At face value, boxing and relationships appear to be such radically different activities it’s hard to imagine any correlation, let alone the former having properties that can teach you about the latter.
One of these subjects focuses on two pugilists, usually (but not exclusively) males, seeking to outwit each other by landing and dodging punches; the other is about two people coming together in a much more tender way. However, you might be surprised to learn there are many ways in which the noble art of boxing can teach you about affairs of the heart. There are some lessons prepared by this site that can be learned from boxing and used in your everyday relationship.
Put the hard work in
Boxers are required to be in peak physical condition if they are to avoid any of the aforementioned injuries. This means adopting a stringent training plan, devoting a lot of time to maintaining fitness levels. In a gym, there will be a strong focus on lifting weights or running on treadmills.
A boxer might find himself performing these techniques alongside a non-boxer who is exercising in an equally enthusiastic way because they also want to stay in tip-top appearance. Why? Because they’re in a relationship and are inspired to look their best. Embarking on a new romance is often an inspiration for either party to work on shedding excess fat, as well as building stamina.
Boxers might be away from the ring longer than their contests, but if they’re serious about their chosen sport, they’ll try to remain ‘in the zone,’ avoiding unhealthy foods while stoking up on proteins and vitamins. Those in a relationship often behave in the same way, sacrificing those indulgences – chocolate, sugary drinks, convenience food or takeaways – because they want to stay in good condition.
Respect
Critics of boxing tend to focus on the sport’s negative aspects. Any athletic pastime involving physical blows will carry a degree of risk, with fighters facing potential injuries to the brain, the body, and the skeleton. But boxing is one of the most strictly regulated sporting endeavors for those very reasons. Bouts are supervised by a referee inside the ring and a judging panel outside. The moment soon one of the boxers appears to be struggling, the fight will be interrupted, perhaps even halted. It is emphatically not about which of the protagonists can strike their opponent most violently. Before and after the contest, the boxers will face each other and nod in mutual respect; repeating this formal acknowledgment afterward.
So how does this relate to relationships? Boxing in its purest form, especially when enacted by athletes who are lower down in the weight rankings, can be almost balletic in the techniques used to dance around the ring, ducking blows, swerving into different vantage points. The boxers need to be aware of the power they possess in their fists, and temper their movements accordingly. The bottom line is that they require discipline. When they see their opposite number faltering, should they succumb to a rush of blood to the head and continue punching, they’ll find themselves disqualified.
With dating, there are also rules that have to be observed, social etiquette that defines the barriers of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable between partners. Like boxing, there might be a temptation to let the heart rule the head. But in the emotional interactions that lie at the heart of relationships, it becomes just as important to step back and address events objectively.
Choose the right match
A lightweight boxer simply wouldn’t be allowed to enter a ring to face a heavyweight. Boxing is all about ensuring fighters are only pitched against suitable opponents. This is also reflected in relationships. Although there’s an adage about opposites attracting, and cougars (mature women dating younger men) and sugar daddies (older men dating young men) are long-established, singles tend to gravitate to those most compatible. Dating websites employ algorithms to ensure people never encounter other site users who would be inappropriate. Relationships even use boxing analogies to describe those perceived as being less attractive being matched with more ‘glamorous’ individuals – they’re ‘punching above their weight.’ But for the most part, singles tend to be drawn to equals.
Get hurt and recover
While a lot of boxing matches will culminate in the fighters sharing the point tally, there will tend to be a victor and a loser. This is accepted as integral to the sport, and no pugilist who is serious about his sport would give up after a defeat. Similarly, just because one relationship ends under a cloud is no reason for the two singles to decide never to date again. Life is all about accepting mishaps, learning from them, then moving on to the next opportunity.
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