Boxing back in schools

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 30 Jan 2007, 11:05

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6312589.stm

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 30 Jan 2007, 11:47

I am in total favour of Boxing coming back to schools. The sport will teach children from a young age: discipline, self-worth, respect for each other etc.

Boxing was taught in schools for years, but I guess campaigners who were against it, got their way, and boxing was no longer a part of school.

In today's society, with a lot of young people going in the wrong direction, getting into trouble, using drugs etc, this can be something good for them. I also feel kids would get satisfaction from participating in such activity as Boxing.

Not to mention it will boost their fitness and moral amongst the children.

I hope this is the first step in a bid to being Boxing back to the majority of schools.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 30 Jan 2007, 12:45

I disagree, I think it's a good thing. For one thing it gives kids a chance to channel their aggression in a more positive way that slapping the shit out of people in the playground, and instills confidence, discipline and a love of physical effort in kids.

I attended a boxing club after school at Primary school, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I was a quite nervous and timid sort of kid who shied away from physical confrontation, but I was actually to my surprise quite good at boxing, and gave quite a few of the bigger kids a bit of a spanking in sparring sessions. The school bullies often didn't fare that well in the sessions as they found it very difficult to stay within the boundaries of the rules, or to control their aggression.

Of course, it is not for everone, but I am sure it is not going to be compulsory. It's an easy matter to say have two different groups run twice weekly. That way class sizes can be kept down. If it is run from primary school upwards, I think the effects will be beneficial for those kids when they get older, because in boxing, you soon find out that losing control results in getting spanked.

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 30 Jan 2007, 12:49

livingstone cole wrote:I'm not in favour. Boxing can teach discipline, but with class sizes the way they are I doubt any teacher will be able to keep 40 kids with gloves under wraps.
Kids are fukkrs as they are, teachers can't control them and I just can't see it being controlled as it should be.

In Maths the worst that could happen was being stabbed in the arm with a protractor.

Never had higher maths inflicted on you then?

I'm sure that there will only be two kids with gloves at any one time, but the class size issue is a valid one. There just won't be enough time in a lesson for everyone to have a go every week.

Like Rocky, I'd be totally in favour, but I doubt that the pc brigade will stand for it. As soon as some kid comes home with a black eye, that'll be it.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 30 Jan 2007, 15:16

I think Boxercise should be brought back in schools and maybe schools should encourage interested pupils to seek out the local club (give out addresses etc) - instead of just looking down on it as my school was.

Not sure if I agree with the contact side of it. Maybe if experienced boxers did guest lessons they could go on "defence only". I know its the way to produce champions, but I don't like seeing too 12 year olds going at it in an amateur show. I think from 14/15/16 on its "right", just my take.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 30 Jan 2007, 16:12

I used to do bit of boxing as a kid and had far more injuries from Rugby, Footie and Judo than from the boxing, all these people holding their hands up in protest at youngsters doing a bit of boxing should look at the amount of youngsters injured and crippled each year playing rugby... I'd much rather a son of mine learn a bit of boxing than be slammed around on the pitch or spend his nights drinking alcohol and smoking on street corners because theres nowt else to do.... reintroducing boxing to schools may actually teach the youngsters some discipline and respect for themselves and other people.... good thing all round imo

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 31 Jan 2007, 07:58

stujones wrote:I think Boxercise should be brought back in schools and maybe schools should encourage interested pupils to seek out the local club (give out addresses etc) - instead of just looking down on it as my school was.

Not sure if I agree with the contact side of it. Maybe if experienced boxers did guest lessons they could go on "defence only". I know its the way to produce champions, but I don't like seeing too 12 year olds going at it in an amateur show. I think from 14/15/16 on its "right", just my take.

I don't remember anyone getting so much as a black eye at our after school boxing club, I'm not sure what size they were, but the gloves were huge pillow like things, and nobody hit hard enough to really injure anyone, and the instructor broke things up if it got out of hand. I think someone got a nosebleed once or twice, but that was about it.

At 14/15/16, it is far more dangerous, as at that age there's a big difference physically between different people. Some 14 year olds have physiques like a grown man, whilst others are willowly barely pubescent kids. Two big 16 year olds can give eachother a serious whacking, far better that kids learn from a young age I think, rather than sticking almost fully grown men in with eachtother for the first time.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 31 Jan 2007, 09:49

Oh yes James, I agree its got to be done responsibly no matter what the age - when Sparring etc is done its got to be with people of similar size and ability level.

As I said its probably just me, I just don't like seeing the young un's hammering the shit into each other. I don't know if its cause I'm not convinced they are fully aware of how dangerous it can be or is it because from my experience I'm not sure the kids really listen to the advice at that age (and are just intent on being first and hammering each other).

I had no problem with the kids in the training or learning with an older fighter in very light sparring - just when they were fighting their fellow aged kids. Everything that was told seemed to go out of the window and was very hard to adjust. With slightly older novices it seemed easier to adjust.

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 31 Jan 2007, 12:40

I got seriously bullied at school, and while part of me thinks boxing in school would be great for boxing, i think it would be bad for some kids, so it should not be mandatory, and it should be limited to the best behaved children - otherwise you get all the big nasty bastards getting to hit the weaklings, all under the approving eye of a PE teacher (and you know what sadists they are)

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 31 Jan 2007, 12:46

stujones wrote:Oh yes James, I agree its got to be done responsibly no matter what the age - when Sparring etc is done its got to be with people of similar size and ability level.

As I said its probably just me, I just don't like seeing the young un's hammering the shit into each other. I don't know if its cause I'm not convinced they are fully aware of how dangerous it can be or is it because from my experience I'm not sure the kids really listen to the advice at that age (and are just intent on being first and hammering each other).

I had no problem with the kids in the training or learning with an older fighter in very light sparring - just when they were fighting their fellow aged kids. Everything that was told seemed to go out of the window and was very hard to adjust. With slightly older novices it seemed easier to adjust.

From my experience kids pretty much hammer eachother in the breaks at school, at least in the ring the fights are controlled, they are wearing gloves/head guards and most importantly learning to respect eachother and also physical force itself. But I think its important who is put in control of these sessions, if it is non contact than a teacher with normal physical training qualifications should be ok, but when it moves onto full contact then I think it should be overseen by someone with boxing experience... if this carries on it could provide good career opportunities for exboxers to get into... imagine going to school and being taught boxing by someone like Herol Graham?.... it could do a lot of good all round imo...

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 31 Jan 2007, 12:51

m1kee50 wrote:I got seriously bullied at school, and while part of me thinks boxing in school would be great for boxing, i think it would be bad for some kids, so it should not be mandatory, and it should be limited to the best behaved children - otherwise you get all the big nasty bastards getting to hit the weaklings, all under the approving eye of a PE teacher (and you know what sadists they are)

I dont see it being compusory and especially the contact side... also from experience I've found that bullies usually make crap boxers... when faced with someone their own size to fight most run a mile.... on the other hand, people that are being bullied could boost their fitness and strength through boxing, learn some self defence and most important build up their confidence... if done right boxing should be all about building yourself up physically and mentally...

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 31 Jan 2007, 12:54

I agree with the principle, just that there is a 'vertical' social structure in schools, rather than a 'horizontal' one, and that might impact on the value of the scheme

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 31 Jan 2007, 13:00

Of course it will be voluntary, when was there ever compulsory 'boxing lessons' in schools? It will a club, probably out of school hours which is for those who wish to take part.

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 31 Jan 2007, 13:01

i just meant they should not do it in PE lessons, as part of the PE curriculum. I did not mean to suggest that it has ever been compulsory

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 31 Jan 2007, 13:05

They could do it as an 'option' rather like at my school, there were various sports you could opt for. Tennis, Hockey, Football, Rugby, Rowing etc.

If I was running it, personally I would devote the first year or so to no contact with padwork, shadowboxing, bag work, and floor exercises. Once someone had been doing it for a year, bring them into some padwork with a bit of contact, and build them up to sparring at the end of the second year. That way you aren't going to have people going apeshit and throwing their weight around, because by the time they have spent over a year doing all that, they will have developed some decent technique, not to mention some fitness too.

Only thing is, once a week isn't really enough for boxing, you ain't going to get very fit.

JC · Post by JC » 31 Jan 2007, 13:07

m1kee50 wrote:I agree with the principle, just that there is a 'vertical' social structure in schools, rather than a 'horizontal' one, and that might impact on the value of the scheme

I agree they would have to think carefully how to impliment it, IMO the answer would be starting them young enough before the "virticle social structure" was too well established.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 31 Jan 2007, 13:40

What vertical social structure is this you're on about? Is this sociology bullshit speak, it has that sounds to it.....

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 31 Jan 2007, 14:10

Just the best way i could think of how to describe it - anyone got a better way? theres a ladder of popularity and esteem, rather than a large-scale common respect

Shirow · Post by **Shirow** » 31 Jan 2007, 15:56

A member of my white collar boxing club is looking bring it in at the school he teaches in.

I think it would be fine if it was a non-contact PE option. Basically boxercise. For the kids with an interest & aptitude for it they could join the after school club where they would be able go in for controlled sparring.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Feb 2007, 07:06

m1kee50 wrote:Just the best way i could think of how to describe it - anyone got a better way? theres a ladder of popularity and esteem, rather than a large-scale common respect

Ah I see, as a I thought proto-neo-sociolinguistics.....

In any case, if anything a boxing club at school would go some lengths to break up this hierarchical structure, if you can hold your own in sparring, whatever your previous reputation was, you're likely to earn respect.