“After a busy day at work, I go to hit a punching bag with great pleasure,” says Olga Pokalskaya, a fitbox fan. The girls who preferred martial arts more graceful looks physical activity, GO.TUT.BY learned how the ability to hit back helps to feel more confident, and in moments even more feminine.
« In the fighting halls, no one is embarrassed by anyone. ”
Minsker Olga Koverchik has been practicing Thai boxing since the fifth year of law school. She says that at first she had an absolutely “girlish” motivation - to learn how to hit back.
- I used to go to bachata, female plastic and swimming. But after two or three months I got tired of the monotony of training. There was a feeling that we had already been through this,” says the 24-year-old Belarusian.
In 2015, a friend suggested that she try martial arts. Olga quickly got involved, learned to disengage from the specific atmosphere of fight clubs and enjoy boxing itself.
- And at first I was horrified: “Fu! They blow their noses in the trash!” the girl laughs. - In the fighting halls, no one is shy. Guys calmly take off their shorts and pull on a bandage in the presence of girls. It is in the order of things for us to take turns drinking water from one bottle, and not from disposable cups, as in sterile gyms.
Olga Koverchik notes that boxing and the described conditions of training bring together, help to reduce the distance in communicating with a person.
“When you spar with a stranger, you don’t start apologizing in advance: “I’m sorry, but I will violate your personal space.” You just box - these are the rules of our sport.
Olga reacts with a smile to the stereotypes that boxing can turn a graceful girl into a masculine one.
- Thanks to boxing, you can only become more feminine. Aerobic training do not build muscle mass. This is just a good option for keeping the body in good shape and burning calories.
Now a girl with two higher educations trains six times a week.
- For a good emotional state and maintaining physical fitness.
She goes to boxing five times and devotes one day to strength training with iron.
Sports help relieve stress. This is my type of therapy and my buzz, - says Olga. — During the week I work hard mentally. And in the gym, the brain switches to doing exercises. When on public holidays the halls are closed for the weekend, I feel very sad. I can’t not train for a long time - breaking begins.
During working hours, Olga Koverchik provides information support to victims of domestic violence. The girl notes that interest in martial arts has nothing to do with the profession.
- I came to boxing before I started working for hotline with the theme of domestic violence. I never advise girls who come to us to do self-defense or something like that. Such advice is simply inappropriate, the expert emphasizes. - People have difficult life situations, and I help to figure it out, and I don’t advise signing up for the gym. Moreover, what is unloading for me may not be rest at all for them.
In 2018 Olga Koverchik became the champion of the Republic of Belarus in kickboxing in weight category up to 70 kilograms. Now she perceives boxing as an art of movement and an opportunity to progress.
- Martial arts, it's like dancing - a kind of beauty. If I came to boxing not at the age of 21, but, for example, at 13, then I would gladly try to become a professional athlete, - Olga admits.
« Once a maniac attacked me: in a panic, I hit him, I was able to escape ”
Olga Pokalskaya has been doing fitboxing for two months. This load combines martial arts, interval training and elements of self-defence. The girl says that she got on the fitbox by accident.
- In the sports club where I go to the gym, they opened a new direction. The coach suggested trying his hand at women's boxing. At first, it was scary and it was not clear what to expect, - the Minsker admits. - I thought they would immediately put me into sparring with someone, but I can’t do anything.
Olga paid for an individual lesson with an instructor in order to understand the technical aspects: how to stand, move around the hall and strike.
- After the first training session, I could not walk for about a week - due to jumping exercises caviar clogged, - the girl recalls.
- Fitbox is a powerful cardio that is different from the loads in the gym. There you can make an approach and then walk around the hall, catch your breath. And in the fitbox, we are constantly on the move - jumping rope alternates with running, push-ups, shuttle work and stretching. We burn about a thousand calories in an hour of training,” Olga shares her experience.
The contingent that comes to the fitbox, according to Olga, is very diverse - from students to pensioners.
There are four people in our group. Some come to relieve stress, others to lose weight. And our positive pensioner tells everyone that in this way she prolongs her life.
Olga herself works as an economist. Twice a week she goes to the gym and one more time to the fitbox. The girl calls sports the best relaxation after "endless tables and numbers."
- After a busy day, with great pleasure I go to the gym to beat a pear. At first I was afraid to work in sparring with another person. But the main thing is to clearly separate: on a pear you can let off steam, and on a person you can only work out the technique of movements.
The heroine emphasizes that the fitbox helps her feel confident.
One day a maniac attacked me. Then I hit him in a panic, I was able to escape, but I thought that some protection skills were needed. I approached the coach separately and asked to show me the tricks. It is clear that in a stressful situation you may not remember something, but at least you will dodge the threat, - the girl argues.
Friends and colleagues are very surprised when they find out about Olga's hobby.
- Mom said that I was crazy, and boxing is a sport only for boys. For many, the stereotype is triggered that I will walk all beaten and bruised. But fitbox is not a fight in the ring, - the interlocutor explains. On the contrary, I see positive changes in appearance - arms, legs and buttocks have become more toned. Modern girls dream about it.
« Boxing is full of stereotypes that have nothing to do with the truth."
Yana Zaitseva works as an SMM specialist and journalist at the CHINUK fight club. For a beautiful relief, she is engaged in gym, but for emotions and excitement, he looks at Thai boxing.
“I first came to fight club five years ago. Then there were three or four girls in the whole hall, and now there are enough of them in each group. the girl says.
Yana assures that boxing training is a constant challenge.
- Once having got into boxing, an adrenaline-addicted person will no longer be able to refuse it. This is a regular challenge and new emotions. After the training, you come out wet and tired so much that you don’t have the strength to think about any problems. And that's great.
But for the beautiful toned body gotta go to strength training, and not on boxing, the girl is convinced.
- Ragged cardio workouts help to lose weight, but do not form beautiful relief. If you do not alternate boxing with a rocking chair, you can only earn a haggard look.
The interlocutor admits that the guys react positively to her hobby. Yana's field of activity only attracts them.
“Young people are surprised that I don’t just go to the gym a couple of times a week to keep fit, but I live in martial arts and work in this area. I have never encountered negativity, - emphasizes Yana. - Much more offensive things are addressed to professional athletes. They say that they are repulsed, stupid, inadequate. Boxing is full of stereotypes that have nothing to do with the truth.
According to Yana's experience, martial arts are the best way educate character and get to know yourself.
- It happens that a person does not find the moral strength to come even to the second training session. And there are also reverse examples, when an athlete first defeats the body, and then the spirit. Fight club- a suitable place for this, - says Yana Zaitseva. - I came there as a homely squeamish girl who did not drink water from the tap. Now all this is gone. People come to us just for a special flavor. More than once I saw girls in expensive cars with manicures and pedicures that anyone can afford sport Club, come to us in the hall with a wooden floor, where no one wipes the simulators behind them.
On Tuesday, June 9, Andrei Ryabinsky, the head of the promotional company Mir Boxing, announced that girls dressed in bikinis would no longer appear at boxing shows held under the auspices of his brand. Half-naked ladies announcing the rounds will be removed as a sign of respect for representatives of religious denominations. From now on, in fights with the participation of Alexander Povetkin, Denis Lebedev, Grigory Drozd and other ring girls will be dressed only in "solid and restrained" uniforms.
“The tradition of ring girls wearing bikinis originated in the United States,” Ryabinsky quite rightly noted. Let's see what the fans who go to shows under the auspices of the "World of Boxing" have lost.
Boxing night in Las Vegas, December 2014
There is an opinion that beautiful girls in revealing outfits accompanied boxing evenings at all times. Actually it is not. Until the 70s of the last century, only boys were generally engaged in this, and girls were not observed near the ring. Ring girls in modern form were "invented" in Las Vegas 35 years ago.
At the M-1 Championship mixed martial arts, 2010
In addition to boxing, ring girls serve mixed martial arts, kickboxing and other martial arts evenings.
Ring girls at a boxing show at the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, May 2010
The regulars of the BoxingScene portal joke that God created the ring girls on the fifth day, because on the sixth, on Saturday, there was a big boxing night.
Boxing tournament in Donetsk, April 2009
The duties of a boxing referee include counting points awarded for accurate punches and combinations. But between rounds, when the girls enter the ring, the judge is absolutely free.
During a break in a boxing match in Australia, July 2001
The richest organizations and promoters invite not just girls to their evenings, but real Playboy stars. So, ring girls from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) earn over a million dollars a year just by gracefully wearing signs between rounds.
At the fight between Denis Lebedev and Santander Silgado, Moscow, December 2012
This is how the show looked three years ago in the Russian capital, which was organized by the World of Boxing competitor, promoter Vladimir Khryunov.
Full roster of ring girls at a boxing show in California, July 1998
Some organizers may invite just a few ring girls who will announce the rounds, replacing each other in turn. And others, like the American television channel Fox, staged a kind of game with the audience by hiring ten girls - one for each round. Choose which one is cooler!
German boxer Rene Weller with ring girl, Berlin, February 2003
Now girls are protected and protected from unnecessary attention. Previously, ring girls could easily hug the winner, and after the fight, leave with him. Of course, just drink champagne and consider the championship belt.
Ring girls at a boxing event in California, August 1992
Often large companies use ring girls as advertising platforms, placing their logos on swimsuits. After all, all attention is riveted to the girls, and what else is needed for successful advertising?
Tecate Girls and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Las Vegas May 2015
For top fights, for example, between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, models are selected strictly according to certain parameters. Six girls who worked at the recent "fight of the century" received about $ 500 for the evening.
Shane Mosley vs. Oscar De La Hoya, Los Angeles, June 2000
At less pretentious and promoted fights, ring girls work for symbolic money, or even for free - a successful entry into the ring can make a real star out of a girl, at least on a regional scale. “Oh, this is the one that was in the ring on Friday,” many of the ring girls heard this phrase.
Boxing evening in Moscow, 1990s
Speaking in the ring, many girls prefer to hide their real name and take a pseudonym. This at least eliminates the problems at the main job.
Before the fight between Oleg Maskaev and Owen Beck, Troitsk, December 2012
Boxing is not the first sport where ring girls have been thinking about "reformatting". For example, in the WEC racing series, girls who help pilots navigate the starting grid were considered sexist and decided to abandon such promotions. Similar ideas arose in Formula 1, but there the experiment to replace girls with men was severely criticized by influential racers.
Boxing show in New Jersey, March 2006
The benefits of cooperation with boxing were quickly sensed by various men's magazines, primarily Playboy and Hustler. It is not uncommon to see them lending their models to boxing matches.
Show professional boxing in California, May 2011
Requirements for modern ring girls: waist - 60 centimeters, hips - 90, height from 175, chest from the third size, long hair and big eyes. Do not match one of the parameters? Looking forward to next time.
Boxing for girls as a way of figure shaping, acquiring self-defense skills, developing psycho-emotional stability, choosing a section, common myths, contraindications.
The content of the article:
Women's boxing is a sport that was banned in most countries for a long time, but at the end of the last century it began to gradually revive. An even greater development of this genus physical activity received after 2009, when he was included in the program Olympic Games. The specifics of women's boxing in a sense differs from that of men's. First of all, this is increased safety, and secondly, the construction of classes, taking into account the characteristics of the body and body structure of the fairer sex. Every year more and more girls start active classes this type of martial arts. What is the reason for the increase in its popularity - read in this article.
The benefits of boxing for girls
Boxing for girls, even now, many people consider unacceptable, because. this sport is associated with a high risk of causing serious injuries, therefore it acts rude, which does not suit the fragile female nature at all. However, when determining the benefits of boxing for women, it is worth looking much deeper. There are several reasons why ladies start attending boxing training. Let's describe them in more detail.
Improving the figure in boxing training
Boxing requires a lot of effort. What are only warm-ups. Many girls note that there is nothing more difficult than this stage in every lesson, which contributes to the active burning of fat. Already after the first 2-4 weeks, there is a significant weight loss, the waist becomes thinner, beautiful line shoulders, legs become more slender, posture improves.
Body shaping, enhancement muscle tone occurs much faster than in fitness classes or dancing. Constant attendance at trainings allows you to consolidate the effect, i.e. maintain excellent physical form, keep the figure in perfect condition, develop flexibility and improve coordination of movements.
Improving health with boxing
Improving personal endurance is an integral requirement of boxing, not only for men, but also for women. By virtue of this training, it is necessary to work out a large number variety of exercises, many of which are carried out with additional load.
This, in turn, stimulates the blood supply to all cells of the body. In addition, the musculoskeletal system is trained, in the process it is formed correct posture, which has a beneficial effect on the spine, muscles.
Getting self-defense skills in boxing training
Without a doubt, the development of endurance, practicing strikes are the key to successful self-defense in almost any situation. Quite often, fragile women are the object of street robbery, indecent intimate claims that can end in failure. Criminals choose this category because of potential physical weakness.
However, in most cases, female representatives of boxing are practically no different from those who are not fond of sports, because. focus on increasing muscle mass, but on the development of strength, maneuverability, stability. This in turn gives them great advantage in front of the attacker, because he is not ready for the fact that a defenseless woman can give a sharp rebuff and even detain an intruder.
In girls attending the boxing section, the reaction speed increases, the pain threshold increases. In the classroom, students learn to defend themselves, attack, evade attacks, strikes.
Increasing self-confidence
Success in one area or another has a beneficial effect on any person. And success in sports significantly increases self-confidence, because a girl who knows boxing techniques becomes more independent in terms of self-defense, decisive, self-confident, gets rid of many complexes associated with both physical beauty as well as other spheres of life.
Boxing plays a big role for the psyche as well. allows you to throw out the accumulated stress within reasonable limits. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of boxers and other athletes are calm and reasonable in Everyday life. This sport brings up resourcefulness, courage, the ability to immediately assess any situation and find the most correct solution.
What could be better than restraint, the ability to control your emotions and behavior even in stressful situations - all this is possible with boxing.
As practice shows, boxing for girls is not only development physical strength, but also the training of the spirit, willpower, which is sure to come in handy not only in the ring and for self-defense, but also in any life situation - be it business negotiations or raising a child.
Contraindications for boxing among girls
Despite the fact that boxing is useful in many aspects, it is worth remembering that usefulness and safety are not the same thing. It is contraindicated for some women and men. To avoid the deterioration of health, it is worth taking this issue seriously, despite all the advantages of this sport.
Absolute contraindications to boxing are:
- Myopia, cataract, glaucoma, astigmatism;
- Neuritis, neurosis;
- Epilepsy, encephalopathy;
- Hypertension, heart disease, myocarditis, ischemia, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, etc.;
- previous concussions;
- Tuberculosis, asthma;
- Any acute inflammatory disease.
Any deviation in the state of health requires prior consultation with a doctor. You should also undergo general examinations at least twice a year.
It is also worth remembering the potential danger of sparring, as a result of which there is a high probability of injury. Not only the face suffers, but also internal organs, brain.
Choice of boxing section for girls
Boxing sections for women exist in almost all cities of the country. The level of a particular school can differ significantly depending on the skill of the coach, the training program developed by him, as well as the general organization training process. It should be understood that the success and effectiveness of classes depends on these factors.
What should be taken into account when choosing a club for training in boxing techniques - we will conduct a brief digression:
- Location. Of course, a club that is close to home can be considered the best option, but this factor cannot be put as a priority.
- Visit Schedule. A normal workout lasts at least an hour and a half. This should be taken into account when determining the schedule of classes.
- Inventory. Every self-respecting club equips its halls with a complete set of necessary equipment. One ring and the presence of a pear is not enough to carry out the correct and effective workouts and workouts.
- Additional premises. Separate changing rooms and showers are an essential requirement for the comfort of women and men. Many prefer those clubs that are in sports complex, where everyone can visit, for example, a swimming pool or a cafe after boxing.
- Cost of services. The first lesson in prestigious clubs is absolutely free. A subscription for a month of boxing classes costs from 3 to 5 thousand rubles, subject to group classes. Individual sessions where only a coach and one student are present - from 8 to 15 thousand rubles per month.
In large groups, there is an acute problem of an individual approach, which is very important for any beginner. That is why leading role play personal lessons, when the coach is completely devoted to the development of one particular student. The return from them is much more effective.
There are also mixed groups - the simultaneous occupation of men and women. In this case, the sparring partner is selected not by gender, but by the level of physical fitness.
Boxing for beginner girls
It is always interesting, but at the same time, a little scary to start something new, yet unknown. Similar exciting moments are experienced by almost every girl who decides to engage in such a serious sport as boxing. However, as practice shows, fears and worries pass quite quickly, one has only to delve a little deeper into the training process.
Boxing uniform
The first stage does not provide for a special form. The main thing is sneakers and sportswear. In the future, it is best to purchase boxers, which are distinguished by a thinner sole and fix the legs well. Shoes are very important for any boxer because is one of the factors of stability in the ring.
Before you start practicing blows on a pear, it is recommended to purchase gloves and bandages that help fix your fingers. This is necessary to reduce the risk of injury during impacts. The choice of gloves often has to be treated with additional trepidation, because they are an important "tool" for striking.
By the time of the first sparring, you will have to buy a mouthguard and a helmet. A mouth guard is a device that is worn over the teeth to protect them from injury. It is made from flexible plastic. For women, special chest protectors have also been developed.
On average, equipment for girls costs about a thousand rubles.
The first training in women's boxing
Many girls note that the first 1.5-2 months of training are quite difficult, especially for those who have not previously been involved in any kind of sport, and physical state is below average. That is why the best option for the first classes - this is a group for beginners.
You should not try to join a group in which students have been studying for more than a year, because there the load is much higher. Although there is an additional psychological factor - particularly diligent beginners with great ambitions are drawn to more trained students, admire and are inspired by their success, putting even more effort and time into training.
The first stage of training involves increasing endurance, learning the basics. It is the safest. Strikes are practiced on a pear bag, or “shadow boxing” is offered. The last type of training perfectly develops the imagination.
Beginners are allowed to participate in sparring 4-6 months after the start of training, when they are not only technically, but also psychologically ready for this species classes. The training duel provides for increased security - the use of uniforms and the control of the coach.
Common myths about women's boxing
When asked about the attitude towards women's boxing, most people answer in the negative. And then the phrases “cruel”, “traumatic”, “this is not a woman’s business” appear in my head. During the existence of this sport, some stereotypes have been formed that sometimes interfere with the adequate perception of boxing as a martial art.
Let's describe a few myths about women's boxing and immediately debunk them:
- Boxer girls look overly masculine. Boxing is a sport in which the emphasis is not on building muscle mass, but on developing self-control, agility, strength, and endurance.
- Increased danger. Statistics show that there are sports more traumatic than boxing, such as football. The most dangerous stage in the classroom is fighting in the ring, which very often does not come to pass, because not every student strives to succeed in battles, many come to the gym to the coach for others known reasons described earlier in this article.
- Female boxer will not be able to have children. This statement is more than wrong. After all, training with the right attitude only strengthens the body and does not affect the reproductive function.
Boxing for girls is a way of active and very effective body shaping, development of psychological ability and physical skills of self-defense, increasing self-confidence and self-control. However, even in such a useful and interesting business, you need to be attentive to your health and listen not only to the recommendations of a professional trainer, but also to the advice of a doctor.
Boxing is one of those sports that is gaining momentum in the fitness world. Everyone from models (Gigi Hadid, Adriana Lima) to fashion bloggers and influencers (Hannah Bronfman) are becoming boxing fans. Boxing doesn't just make you physically stronger - it also improves your mental health. Boxing has been scientifically proven to help overcome anxiety attacks. Ready to lace up your gloves and start your first boxing workout? Danila Rysev, fitness boutique trainer "Granatny 4" advises to pay attention to the following seven points.
Do not be afraid
Everything is not as scary as it seems. Boxing is not only training in combat, but also a very personal “journey”, so it is fundamentally important to strive for self-improvement, and not compete or compare yourself with someone. There is no need to be ashamed of inability and think that everyone around is just talking about it. In training, no one has time to look around: the maximum concentration of attention is what is required of everyone who enters the ring.
Hands will not turn into sledgehammers
Do not worry that your hands will gain mass as a result of training. Correct technique punching is the movement of the whole body, so boxing will help to polish the figure in a complex. Strong legs, sculpted body and strong back ─ these are the first things to keep in mind when it comes to boxing. Most the right approach if you want to lose weight - combine boxing with aerobic and anaerobic loads, as well as plyometrics ("jumping gymnastics").
One and only
If you want to devote all the time to a new hobby, then a competent coach will draw up a training program in such a way that there will be time for strength exercises, both for cardio and endurance training. Running through other workouts in search of variety simply won't be necessary. In the first month, you can practice twice a week, then ─ three, and it is better to discuss further loads with a mentor.
Better sooner than on time
Before the first lesson, it is optimal to arrive at the gym 20-30 minutes earlier. It will save you headaches and stress when it comes to parking or finding a studio. More importantly, it will give your trainer the opportunity to properly prepare you for your first session in the ring. And preparation, in particular, should include wrapping your hands and choosing the right gloves. Wrapping hands before boxing is not a game of "real sport" and not a tribute to tradition, but a safety measure that ensures correct position hands and wrists, as well as impact support.
Equipment by size
For training, wear leggings that fit like a glove. This advice may sound a bit glamorous, but you have no idea how much easier it can make your life. During training, you will be wearing gloves, so it will be quite difficult to tighten and adjust the equipment. Immediately choose a form in which it is convenient to move: fight, jump, lunge or crouch. And do not forget that you will have to sweat in the truest sense of the word, and all kinds of "breathable fabrics" are welcome.
Comfort zone
The same close attention should be paid to shoes ─ they should be strictly in size and with a high "ankle" to fix the ankle and reduce the likelihood of injury. Hand bandages are also better to buy in advance: girls usually need two meters (men usually need a little more). Another important point- no need to overestimate yourself and think that long nails can survive "fist" training. They can’t, so only a short, neat manicure is appropriate in the ring.
If you have decided to take up Muay Thai, but so far have a vague idea of what exactly you will have to acquire for this and how much it will cost, then read on.
Clothing and footwear
The first but least important point. Workouts in Thai boxing are usually held without shoes, so old shorts and some untorn T-shirt are quite sufficient. You can not buy any special Thai shorts or elastic ankles yet.
Hand bandages
The expediency of their use is explained by the fact that fingers can be damaged from blows with hands, and the hand inside the glove sweats, which is why the equipment gradually, and sometimes rapidly becomes unusable. Therefore, it is better to buy bandages. They usually cost no more than 300 rubles.
Boxing gloves
12-14 ounces for heavyweights, 10 ounces for everyone else. You can't do without gloves. You can buy gloves for 1.5 thousand rubles. There is no upper price limit.
mouth guard
It is also impossible without a mouthguard, otherwise you will not have teeth very soon. The price of a quality cap starts at about 250 rubles.
Calf and instep pads
In Thailand, they enter the ring without rubbers, but many of the fighters there practice Muay Thai with early childhood, so it would be too self-confident to look up to them. Most likely, it will not work out without pads, since each blow that hits the lower leg or knee will lead to bruises that do not heal for a long time. Overlays will cost an average of 800 rubles.
Inguinal "shell"
Essential element protective equipment. Standing in full contact without a shell is almost like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. The probability of getting a perineal injury and losing the functionality of a known place is very high. 400 rubles is not the biggest money to save on your reproductive health. 
So, we have compiled the minimum set of a beginner muay thai fighter. In total, about 3,000 rubles came out, not counting the cost of training. You can expand the list of necessary equipment with a protective helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, ankle and protective vest. However, at first, all this is necessary, as they say, insofar as.
