Lisa Creech Bledsoe's 9 Reasons to Start Boxing After 40

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

This is the original post from 2010. Putting the content here because it is awesome. Her blog The Glowing Edge

9 Reasons to Start Boxing After 40

By Lisa Creech Bledsoe in Boxing, Over 40

 

1. Street cred

Think about the difference between saying, “Yeah, I play a little basketball,” versus “The stitches don’t bother me. I have another fight next month; you should come.” C’mon, it’s just cool. And when was the last time you had legitimate Cool Points, when you downloaded the Zippo lighter app to your iPhone? Puh-leeze.

2. Business smarts

If there is one thing you must do to thrive in the ring, it’s develop the ability to think clearly under massive pressure. That translates really nicely to the business world. Mergers and acquisition? Hostile takeovers? High finance? Forty-seven third graders? Bring it.

3. Get your mind off of work

Forget business smarts, if you’ve been racing your career motorcycle this long, you might want to ease up on that throttle and get off the bike now and then. It feels great to unsuit and pound the crap out of something. And taking a few good hits will definitely clear out the last of your desire to work 24/7, I promise.

4. Increase your bone density

Ok, you’re over 40 and it’s time to lay off the loaded potato skins at T.G.I. Friday’s and get under that bench press bar. Your bones aren’t going to get stronger unless you bring them some game, and weightlifting — a boxer’s primary tool for building muscle — is just the way to do it.

5. Muscle is sexy

All that weightlifting and other training is going to pay off in terms of the way your body looks, feels, and delivers. You’ll like what you see in the mirror, and so will whoever’s looking at you when you step out of the shower. Hubba hubba.

6. Me time

It wasn’t so long ago that you couldn’t take your eyes off the kids for a second or they’d eat all the buds of the neighbor’s peonies and you’d be on the phone with Poison Control. These days, they’re a little older and you only have to worry about paying the extra car insurance, who they’re dating, whether they’re texting and driving, and… whoops, sorry about that. My point was going to be that you can get away some nights and have “me time” without them. Boxing fits the bill.

7. Mentor someone

Ok, if you just don’t get enough with the kids, you’ll find some at the gym. They will be faster and have a higher punch count and they will bring a serious press to you in the ring, but you’ll be able to outlast and out think them. And you have the maturity to see a much bigger picture than they do. Why not be a good influence and also kick their butts (in the later rounds) too? Now that’s what I call a satisfying mentoring relationship.

8. Get out of your comfort zone

Let’s face it, you’ve been trying to find a place of comfort and ease for years. Stop that, it’s not good for you. Get off your butt and out of your rut and learn something new. Growing means risks, and boxing has just the right balance of risk and safety to give you a jolt and still send you home in one piece. Mostly one piece.

9. Eat better

Believe me, you are not going to work hard enough to go a few rounds and then sabotage yourself with crap eating. If you take to boxing, you’re going to want to support it every way you can, and that will spur you to make positive changes to the way you fuel your body. You’re sick of sports bar food anyway. This is gonna be purely delicious.

There’s never been a better time than now.

- See more at: http://www.theglowingedge.com/9-reasons-to-start-boxing-after-40/#sthash.pmKrBm92.dpuf

[threeoaks]

I do like all these reasons to train over 40.  I also really appreciated the "Muscle Power" post on 8 limbs.  The fight between Aurora and Gerry was almost unwatchable though - I hate seeing that kind of height/power/skill and age differential.  Very glad to read that Gerry got back at it and did much better.  Cannot believe she is that old.  Any time you mention age or someone being old and fighting I appreciate it.   Part of me also is embarrassed though.  My trainer posted a video of some padwork with a 58 year old and everyone was very appreciative in the comments (or a few people were anyway).  For me I appreciate it but I also kept thinking 'jesus he's slow. aw come on pick it up... standup for the old folks.. oh no he's wobbly too'.  So its bittersweet.  

[Micc]

I still have a few months left of being in my sweet 20s, so being over 40 is kinda like a lifetime away in my perspective. I really do hope that I will be as active as I can when the time comes (and slimmer!!! ;( ;(). 

I feel as if all the 40+ can relate to these reasons, I see a lot of women joining gyms and fitness classes at that age and I think it's totally admirable.

I do like all these reasons to train over 40.  I also really appreciated the "Muscle Power" post on 8 limbs.  The fight between Aurora and Gerry was almost unwatchable though - I hate seeing that kind of height/power/skill and age differential.  Very glad to read that Gerry got back at it and did much better.  Cannot believe she is that old.  Any time you mention age or someone being old and fighting I appreciate it.   Part of me also is embarrassed though.  My trainer posted a video of some padwork with a 58 year old and everyone was very appreciative in the comments (or a few people were anyway).  For me I appreciate it but I also kept thinking 'jesus he's slow. aw come on pick it up... standup for the old folks.. oh no he's wobbly too'.  So its bittersweet.  

I see why it can be bittersweet to you, but let's face it, noone is going to be in their prime form forever. You have to adjust your training to your health conditions, just like you adjust to -let's say - weahter conditions :) Let's congratulate this 58yo for the courage to come to the gym and train with younlings ;)

[Cilla]

I'm 43 and just celebrated my one year anniversary of finding, and training, Muay Thai. I train at least 5 times per week at night, work full-time, have 2 small children. I started due to bulging discs in my back and I also have several 'invisible' illnesses. I run before every session approx. 4-7kms.

I have experienced incredible change and growth in that time. I have learned so much about myself and coped with many difficult times as a direct result of the inner strength I have gained from Muay Thai, my amazing trainer and my gym family. Muay Thai is the hardest, yet best, thing I've ever done. It has taught me to stop making excuses. No matter what, I train. It's not easy, I'm not 'special', I have bad days, I have good days.

I don't feel 43. Sometimes I'm horrified when I think about it!

I hope to fight next year at some point. Apparently that's not such an easy thing to arrange at my age. I'm keeping positive that I'll get to experience it - in an authentic and challenging way.

I'm inspired daily by Sylvie and other women and men in Muay Thai. I know it's a learning curve with no end for me.

A lifelong passion.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

I'm 43 and just celebrated my one year anniversary of finding, and training, Muay Thai. I train at least 5 times per week at night, work full-time, have 2 small children. I started due to bulging discs in my back and I also have several 'invisible' illnesses. I run before every session approx. 4-7kms.

I have experienced incredible change and growth in that time. I have learned so much about myself and coped with many difficult times as a direct result of the inner strength I have gained from Muay Thai, my amazing trainer and my gym family. Muay Thai is the hardest, yet best, thing I've ever done. It has taught me to stop making excuses. No matter what, I train. It's not easy, I'm not 'special', I have bad days, I have good days.

I don't feel 43. Sometimes I'm horrified when I think about it!

I hope to fight next year at some point. Apparently that's not such an easy thing to arrange at my age. I'm keeping positive that I'll get to experience it - in an authentic and challenging way.

I'm inspired daily by Sylvie and other women and men in Muay Thai. I know it's a learning curve with no end for me.

A lifelong passion.

I've been very impressed by how many women I've come in contact with who are in their late-30's and mid-40's, who are very devoted and dedicated to Muay Thai. I'm certainly made to feel older than I actually feel by living in the Thai world of Muay Thai, which skews toward adolescents. But, while I don't consider 31 to be "old," it's not exactly categorized by "young" either. But even at my age, perhaps by the circumstances of living here, I see a lot of truth in that saying, "youth is wasted on the young." I'm much more focused and work much more deliberately than the young'ins at my gym. But I don't think I would have been ready for this kind of experience earlier in my life. I was an idiot in my late-teens; I needed to be the age I was when I started and I've needed the years I've spent in the sport/art already to get to the point I'm at now. There are so many times I have a realization about a technique or ethic that I was instructed a LONG time ago but it only makes sense to me now. I'm only ready for it now.

[Rachel Bond]

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[Rachel Bond]

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[Rachel Bond]

top lady!