Martial Arts: Boxing (Western Boxing)
Boxing is in principle a sport, more than a martial art. In both amateur boxing and professional boxing, the bouts are heavily regulated.
When it comes to punching technique and power, there are few martial arts that are as focused on fist strikes as is boxing, which makes boxers formidable opponents in mixed martial arts competitions (or on the street, for that matter).
Boxing is carried out in a series of rounds. Both boxers wear heavy gloves that protect their hands and their opponent from injury. Handwraps are used to stabilize the bones in the hand, allowing the boxers to throw very hard punches that otherwise wouldn’t be possible using bare closed-fist techniques.
Striking techniques of boxing
The jab. Executed with the leading arm, the jab is the most effective strike in boxing. It is a quick action, where the arm is quickly retracted after punching, and relies more on speed and reach than on power.
The cross. The most powerful strike, where using the body weight and body rotation, the rear fist is brought straight forward.
The hook. Typically performed with the lead hand, the hook is a small semi circular strike to circumvent the guard of the opponent. Most often targeted at the head, it can also be used for body strikes.
The uppercut. A strike famous in boxing. The fist is thrust upwards, often sliding through the opponents guard, typically aimed at connecting with the chin of the opponent.
History of boxing
Although the history of boxing (or rather, fist fighting) can be traced back to 1000s or years A.D., in modern times boxing became infamous in England, in the 18th century, where bare-knuckled prize fighting was popular.
Proponents of the art
In the United States of the 20th, there were many outstanding fighters that shaped how boxing was perceived. In the 1920s, Jack Dempsey became almost a folk hero for the American public, and was the first boxer to come to world fame, and to introduce boxing to a worldwide audience.
The heavy weight champions Muhammed Ali and later on Mike Tyson kept boxing in the headlines.
March 21st, 2006 at 11:56 pm
It’s ironic that on a site dedicated to martial arts, no one has anything to say about boxing, the most effective martial art in the West. Muay Thai i […] more
April 6th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
I am looking for a way to defend myself and to get in better shape. I have chosen boxing, but i am not sure if their is a “dojo” type place where boxi […] more
April 12th, 2006 at 12:48 am
There is no such thing as a dojo in boxing. It’s almost entirely without formality. I just googled LA boxing gym and it returned plenty of hits. Find […] more
April 14th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
Boxing is a great sports! If someone master it he will be more than hard to beat
May 4th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
I think boxing is one of the weakest fighting styles I have ever seen compared to muay thai.
May 9th, 2006 at 1:52 am
If you want to compare something to muay thai, boxing can hardly be called weak. True, you can use more weapons in muay thai, but how can you say boxi […] more
May 10th, 2006 at 11:11 am
Just because Muay Thai is more deadly does not make boxing weak by comparison. Boxing is one of the most practical, powerful, and uncompromising marti […] more
May 11th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
Hey Doug yes I have studied boxing. Yes true they are quick but they only dodge with upper body. How are boxers going to dodge a kick to the leg? I […] more
May 13th, 2006 at 1:05 am
Ryu: MOST martial arts? How much boxing have you studied?? Although boxing only focuses on punches, it does so with extremely high efficiency, which i […] more
May 13th, 2006 at 1:15 am
I’ve been studying martial arts for about 15 years now including choy li fut, aikido and tae kwon do. Those aren’t the most dangerous arts, but I’m no […] more
May 13th, 2006 at 7:06 am
Boxing was created in ethiopia approx 6000 BC and expanded to Egypt and eventually to the mediterranean. The ancient greeks developed this as a sport […] more
May 14th, 2006 at 10:08 am
You want your answer? Go straight to the source. Every Queensbury boxer in Thailand has at one time been a Thai boxer. They make the switch to make be […] more
May 14th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
I’m the one who made the comment about the boxer vs the MT fighter. I already mentioned that muay thai is more dangerous than boxing…there’s actuall […] more
May 14th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Ah yes, it was Doug. My comment was needed, I think, because it presented information that was lacking. I offered some comment directly from the fight […] more
May 15th, 2006 at 1:06 am
I’ve trained hard in boxing for 2 years and have found that boxing offers some of the most effective hand techniques. I would strongly recommend to a […] more
May 15th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Hey Doug what you say if muay thai focuses too much on kicks to much the boxer would knock him out. If you realize not many people can take to many ki […] more
May 18th, 2006 at 7:20 pm
First off, this category is to educate people in BOXING, not a style vs style war…which ryu, you started and MT vs boxing chimed in on. Second, I’ve […] more
May 18th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Hey Doug I wasnt trying to start a whole agruement over this. I just said what I know. And that street fight you saw, the guy that lost to the box […] more
May 18th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Also Doug what you said this section is to educate people in boxing. It says most about boxing on the top of this section. And on the bottom it says t […] more
May 19th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Boxing isn’t the greatest martial art, (all martial arts have blind points) but boxing is the most effective, because of its simplicity. Punches are t […] more
May 19th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
The asian martial arts have received tremendous exposure in the 20 century, but Europe also have effective martial arts, like pankration, greco-roman […] more
May 20th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
Last Comment: I could care less what most people think, lol. As a matter of fact only one other person here agrees with you so save it. Most posters p […] more
May 21st, 2006 at 2:02 am
I have done boxing as a young adult and recently got involved with Hakarac Martial Boxing. Coming from a boxing background I love the martial boxing e […] more
May 21st, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Hey doug in boxing there is only three kinds of punches straight around a uppercut. In MT you have combinations of elbows knees kicks and punches and […] more
May 21st, 2006 at 2:51 pm
HEY felipe mt will have a 100% win over boxing. A boxer cannot defend against kicks. you make it sound like a mt fighter will only kick.
May 22nd, 2006 at 1:21 am
You guys are too much lol. But I would check out Renzo Gracie’s MASTERING JIU JUSTU. In the world of “real” UFC fights, most knock outs are from […] more
May 22nd, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Oh my god I hate u americans who say boxing is the best.. clearly you are too hucked up on the crappy teachings of boxing (short punches and crappy ja […] more
May 22nd, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Hey Phil I totally agree with you.But most matches I have seen get a knock out by elbows or a kick to the neck.
May 23rd, 2006 at 11:08 pm
Ryu, people don’t use MT on the streets, as you said–even in Bangkok, where I’ve lived and trained for the last 2 years. Thai or not, I don’t know wh […] more
May 25th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
I may be a musty mexican but i can kick your ass sagat
May 26th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Internet tough-talking is for pansies. Get in the ring or shut up.
May 26th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
If you say that internet tough-talking is for pansies then why are you talking if your on the internet too. You people are so controdicting. Saying th […] more
May 26th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
You need to work on your reading comprehension. Maybe you’re a second language speaker? Talking is fine, but you pick fights on the internet. That is […] more
May 28th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
You talk to much tough guy\Geogre\monkey.see what you started now some dude wants to challenge you to fight in his gym in THAILAND
May 28th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Boxing may be quite effective but trust me a mt fighter will not just focus on just pure kicks. The mt fighter could probably toy with him, with all t […] more
May 28th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
First of all european martial arts are weak and dumb. They are only imitations of asian martial arts.
May 28th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Boxing was some retarded sport created like football so people could bet money on it. It’s not a martial art. I don’t even know why its on this websit […] more
May 28th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Hey tough guy george I challenge you to a fight. I live in Las Vegas NV if you accept write back dont be a coward or as rogelio said dont be a monkey.
May 29th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
I may be dark skinned but I am not a monkey. Do you honestly think that I am going to get into a fight for this dumb argument. I am not some stupid am […] more
May 30th, 2006 at 12:26 am
Tough guy/Geogre is all talk. Go back to sleep, peaches and cream. You’re confused. Sagat likes to talk about Muay Thai, but he’s probably a MWF 6-8 […] more
May 30th, 2006 at 12:29 am
Boxing kills it in a real fight. People who have never been punched by a boxer just don’t know.
May 31st, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Hey boxing kills did you read any of the other posts.You should read Sagats.Plus not every one knows boxing.LIke Sagat said people in real fights just […] more
May 31st, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Hey Da Vindacatach I totally agree with you when it comes to tough guy /Geogre is all talk. Also I might not be able to take the training I admit beca […] more
June 2nd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
There is a boy in the year below me at school and he has done boxing for a few years. The ‘hardest’ boy in his year picked a fight with him and got b […] more
June 2nd, 2006 at 5:54 pm
In response to ‘ANGRY BOB’s answer i agree and disagree with you, yes it is a very dangerous art but on the street the knees and elbows are very diffi […] more
June 2nd, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Well my opinion is that muay thai is better. Cause you can kick the person if they are pounding on you.
June 4th, 2006 at 4:15 pm
Boxing is second only to grappling martial arts. Like judo, bjj and wrestling.
June 5th, 2006 at 9:26 am
Yes, I live in Thailand, Sagat. I trained here for two years while I was a counsellor at a local university. No one in my gym speaks English, and I wo […] more
June 11th, 2006 at 9:34 am
I have a black belt in kung fu and wing chun and I had a fight with a boxer in the streets of london. He just couldn’t deal with the kicks and the pow […] more
June 30th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Hey just to end this stupid discussion on what style is better. you can’t compare style against style because each one has pro’s and con’s. It […] more
July 11th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
boxing is an excellent martial art but its not complete but neither is muay thai they both have weaknesses but they are both excellent to combine with […] more
July 16th, 2006 at 8:41 am
Thets end it with the fact its about skill level,if you had a good boxer against a poor martial artist in what ever he does then the boxer would win b […] more
July 27th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
I boxed for 12 years, studied MT for 4 (taught both), and currently practice JKD. MT has more techniques and Asian training programs tend to be more r […] more
August 4th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
its sad to think all these boxers think boxing actually does anygood my friends ive been in a lotta fights and boxing is way to limited , u c i lost t […] more
August 5th, 2006 at 2:41 am
Dear Sir/Madam, SD STARS international has been Manufacturing in the Martial arts uniforms, Boxing Gloves ,All leahter Gloves, and equipments for […] more
August 9th, 2006 at 10:32 am
All of you who are arguing about boxing being shite, then answer this: Who is going to win a fight, someone who is trained in boxing or someone who i […] more
August 10th, 2006 at 12:25 am
Let me just Say this. martial arts are great for the mind, body, and soul. but Boxing is a real life fighting art that demands complete balance the wh […] more
August 10th, 2006 at 12:37 am
for all thoes who doubt boxing I dare any pro martial artist to just try to compete in the golden gloves tournament
August 10th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
So T.C you are basiclly saying that no martial art can stand up to boxing.Is that what u r trying to say?
August 28th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
Boxing is an excellent martial art, it is clear that nothing from oriental MAs can compete with it. But I do prefer bare-fist techniques rather the […] more
September 5th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
im never coming on this site again! you’re all freaking stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 26th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
To whoever said western fighting sucks. Just remember, the nukes we posess are the be all, end all, of all fights. muhahaha, what up now?
October 16th, 2006 at 7:07 am
Ok here’s a video about mike tyson working out. Look carefully the speed and power on the punches. This speed and power is so deadly especially withou […] more
October 18th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
O shut up already!This is still going on about muay thai and boxing.People in this section have already agrued about that.Just face it muay thai has m […] more
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:29 pm
can some one please tell me what free style boxing is?? Thanks.gary
October 24th, 2006 at 11:48 am
This is laughable! I will always be dedicated to martial arts, but boxing is HIGHLY effective as a fighting art! any one who doubts this can watch “fi […] more
October 24th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Ken never said boxing wasnt good use.But that muay thai has more weapons they are not aruging about the strongest punch in the world.And of course it […] more
October 24th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Yes I have to agree with Ryu.But kicks are stronger than punches.And no one can say anything about that.
October 24th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Well no but bruce lee is like 120 lbs.And tyson is a heavy weight why are u comparing movie stars to world chapions.
November 6th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
I have a proposal, take a boxer train him how to defend kicks and other strikes he may not be used to and put him in the ring with with a MT boxer and […] more
November 13th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
ive done boxin for 2 years now and sparred wiv my m8 who does MT. i had no problem landing punches on him but my legs jus kept gettin kicked which mad […] more
November 27th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
O.K. Mr.t.c in Tae Kwon Do you are taught the complete opposite as in boxing, you learn how to fend off people with you KICKS, with that you are taugh […] more
November 27th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
for all thoes who doubt boxing I dare any pro martial artist to just try to compete in the golden gloves tournament
November 27th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
guy, if any boxer went agianst a mixed martial artist, that boxer is screwed, not that boxing is bad or anything, but boxing only works with the waist […] more
December 10th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Ok Ken you just copied what i said to Guy in the Tae Kwon Do section of this site, thats alright cause you got inspired by what i said. Anyway boxin […] more
December 14th, 2006 at 8:22 pm
Yes lad grog I did.Because it was such a beatiful speech for all those who think boxing is the best.So that is y I cpoied it.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Yes lad grog I did.Because it was such a beatiful speech for all those who think boxing is the best.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Yes I did Because it was such a beatiful speech for all those who think boxing is the best.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
Yes I did Because it was such a beatiful speech for all those who think boxing is all that.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Yes I did lad grog> Cause that was a beatiful speech towards the people who think boxing is the best.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Yes I did lad grog> Cause that was a beatiful speech towards the people who think boxing is the best.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Yes I did Cause that was a beatiful speech towards the people who think boxing is the best.
December 16th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Hey don’t call bruce lee just a movie star he could beat any man alive if he was not dead because not only was he highly trained. He was also one of […] more
December 29th, 2006 at 5:34 am
I honestly wonder how many of you people have actually ever been involved in a real life fight. Im not talking about playground stuff when you was at […] more
December 29th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Ok dave that can be true, but all martial artist should/will improve their techniques for any situation, such as making a flying-spinning-axe kick to […] more
January 4th, 2007 at 9:46 am
such as making a flying-spinning-axe kick to be done in only a few feet (it can be done through practice)? firstly id like to see it in the street or […] more
January 4th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
A true master of any fighting style does not need to be warmed-up before they do a move correctly, although it may help, it is not always needed. and […] more
January 12th, 2007 at 10:27 am
A true master of any fighting style does not need to be warmed-up before they do a move correctly, although it may help, it is not always needed. What […] more
January 14th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
You know what i’m starting to really hate you dave. What is all this crap about not able to do kicks in jeans, bull crap that is exactly how I train j […] more
January 15th, 2007 at 9:29 am
lad gorg You know what i’m starting to really hate you dave. ohh temper temper just because you know your talking nonsense no need to get the hump […] more
January 16th, 2007 at 5:28 am
You know what i’m starting to really hate you dave. temper temper please arent martial artists supposed to keep their cool little girl? What is a […] more
January 16th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
You’re really dissrespectful dave.
January 16th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
You afraid to see me in hell because you know i’ll kick your ass, and there are ground kicks dumb ass.
January 17th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Stick to your dojo you melon. Ground kicks ohh how you make me laugh i bet they work outside in the real world. The only ass you kick is your boyfrien […] more
January 17th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Yeah you know a lot about licking your boyfriends ass you fag!
January 18th, 2007 at 11:29 am
what a witty comment from mr bruce lee himself. just because your old man tickled you as a kid theres no need to be angry with the world.
January 18th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
how annoying. everyone just chill. dave, lad, your both entitled to your own opinions and you should respect the other’s opinion. and just because the […] more
January 21st, 2007 at 8:46 am
Ha! I was right!
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:52 am
more nonsense im afraid. to many people living in a martial arts heaven believing everything they learn in the dojo works in real life. as for lad gor […] more
January 29th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Hey Dave I agree withe lad more. Have u even trained in martial arts.I like to see u take on lad a real martial artist because he knows what he is tal […] more
January 30th, 2007 at 9:15 am
trained in muay thai and done my share of boxing and id be to scrared to fight lad because hed probadly kill himself trying one of his soppy high kick […] more
January 31st, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Dude if i do one those soppy high kicks i wouldn’t miss. And you had to be a thai fighter, you guys always think your the best, please give me a break […] more
March 1st, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Boxing is the most usable martial art. I started boxing a few months ago and theres nothing like it.
March 7th, 2007 at 12:12 am
regardless of what anyone says boxing is by far one of the best ways to learn to throw hard and fast punches in quick seccesion i learned boxing from […] more
March 27th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
u want answer “All of you who are arguing about boxing being shite, then answer this: Who is going to win a fight, someone who is trained in boxing o […] more
April 16th, 2007 at 2:45 am
whats all the argueing 4 this site is not suposed to be a debate section? lets focus on the possitives in each art…ps mixed martial artists are frus […] more
April 21st, 2007 at 2:44 am
peleise send me karate kata and komite.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:06 am
i agree wiv billy! why r u all arguin? boxing is a legend and is no weaker than Muay Thai, so whoever said that can SHUT UP!!! Ong-Bak is what you […] more
May 31st, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Boxing is very powerful. On the show fight science it was given the award for most powerful punch. As for Muay Thai, it is indeed also very powerful i […] more
June 12th, 2007 at 6:45 am
i am ethiopian, and proud to hear that boxing started in ethiopia, which i never knew till i came to this web site. That is brilliant!!!!!! […] more
July 30th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
hey, boxing funs or boxers: can you take the low sheen kick to your leg or a knee to your stomach? how you are going to come out of a clinch?
August 1st, 2007 at 2:24 am
hi i am staying in banglore….. i want to learn boxing in banglore.. please send me d address of it where i can learn it.
August 17th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
thoughs who call boxing a weak sport do not know what they are talking about. if you fight a boxer then you will see. boxing is a very fast fighting […] more
August 17th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Theking you’ve obviously never seen a boxing match, because hitting anyone under the belt are considered illegal moves. Duh their hand movements are g […] more
August 17th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
lmao!!! what ever you say man but ive practiced boxing and fought boxers. boxer do it below the belt every time the duck or dodge a hit they get a lit […] more
August 17th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
and clam down dude i have nothing to do with your previous dicussion with dave and who ever. im only stating my opinion just as you are your self. i a […] more
August 17th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
plus wiether boxing is just a sport or not on the street boxers can punish you kicking or not. they can block kicks. a kick to the face isnt much diff […] more
August 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
i love to fight and i love to learn a bout all fighting arts. its one of the most premitive things we do as a humans. we can all learn from each style […] more
September 1st, 2007 at 1:51 am
“esawzekarias ( muay Thai fighter) Says: July 30th, 2007 at 4:18 pm hey, boxing funs or boxers: can you take the low sheen kick to your leg or a k […] more
October 14th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Hey theking a puch and a kick are way different.We use our legs every day to walk. So legs give more of an impact than a punch. Hey Earnie this web […] more
October 17th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I gotta ask, what’s a “street fight”? People seem to equate it with self defense, but the way some of ya’ll are talking about it sounds more like a ba […] more
October 18th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Yur mad people dont realise that how diffecult it is to take a pro boxer on. for example what yur trying to say is that a Muay Thai fighter could take […] more
October 18th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Yur mad people dont realise that how diffecult it is to take a pro boxer on. for example what yur trying to say is that a Muay Thai fighter could take […] more
October 25th, 2007 at 1:18 am
Ryu, Not bragging. Answering the the question from the Muy Thai guy. Read his post. Gain some perspective on my response. Small balls, […] more
October 25th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Ok Earnie I was raised on a b.s style. And kicks are not powerful ok is that why most people in mma know muay thai. It is hard to break someones nose […] more
November 30th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Hey in k-1 boxers like kraus, zambidis are very sucessful. Also Masato is like 85% boxer who uses some kicks. boxers are very quick on their feet whic […] more
December 10th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I disagree with much of what is said on this page. From my study of boxing, I would argue that it is effective primarily because of the intense train […] more
February 5th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Yo Ryu i do Muay Thai but boxing can kill mauy thai at times thats why boxing is a legends sprt so dont f**** say that its weak compared two Muay Thai […] more
March 8th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
BOXING IN SIDE THE RING,IS NOT THE SAME AS BOXING OUTSIDE A RING. OUT SIDE A RING THERE R NO RULES MEANING,ELBOWS,KNEES,HEAD BUNTS,AN OTHER TECHNICS […] more
March 24th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
why have this whole style vs style debate. Both are awesome for defence both are awesome as sports and both are just as brutal. People saying th […] more
May 1st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
first of all i don’t care what anyone says boxing is not a sport at least no more than martial arts….. you play football and you play baseball you d […] more
May 6th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Ok, so first of all, Boxing’s not even a Martial Art…it doesn’t have eitquette,moral or ethics,it doesn’t help develop your spirit nor help others o […] more