Gravitz

Hi everyone. I recently went through a lifestyle change ( and am still going through it of course!). I started working out, started lifting again and i've always had an interest in Boxing. Well i also fell in love with MMA fighting. I really want to get into some boxing training or MMA style training of some sort but i literally live where there are NO boxing/fighting gyms within 75 miles of my town. Its either football or baseball here, heh. Is there any chance at getting proper training by training myself? or will i simply fail at the techniques and waste my time trying to struggle through something without the proper knowledge? Also If someone is not affiliated with a gym or training institute of some sort are they able to enter any amateur fights? I live in Virginia and i know fighting is big in VA beach, but its a 7 hour drive.

Thanks all, Any help is appreciated

Scromaster

This is a hard question to answer. Yes you can learn by watching how people punch, kick, and do other techniques, but having a good teacher is essential. What i have had to do in the past was i would go in to train one day every three or four weeks for a few hours, and i would write everything down and practice those techniques for hours everyday. My technique wasn't perfect but i was always ready to learn something new every time i went.
Weight training is far overrated, i am assuming you don't have a normal gym too. There are tons of workouts which use only your bodies weight which are great. Also try a couple of the video workouts. i have done both px90 and insanity and ill tell you i still use them both, they both are great workouts if you push yourself.
Try and find someone local with a simular interest and work with them on it too, maybe they will even let you work in with a high school wrestling team. There are normally plenty of options out there but you might have to make some comprimizes

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There are no bad students, only bad teachers... until you teach at an inner city school.

Gravitz

Thank you for the response. I do watch alot of fights, MMA and boxing. And I'm trying to pick up things from that. I now find myself saying " oh man he should have gone for this submission there, or that kick or punch there". So I feel my mindset is falling into place in that aspect. But of course I've not been in a real match, so I'm sure its much different! lol

We do actually have a gym. nothing great. Just a large basketball court with treadmills and other cardio machines, and weight machines with a smaller free weight section. But thats about it. The machines basically line the border of the ball court. Its funny that you mention p90x because that is what im doing and i love it. I got about 2 weeks in before i started losing massive ammounts of sleep due to my daughter developing colic. But that has passed so im getting back into the swing of it. I have a heavy bag, gloves, wraps and looking at a speed bag soon. But again this all goes back to my question of technique. I suppose i could just practice with my own research to build basic technique and strength and, if i ever get the chance to take some tips from someone else, further develop my technique then.

Good idea on the friend thing. I had an old co-worker that would box with me a few years back. He is the one who actually got me into actually wanting to pursue. But he doesn't do it anymore, and we didn't do it much. Maybe i can motive him to

Again thanks for the tips and support. if anyone else has anymore suggestions, please add. I appreciate it!

G_Land

Try getting some friends involved. There have been a few "self-made"...MMA fighters.....You will be surprised who comes out of the wood works once they find out you are trying to train. See if that gym will let you reserve half the court to lay some matts down and go at it.....Sparring and rolling go a long way.

North

I'm kind of set up in an area where there's metric shit tons of boxers, so it's not surprising that I've been able to find people. But even in a rural area (or just one without official gyms) you'd be surprised who's giving under the table lessons or who would be interested in training again.

A website that may be able to help you find others interested in training is Craigslist (now good for something other than hookers!). Or if you're just not comfortable with that for some reason, you could ask around at your gym. If there's a bulletin board ask to post something, just a note looking for experienced boxers/martial artists in the area who may be interested in giving lessons or training. If there's no bulletin board, just see if management is all right with you leaving a flyer on the front desk.

As for your specific questions. As far as I know, you're able to enter amateur competitions without any kind of backing. The issue becomes though that you have to find people to work your corner, and generally, you want experienced people there instead of your buddy from the bar with a water bottle. There's also things like getting a fighter's license and related blood tests and such. It's just way easier if you know someone in the know, ya know?

As for you training yourself: I wouldn't advise it. But it's up to you if you want to chance it. Best advice I can give is that if you do go through with trying to self train, don't ever get cocky about what skills you think you have.

-North