I’m 33 and I’m getting bored with the gym. I kinda want to lose some of my upper body mass and focus more on stamina and conditioning and I’m not interested in CrossFit so don’t even mention it.

I’ve always wanted to try boxing or mma. I did wrestle for 10 years, 4 of them at the collegiate level, so I’m not new to “training” although I’ve been out of it for 10+ years.

The thing is I don’t know the first thing about boxing, so I don’t want to start out in some class with a bunch of dumb teenagers and chit. I don’t actually want to compete in fights. I just want the training and fitness involved.

I want classes with other adults but I feel like nobody my age just picks up boxing.

Can any of yall give me some insight on what I can expect if I were to join at my age and what to look for in a gym?

was expecting you to be 60 or something not fuking 33!! Get a grip OP

too old to be a contender? yes

too old to learn how to throw hands well? absolutely not

I boxed in college. You're good man. You can start boxing training at any point in life. Heavy bag, pads, footwork, boxing-related exercises, etc. Even sparring after you get in shape and get your technique down. You won't be a pro if you're starting out at 33, but you can absolutely train and do all the fun stuff.

If you do spar, make sure you wear solid head gear and be careful. I'd also recommend going easy as you don't want to get KO'd or any head trauma. The biggest reason I didn't pursue boxing further is because it causes brain damage.

I use the heavy bag for cardio. Great workout I can do right at home,

Going to buy one of those aqua bags soon as they seem like fun,.

I have zero intention of boxing anyone but I do want to try to pay attention to somewhat proper technique to maximize them should the need arise.

No way would I go to a gym to do this as there really isnt any need to unless you plan on getting in the ring.

I currently hang my heavy bag from one of those pull up bars you put in the door jamb thing. Works great.

Recreational boxing to stay in shape, condition, and if need be, defend yourself on the streets? No, not too late.

Go amateur/pro? Absofknlutely too old lol.

Joe Lewis boxed professionally at 137 years old.

...and he has CTE now and needs to wear a diaper and helmet 24/7.

Get a spar partner. Profit.

This. Good God you people are cucks. The majority of prime UFC fighters are early-30s. You're not gonna turn pro but why would 33 be "too old", OP? Ideas like this aren't any different from the women who ask if it's possible to lose weight after 30 because they became whales and gave up thinking their "metabolism crashed" due to "old age".

I picked up boxing in September of last year at age 35.

I looked around and found a good boxing gym. It’s not one of those boxing exercises where you don’t learn technique, and it’s not where potential pros go either.

All beginners here do partnered mitt work, 4 rounds holding and 4 hitting. Before the boxing we do 4 body weight execicses for 3 mins each, as a warmup. If you’re consistent and showing improvement you get moved to flash drills (light sparring with mitt work but both people use gloves for obvious reasons).

From there it’s sparring, but how often depends on how much you go to class and how much you want it. I started doing ring work at 8 weeks, and competed in an exhibition at my 5 month mark with other guys from just our gym. I lost, but it was fun as hell.

Since then I’ve only gotten better. For context I go 4 days a week though. My cardio hasn’t been this good since my early 20s when I used to play basketball. During sparring there’s no reason to go hard either. You can’t “win” sparring, it’s to teach you how to react to getting hit, and how to move/hit and try new techniques.

At your age you’ll be great. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself if when you do ring work. Some people think it’s okay to get hit hard because they won’t speak up. You’re not gonna go pro, so why risk head injured by going to war for no reason?

never say never
ass2ass