bitcodavid
By BitcoDavid
A Muay Thai fighter “working his hands” on a heavy bag. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Several years ago, I was in the gym – hammering away on the bag. I saw this old guy, maybe 70-ish, punching at a bag, as well. By punching, I don’t mean standing there poking at the thing, I mean working the bag. After the round, he walked over and asked me if I liked boxing. “I love it,” was of course, my reply.
Well, it turns out, he was an ex-pro. Apparently he used to fight for purses, back in the early ’50s. When I asked him how old he was, he just laughed and said, “Well, I won’t see 80 ever again.” Like I said, this guy was old, but he didn’t look 80 to me. And he handled that heavy bag pretty good. We kept talking for a minute, and he said something that stuck with me. “Boxing keeps you young.”
He didn’t say exercise. He said boxing.
Hard right Uppercut body blow to a 100 lb. heavy bag, which bends the bag upon impact. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Here’s my theory. Besides all the advantages of a great cardio workout, a great strength training workout and – unlike anything else in the gym – a great speed training workout, the act of fighting causes the release of certain hormones that can offset the effects of aging. Now, that’s just a theory, but I’m sticking to it.
I knew a guy, growing up, whom everybody called the Hog. I’m sure his mother actually gave him a name, but nobody seemed to know what it was. Anyway, the Hog at 70, could still fill a doorway, and could still clear out a bar. He used to strap balls and chains – that’s right, bald headed women – to his ankles, every morning, and wear them up until about noon. I once saw him lift a V-8 engine block with his bare hands. The hog was an ex-Marine, but during his time in the Corps, what did he do? He boxed. I can’t help but feel sorry for the guys he went up against.
BitcoDavid is a blogger and a blog site consultant. In former lives, he was an audio engineer, a videographer, a teacher – even a cab driver. He is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and a Pro/Am boxer. He has spent years working with diet and exercise to combat obesity and obesity related illness.
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Filed under: Editorials, Op-ed | Tagged: BitcoDavid, BitcoDavid's BoxingBlog, Boxing, Gym, Midlife Boxers, Physical fitness, Punching bag, Speed Training, Sports Psychology, Strength training | 8 Comments »
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