The Rise Of Female Boxers
The Rise of Female Boxers
Although the phrase fight like a girl has been used in a derogatory way in the past, there's value to doing just that.
Just as they're the ferocious protectors of their young in the animal kingdom, women are just as as emotionally and physically wired for fighting as men. Men and women are both naturally gifted with the fight or flight response mechanism. When confronted or put in a potentially dangerous situation, this complex hormonal response triggers our bodies and secretes over thirty different stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, all having a collective, widespread effect on the body. This adrenaline rush can increase your awareness, physical strength, mental acuity and speed/response time, all in order to quickly and adequately handle the perceived threat. This chemical reaction in the human body is not gender-specific. In fact, women may even be quicker to sense, react and respond to her body's natural inclination to protect itself at all costs.
In terms of basic physical structure, women also contain some natural physiological benefits for success in boxing. First, the female pelvis is larger and broader than it is in men, so women tend to have an advantage in where their natural center of gravity is. They also tend to carry extra weight/place their balance in their hips, unlike men, who tend to carry their weight in their abdominal area. This type of weight distribution allows some women to naturally sit down on their punches more thoroughly and maintain a more balanced center of gravity. Dropping your center of gravity and sitting down on your punches adds leverage to its delivery.
Another benefit that women may have is a lack of societal pressure that they should be fighters by nature. In some cases this may make women more "coachable". They're more open-minded when they enter the gym or a teaching/coaching environment, because there aren't preconceived notions as there are with men. The male ego and pressure from society that they should be natural-born killers prevent some men from grasping the basic principles of boxing. It stems from men believing they're too macho to start from scratch and be told how to fight. Some men are so focused on showing how tough they are that they skip over the technique and fundamentals needed to be an effective boxer.
It may even be safe to say that most women who walk into the gym may feel a greater need to prove themselves. This creates a sense of willingness to go that extra mile and show everyone they can hang with anyone and everyone. That they are just as tough and just as deserving to train, box or compete as anyone else in the gym. There's a certain resolve or inner strength that comes from needing to earn respect from your peers, so they work harder, learn faster and don't give up near as quickly.
Even though men and women are competing on different physical levels their abilities and capabilities are not that different. In terms of some slight anatomical differences, numerous intangibles and the desire/ability to learn, women may experience some small advantages when it comes to boxing.
Of course, there are no hard and fast rules that apply to all men or all women. These facts are blanket generalities in some cases. There's still no denying there are a lot of women who can just plain fight, and they're making a distinct place for themselves in the sweet science… a place where fighting like a girl has a whole new meaning.
Written By Doug Ward - Marketing Director, TITLE Boxing
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