There are a bunch of sports and ways that can improve your boxing game. For example, the world boxing champion in the lightweight division Vasilly Lomachenko plays basketball, volleyball, swims, and even plays tennis to improve his boxing abilities.
Some professional boxers are using swimming in their training because it helps them to develop their lung capacity and also prepares them mentally. Professional boxers include swimming since it helps them to build aerobic and anaerobic conditioning without pressure on their knees.
Swimming is very often a part of the recovery process after an injury happened during a fight or training. Dont go anywhere because next, we will explain how swimming is helping a boxer develop his abilities and conditioning.
These professional boxers include swimming in their training
Some other fighters that used swimming exercises in their fighting preparations are:
Anthony Joshua
When he fought Alexander Povetkin Antony Joshua trained with Loughborough National Performance Centre swimmers. His coaches thought that will give him a tactical advantage over his opponents.
Wladimir Klitschko
In one of his fighting camps interviews, he said: “Swimming is one of the best exercises because every single muscle is working. I swim a lot. I train very hard at things that mimic boxing.”
Deontay Wilder
“I do not run a day in my life”. Wilder is doing his cardio Mostly in his boxing gym or by swimming in his lake.
Boxing and conditioning coaches have figured out many ways to bring up an athlete to a whole new level. Including swimming in fighting camps is one of them.
Why do boxers practice underwater?
There have been many videos of boxers doing underwater workouts. They do it because of water density. Water is 700 times denser than air, which makes it a perfect playground where you can do a bunch of workouts that can improve your abilities.
Some of those workouts are:
Jumping jacks– water density is a great substitute for weights.
Sprints– You can run in a pool with a weight in your hands which will be very exhausting. Or you can run with the water level at your chest which will make great resistance and a lot less impact on your joints than running on concrete.
Running in deep water- if you are in deeper water you just move your hands and legs like you are sprinting with your head above the water. It is a killer workout and is great for the rehabilitation of an athlete.
Shadowboxing– You can shadowbox with your head above or under the water. Doing it underwater creates an uncomfortable feeling which is similar to a fight because it is a stressful environment.
Does shadowboxing underwater improve hand speed?
We have seen many videos and photos of famous boxers shadowboxing underwater. Most famous are photos of great Muhammad Ali shadowboxing in a pool in 1961. Which were published in Life magazine. The reason for that is, like we said the density of water.
It is 700 times denser than air. It is like wearing a resistance weight all over your body. It is not just loaded on your hands like in a workout with dumbells. Shadowboxing underwater also makes resistance to your legs and makes you completely stronger.
Shadowboxing underwater improves hand speed because water density makes resistance. This helps boxers to become faster, stronger, and endurable.
Fighters often do shadow boxes with dumbells to improve speed, power, and endurance. They usually do it like this: three rounds with dumbells and three without. You should do it with lighter weights (0.5 to 1 kg) so that you could do your technique properly.
If you do shadow box with dumbells often your punches will feel much more vicious and faster.
Shadowboxing underwater gives that same result and also the risk of injury is smaller than in the boxing gym.
Does swimming improve a boxer’s stamina?
Swimming is great for improving the boxer’s stamina. It improves long-distance endurance and the ability to move in short explosion bursts which is very important for a boxer.
There are two main types of swimming to get you in shape: Aerobic and anaerobic
Aerobic
It is a long-distance type of swimming. It increases cardiovascular conditioning by getting the amount of oxygen in the blood and improves the capacity of muscles to receive oxygen. Aerobic exercises are beneficial because they increase stamina and improve the boxer’s ability to throw more efficient punches with less energy.
Anaerobic
This type of exercise involves short-period and high-stress intervals. Those are strength-based exercises and they are pushing athletes to give maximum effort. Anaerobic exercises improve fighters’ muscle strength and mass, reducing soreness and protecting joints from injury.
Can swimming be beneficial for the mental training of a boxer?
In many situations in life and especially in the boxing ring it is crucial to be cool-headed. Especially in stressful and high-pressure situations. That ability helps you to stay calm and be efficient as you can be.
Swimming helps a fighter to calm himself because keeping a high swimming rhythm and controlling your breath to lower your heart rate is very similar to controlling yourself in a boxing marathon. Also holding your breath to your limits helps with lowering heart rate which results in more oxygen in blood flow.
Swimming can be beneficial for the mental strength of a fighter because self-control in a stressful and high-pressure environment is required both in swimming and boxing. A boxer who is not able to get himself together cannot show his skill and quality.
Can swimming help build boxers’ muscles?
Running can build your leg’s endurance and great lung capacity. But swimming can build up your arms and shoulders endurance so they do not get tired easily in a fight.
By swimming, you also can build your legs. Because of waters density kicking with your legs is a great workout. You can build your legs without injuring yourself.
Swimming will help build strong and endurable muscles in your arms, shoulders, backs, and legs, which are all crucial for boxing performance.
Conclusion
Swimming is a great way to contribute to the fighting camp of a boxer. Just for itself is a great sport with multiple benefits. With swimming included in the boxing training program, boxers can do complete cardio with aerobic and anaerobic exercises with a much smaller risk of an injury.
Swimming can improve fighters’ speed, power, and endurance. It can develop muscles and prepare fighters mentally. Many fighters, including professionals, are using swimming as an important part of preparation and rehabilitation for upcoming fights.
Swimming just for itself is very good exercise. Swimming activates almost all muscles in your body. It can be beneficial in preparation for many sports and one of them is boxing. Boxing training is made of all sorts of exercises because your whole body needs to be ready. It is a very demanding sport.
Professionals should do their training 5 to 6 days a week. That type of training requires quality recovery. Also, diversity in training like swimming helps the body to stay shocked and develop all the time.
