Boxing, the sweet science, is one of the most demanding and rewarding pastimes, a person can try. And, one of the most exciting things about it is, almost anyone can do it-at their own level. We all can't be Mohammed Ali or Rocky Marciano. Whether you are 6 or 60, male of female, you can participate, with a few caveats of course. The rewards affect you health, your self-esteem, and your safety.

You will derive enormous health benefits from boxing: Better cardiovascular health, increased HDL and reduced LDL cholesterol levels, greater upper and lower body strength, and that feeling of well being you get from punching, running, and the necessary calisthenics all add up a healthier you. You will breath easier since the workouts get you huffing and puffing.

You also achieve a sense of satisfaction from learning this art. It isn't easy to throw those punches while you are paying attention to the accompanying footwork that puts you into position to land that jab or cross. It takes a fair amount of skill to box, and that skill accumulates over time for the dedicated individual. It's quite an accomplishment.

There is also the aspect of self-defense. The mugger will not intentionally seek a healthy looking person to rob. When you box, and learn from a good trainer, your whole posture and way of moving changes, so a potential mugger will probably bypass you.

One of those caveats is that if you are over 60 take it slowly and allow your body to adjust to the new demands this sport will place on your system. Sparring is probably not recommended for seniors. However, the heart health benefits that accrue from the aerobic and anaerobic training boxing yields will pay great dividends for your health.

By engaging in this sport, you will experience better health, a sense of personal satisfaction, and gain self-defense abilities along the way. Go for it!

Learn more about this author, Richard Hendricks.
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