Is Boxing a Martial Art?

Yeah, it sure is good to run across town with the ROCKY Anthem playing on the background. But is Boxing a Martial Art?

 

As much as many things commonly called "Martial Arts".

If it was asian no one would even question it

 

I would say it is.

Thats the truth

 

Yeah, I guess so.

But there's too much money and internal politics in it. It's so commercialized.

 

And Tae Kwon Do isn't commercialized?

 

Well, TKD is very much commercialized. But you don't see it on Pay per view right?

And a boxer is usually called as a "price fighter". He's in it for the Pot money. That Dude, is what I mean by commercialization.

Not that it's a bad thing, It's good entertainment.

 

Gee.. I dunno.. I think Karate is more commercialized, because most people see fighting and say "Ooh, Karate!" But then, there's 2x more Tae Kwon Do colleges than any other style in Oregon....

 

Western boxing is absolutely its own martial art. Just because it's commercialized and marketed doesn't lessen it's combat effectiveness. What about Sumo wrestling? Isn't it just as popular overseas as boxing is here? And I definitely think of sumo as a combat art. Andrew hit it on the head...or, right on the chin, as it were. If "Western" Boxing was of Asian origin, this thread wouldn't exist.

 

I don't know much about western boxing... To be true, I thought there were only two kinds of boxing! (Boxing, Kickboxing) My brother could do Sumo.. Well.. Mini-Sumo.. I'm not sure how "Big" you have to be for that kind of thing. Could a skinny person sumo?

 

YES!

Its commercialised but its still 'true'.

Col

 

Hehehe...

I think you mean "Prize fighter"

But boxing gyms don't have black belt clubs, testing fees, etc.

Commercialization comes in many forms.

 

I think it's just a shallow MA.
So it's just a MA, with fewer techniques...and the pros are a lot stupider.

Frankly, I don't want to consider it a MA, because it's just punching and holding your hands in front of your face, but by strict definition, it is...sadly.

Sorry if I offended anyone, it's just my opinion.

 

You don't know much about boxing if thats all you think there is too it....

It's a rather complicated little game with a lot of strategy and skill to it.

 

Well it's no less limited in scope than say Iaido and that's a popularly accepted martial art.

In many respects I think that boxing is more MARTIAL than most martial arts anyway. (I.e. getting knoocked about in a boxing ring is closer to the real pressures of combat than say board breaking).

But I prefer the label 'martial sport' (along with Judo, MMA etc).

 

Forget Iaido, Boxing deffinately has more scope then Kyudo

 

Most boxers would knock the stuffing out of the vast majority of the other MA'ers out there without even trying.

Boxing is DEFINITELY an MA

 

I did some boxing years ago and I can tell you, it's far more than that.

Sure, it's only punching but don't judge something by how many techniques it has. Boxing has fewer techniques that other MAs but using them in combinations, by someone who really knows how to box, will knock just about anyone into next week

IMHO, the true "art" of boxing had little to do with punching. It's in the bobbing and weaving, in slipping the punches and countering. Anyone can learn to punch but it takes skill to be able to slip a punch and counter with a punch or punches of your own. The pros practice it until it's second nature.

Yes, it's a MA, and a very effective one at that..

 

Quote Darkblade -

"I think it's just a shallow MA.
So it's just a MA, with fewer techniques...and the pros are a lot stupider.

Frankly, I don't want to consider it a MA, because it's just punching and holding your hands in front of your face, but by strict definition, it is...sadly.

Sorry if I offended anyone, it's just my opinion."

That one of the most ignorant posts I've heard in a while. What do you mean the pro's are stupid

I would like to see anyone go up against any boxer and just "punching and holding your hands in front of your face" and come away with your heads on your shoulders.

 

The earliest boxers were certainly 'martial artists'....

On the 6th of June 1727, James Figg fought the Gravesend pipe-maker, Ned Sutton. The first round was with swords and a cut to Sutton’s shoulder resulted in Figg winning that round. The second round was fist-fighting which included throws and grappling, Figg won this round by submission. The third round was with cudgels during which Figg shattered Sutton’s knee to win the match.

Louie

 

Well Said Louie,
Whilst modern 'Western' Boxing has developed into a 'Front Knuckles of the Fist' Striking Art only, it's origins were firmly in a Complete system of combat.

And even though it 'only uses punches', those punches are devastating weapons and Boxers' Defensive work is the best there is.

Try sparring a few rounds with a Decent Boxer and see if you can even lay a Glove on them or a Foot for that matter. Chances are it'll be 'Good night Irene' for you before you know it.

Is Boxing a Martial Art? As KickCatcher said, it's alot more 'Martial' than most 'Martial Arts'.

Boxing is a Great skill and one I continue to pursue.