Training people in boxing without having fought yourself

[darlo18]

This might sound a strange question and I'm sure a fair few people will be very much against the idea. I've been training in boxing for maybe seven years, I started later in life (29) so was never gonna be the next Roy Jones Junior and I know my limitations. I've done a great deal of sparring over the years and was going to have my first fight few years back but the opponent cancelled. Then when I was supposed to finally fight COVID-19 intervened and I went into lockdown.

I'm working in an incredibly poor country right now with very limited opportunities for young people to learn new sport to a decent level. I also work for a youth organisation so see the impact of high gang membership and also a lot of young men who have been bullied and are struggling with self esteem.

I'm a social worker and my role is to be a positive role model. I'd love to teach them a few boxing techniques. Nothing sophisticated, I'm well aware I don't have the credentials to be a great trainer. But how to throw a decent straight punch. How to block punches, cover up or use footwork to evade (Self defence). Get the young people to build a boxing bag for the youth centre and teach them how to make one so they can feel like they've contributed. Try and give the kids an outlet for their aggression without them getting mixed up in the gangs.

I guess I'm scared of my lack of experience in coaching and also the fact I haven't fought. Is it better to teach them a bit imperfectly given their arent any other options nearby for them or leave it well alone? There aren't really any gyms anywhere nearby but obviously if a kid really stood out I'd try and get support so he could access higher quality training in the capital.

[TheBoxGod]

This might sound a strange question and I'm sure a fair few people will be very much against the idea. I've been training in boxing for maybe seven years, I started later in life (29) so was never gonna be the next Roy Jones Junior and I know my limitations. I've done a great deal of sparring over the years and was going to have my first fight few years back but the opponent cancelled. Then when I was supposed to finally fight COVID-19 intervened and I went into lockdown.

I'm working in an incredibly poor country right now with very limited opportunities for young people to learn new sport to a decent level. I also work for a youth organisation so see the impact of high gang membership and also a lot of young men who have been bullied and are struggling with self esteem.

I'm a social worker and my role is to be a positive role model. I'd love to teach them a few boxing techniques. Nothing sophisticated, I'm well aware I don't have the credentials to be a great trainer. But how to throw a decent straight punch. How to block punches, cover up or use footwork to evade (Self defence). Get the young people to build a boxing bag for the youth centre and teach them how to make one so they can feel like they've contributed. Try and give the kids an outlet for their aggression without them getting mixed up in the gangs.

I guess I'm scared of my lack of experience in coaching and also the fact I haven't fought. Is it better to teach them a bit imperfectly given their arent any other options nearby for them or leave it well alone? There aren't really any gyms anywhere nearby but obviously if a kid really stood out I'd try and get support so he could access higher quality training in the capital.

You are over thinking it, just do it.

Tons of trainers who never fought or even had any boxing experience have trained fighters to the top level. You dont need to have been a factor in the sport to teach the sport. You think every children baseball game, soccer game, football game etc is coached by some former pro league level athlete?

[darlo18]

ha thanks man I needed to hear that! You are completely right. I actually think I'd probably be better at teaching it than doing it lol! I'm a bit of a boxing nerd. Thing that put me off was I actually first tried boxing in more boxing fitness type stuff where the instruction wasn't great. Then when I got to a proper boxing gym I spent the next six years trying to unlearn bad technique. But I'll start small and see where it goes...

[Tails]

You don't need to be a great fighter to be able to teach one. You just need to have a great fighting mind. Also doing it to get them out of the street gangs is amazing. Reminds me of the gym I went to which was two blocks from where I lived in a very rough part of the city.

But back to coaching.

Always remember that even as a trainer you always have room to improve and techniques to learn. A great trainer recognizes their fughters styles, mindset, and limitations and trains them in a way that maximizes their potential.

The good thing is that you have sparred and by your own admission know your limitations as a fighter. That is a great thing to admit because too many times I see coaches who have this "just do this and that and you will win" mindset.

I will say one very important thing though. Any fighter you have under you, do your best to also teach them how to fight when going against someone that is better than them. Whether it be in skill, speed, power, strength,or even size. Have their body and mind prepared to not go into panic mode when they encounter that. Because if they ever decide to compete seriously it is inevitable that they are going to encounter that.

I remember the first time I went against someone that had a massive handspeed advantage (and I was considered quick). I was hesitant to exchange with them because I was used to being the faster man. After that I made it a habit to spar with faster guys regardless of weight class whenever the opportunity arose.

[darlo18]

That's a really good point thanks for the encouragement!!

My last coach wasn't highly experienced as a trainer - he'd only been a trainer for one year and had only had five amateur fights. He got much better results with me than any other trainers I trained with (including doing a training camp in Cuba). I think with him it was our relationship that made us work well together, and that he had done a wide range of sports which enabled him to look at body dynamics in a slightly different way to more pure boxing coaches.

[kara]

That's a really good point thanks for the encouragement!!

My last coach wasn't highly experienced as a trainer - he'd only been a trainer for one year and had only had five amateur fights. He got much better results with me than any other trainers I trained with (including doing a training camp in Cuba). I think with him it was our relationship that made us work well together, and that he had done a wide range of sports which enabled him to look at body dynamics in a slightly different way to more pure boxing coaches.

How have things been going for you?

[Marchegiano]

I don't see an issue with it, most great trainers have no fight experience.

Most great fighters who become trainers are **** at it.

Most the fighters who became great trainers were **** fighters anyway.

Don't teach what you don't know. I don't see anything, at all, wrong with a basic gym that only teaches and exercises basic boxing. Got basic guard down, general rules for steps down, and the basic punches down, you can teach people basics and basics are always important in every sport. There's nothing wrong with a guy staying basic their entire time they deal with boxing. There is nothing wrong with teaching folks basics and letting them move on to more technical gyms once they've nothing more to learn from you basic gym either.

TBH, maybe we could do with more entry level gyms anyway. That don't try to pretend they're more than they are or hold on to talents so they can benefit from the talent.

[Rockin']

I don't see an issue with it, most great trainers have no fight experience.

Most great fighters who become trainers are **** at it.

Most the fighters who became great trainers were **** fighters anyway.

Don't teach what you don't know. I don't see anything, at all, wrong with a basic gym that only teaches and exercises basic boxing. Got basic guard down, general rules for steps down, and the basic punches down, you can teach people basics and basics are always important in every sport. There's nothing wrong with a guy staying basic their entire time they deal with boxing. There is nothing wrong with teaching folks basics and letting them move on to more technical gyms once they've nothing more to learn from you basic gym either.

TBH, maybe we could do with more entry level gyms anyway. That don't try to pretend they're more than they are or hold on to talents so they can benefit from the talent.

Yeah, it's all fine. Until they run in to a boxer who is properly trained, in the basics and beyond............Rockin'

[Marchegiano]

Yeah, it's all fine. Until they run in to a boxer who is properly trained, in the basics and beyond............Rockin'

Wlad did alright.

[JabRight]

My coach never went pro , only amateur and he is a great ****in coach. Always teaches rookies the basics and levels you up along with real sparring.