Boxing

 

Boxing is a combat sport of prehistoric origin in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three minutes intervals called rounds. Victory is acheived if the opponent is knocked down and unable to get up before the referee counts to 10 (a Knockout or KO) or if the opponent is deemed too injured to continue (a Technical Knockout or TKO). If there is no stoppage of the fight before an agreed number of rounds, a winner is determined either by the referee's decision or by the judge's score cards.

There are four basic punches in boxing: the jab, cross, hook, and uppercut. If a boxer is right-handed (orthodox) his left hand is the lead hand and his right hand is the rear hand. For a left-handed boxer or southpaw, the hand positions are reversed. Boxers practices their skills on two basic types of punching bags. A small, tear-drop-shaped "speed bag" is used to hone reflexes and repetitive punching skills, while a large, cylidrical "heavy bag," filled with sand or a synthetic substitute, is used to practice power punching or body blows.

In addition to these distinctive pieces of equipment, boxers also utilize more general use training equipment to build strangth speed, and agility. Common training equipment includes free weights, jump rope, and medicine balls, etc.