and fit even in the later stages of your life. It’s also a great way to pass your time.

You may experience some difficulties recovering from workouts and depleted amounts of stamina, but that’s just because of age and reduced muscle mass.

boxing is a sport that people indulge in casually as well. You may be an enthusiast with a full-time job and no intention of pursuing boxing as a career and still enjoy it as a sport.

Starting late does not mean that you can’t do it anymore. All you need is the dedication, motivation, and willpower to execute your plans. So if you plan on staying fit and healthy, boxing is a perfect activity for you.

 

Pros of starting Boxing late (older age)

1. It’s a great workout. Boxing provides you with a full-body workout which is optimal for adults looking for a way to work out all their muscles and joints.
2.  A great way to stay healthy and active. Adults looking for an efficient and fun way to work out an a regular basis can also opt for boxing as it is engaging and effective.
3. Excellent means to build self-confidence even in older ages. If you face confidence issues maybe because of your fitness, boxing may help you re-gaining that confidence and look smart at the same time.

 

Cons of starting Boxing late (older age)

1. Reduces muscle mass and bone density. You may experience a sudden drop in your muscle mass initially as you start to train.
2. Increases risk of injuries. At an older age, your body becomes more prone to injuries as with age, your resilience levels drop.
3. Reduced speed, power, and conditioning. You may not be able to achieve the speed and power in your punches as you would have if you had taken the sport up in your prime.
4. Makes it difficult recovering from workouts. Your stamina and endurance is also reduced with age and you may feel out of breath after a workout session.
5. Reduces reaction time. Your reaction time will also be slower as with age, your vision and senses start to deplete.
6. Increases risks of knockout. You may also get knocked out quickly after a few hits as your body starts to become weaker with increased age.

You can start boxing at any age, but when you cross the age of forty, you have to be extremely cautious undertaking any kind of full-body exertion. Starting at a later age may result in joint and muscle pains as your body might not be able to handle the stress caused by boxing.

Boxing is an excellent way to learn self-defense, get in shape, and pass the time, but if you try and get into it at a very young age or when you’re too old, it may make things difficult and complicated for you.

As an adult beginner, you can start by doing stretching exercises and limiting training time, so you don’t stress your muscles and joints too much. You can also wear proper protective equipment so you don’t sustain any head injuries or hits directly on your face. 

Most students learn the fundamentals of boxing well after just 6 months of regular training. It takes a further 1-2 years to move to an intermediate level and be considered reasonably adept at the sport.  

That said, boxing is a life-long practice, and there is always room for improvement and imperfections.

Your pre-existing skill at the sport also contributes a lot towards making you a good boxer. Some people are naturally talented and are ready for fights very soon after starting their training, while others have to spend some time learning the ins and outs of boxing.

The amount of progress you make also depends on the time you choose to spend on training. People who spend more time practicing and perfecting their skills tend to get better more quickly than people who are a bit on the lazy side.

If you have a sports background, you might have the advantage of learning boxing skills quickly as your body can already meet the physical demands. If you’re not very sporty, it might prove to be a challenge for you to get the fundamentals down, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll have fun and know that it was worth the time spent.

The word “Good Boxer” is a relative and subjective term. I may think of it very differently compared to what you think a good boxer may be. People are skilled differently; some Boxers have a powerful punch while others are very fast movers. Both Boxers are “Good” Boxers but in their own areas of expertise. 

The basic equipment you need to start boxing, whether alone or with a trainer, are

1. Boxing Gloves
2. Hand Wraps
3. Headgear
4. Mouth Guard
5. Heavy Bag
6. Boxing Mat
7. Chest and Groin Protectors

Boxing gloves and hand wraps are necessary no matter where you train. They provide protection to your hands and wrists while also providing padding for your joints so that the shock from the punches is distributed evenly across your hand and you sustain no injuries.

A few items are optional depending upon where you decide to train. If you choose to train with a partner, protective gear like headgear, mouth guard, and chest/groin protectors are necessary to protect you from injuries.

If you decide to train alone, you can go easy on the protective gear but consider investing in a punching bag and boxing mat to easily practice and perfect your techniques such as footwork and punches.

The world of equipment is a vast one, there are many options available for each item, and there is a seemingly infinite number of items as well, thanks to the internet! In the end, you have to see what item is the right fit for you and what you feel most comfortable training and boxing in.

Boxing is an excellent workout for all ages which tones your muscles in a fun way. You can dive into this interesting world at any age and still enjoy it in different ways. Whether you want to make it a profession from childhood or casually enjoy the sport in your retirement days, boxing always has something in store for you. 

So are you ready to take up boxing and enjoy all the benefits it brings along?