Many people wonder if they should learn boxing or basketball when they see the similarities between the two sports.
While boxing has unique benefits, it also has disadvantages to consider if you want to choose the best sport for yourself.
Let’s see the reasons why you should learn boxing, basketball, or both!
Should You Learn Boxing or Basketball?
You should learn basketball at a young age to gain basic coordination and teamwork skills. As you get older, learn boxing since you are better able to handle its physical and mental challenges.
Read about the similarities, differences, benefits, and cons of each sport below so you can make the best decision for yourself or your child.
What Are The Similarities Between Boxing and Basketball?
Physical Skills
Both boxing and basketball require similar physical skills, including speed, hand/eye coordination, and footwork.
For example, in boxing you’ll use your quick feet to set up a counterattack on offense or to move away from your opponent’s punches on defense.
In basketball, you’ll use your quick feet to attack your opponent’s weak foot with a crossover on offense. On defense you’ll use your quick feet to turn your opponent away from the basket.
Mental Skills
Next, both boxing and basketball require similar mental skills, including discipline, creativity, and confidence.
In boxing, you’ll spend many hours perfecting the jab with different speeds and forces. In the end, you can use the jab in any situation.
In basketball, you’ll shoot thousands of shots from the free throw line. When there are thousands of fans screaming and the game is on the line, you’ll rely on your muscle memory.
Watch how basketball legend Michael Jordan makes a free throw with his eyes closed!
Whether it’s a jab or a free throw, both boxers and basketball require the discipline in order to perfect your craft.
What Are The Differences Between Boxing and Basketball?
Boxing Is For The Individual, While Basketball Is For The Team
First, boxing is an individual sport while basketball is a team sport.
In boxing, while you have your coaches in the corner, you’re alone in the ring.
On the other hand, in basketball you can rely on your teammates to help your earn points on offense. On defense you can rely on your teammates to trap opponents and steal the ball.
Different Match Lengths
Lastly, another difference between the two sports is the length of each match.
In boxing, a match can end as soon as it starts. If your opponent fails to get off the ground from a knockdown within 10 seconds, the match is over and the other boxer wins.
Watch how professional boxer Mike Tyson knocks out his opponent in 30 seconds!
Imagine being a fan who paid thousands of dollars for a ringside ticket, only to have the match end in less than a minute!
In basketball, whichever team has the greater point count at the end of 4 quarters wins. If both teams have the same score at the end of the quarters, you’ll enter an “overtime” period.
This means that basketball games can potentially go on forever if both teams end each overtime with the same score.
For example, watch the Atlanta Hawks beat the New York Knicks after four overtime periods!
Now imagine being the fans at this game; they got their money’s worth!
What Are The Benefits of Learning How to Box?
Physical Benefits
First are the physical benefits of learning how to box: quick reflexes, a strong body, and dependable conditioning.
You’ll train to last for the whole fight. The whole time you’ll take punches, dodge, and shuffle your feet, all tiring to do for 12 rounds at 3 minutes each.
If your opponent senses tiredness in you, he can take advantage of it and apply pressure.
Mental Benefits
Next are the mental benefits of learning how to box. By training, you’ll gain discipline, confidence, and creativity.
When you enter the ring, you have a game plan. However, you must give it up if it’s not working and adapt to your opponent in real time.
This requires creativity, which can be gained by consistent shadowboxing.
What Are The Benefits of Learning Basketball?
Physical Benefits
First are the physical benefits of learning how to play basketball: quick reflexes, a strong body, and dependable conditioning.
Basketball requires quick and explosive movements, such as a rim-rocking slam dunk on offense or a shot block on defense.
You’ll spend the whole game running up and down the court, and are expected to keep a level head and make free throws under pressure.
Mental Benefits
Next are the mental benefits of learning how to box: discipline, the ability to succeed in a team setting, and creativity.
You’ll enter the court with a game plan. However, you must adapt and respond to your opponent in real time.
You’ll learn how to flow with the ball, sometimes finding gravity-defying ways to put the ball in the hoop.
For these reasons, it’s best to learn basketball at a younger age to learn basic coordination and teamwork skills.
What Are The Cons to Learning How To Box?
Lots of Time Training Alone
One of the cons of learning how to box is that you’ll spend a lot of time alone running miles on the road, skipping rope, or shadowboxing.
There are a few exceptions to this solitude, such as pad work with a coach or sparring with a partner.
While to some this is attractive, for most this time spent alone is not worth it.
High Risk of Head Damage
Another con to learning how to box is that you’ll have a higher risk of head damage and concussion.
Even if you have the quickest feet, the sharpest slips, and the smoothest rolls, getting hit in the head is unavoidable.
Sometimes you’ll choose to get hit instead of dodging a punch in order to set up a counterattack.
The repeated trauma to the head in sparring and in matches adds up and leads to chronic concussion.
This damage is irreversible and must be considered if you’re thinking about learning how to box.
For this reason alone, it’s best to learn boxing at an older age when you’re aware of the challenge and risks involved.
What Are The Cons to Learning Basketball?
You Won’t Always Get Playing Time
Although the team dynamic of basketball seems positive, to some this can be a con.
While a basketball team can have so many players, only five can be on the court at any time.
The coach chooses the best five players given the situation.
This means that if you’re not skilled, you’ll will sit on the bench for the majority of the game.
After hours spent drilling and practicing with the team, sitting on the bench can be demoralizing.
Increased Risk of Knee Injury
Another con to learning basketball is that you’re exposed to increased risk of knee injuries, specifically ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries.
The repeated jumping, squatting, and sharp lateral movement strains the knees. Sometimes all it takes to cause an ACL tear is a sudden change of direction.
If you tear his ACL, you may be out for months in order for it to heal.
Afterwards, even with surgery and physical therapy, you may not be able to play as well as you used to since the ACL is responsible for knee stability.
What If You Decide To Learn Both Boxing and Basketball?
If you decide to learn how to box and play basketball at the same time, you will gain all the benefits discussed before.
Both sports share similar physical and mental skills, including speed, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and explosiveness.
For example, the footwork gained in boxing can be used in basketball to make a smooth crossover or slide on defense.
If you are ever involved in a fight in a basketball game or in need to stop your bully with boxing, you’ll be ready to dodge, block, and parry punches.
However you will also risk the cons as well.
Some professional basketball players see the benefits outweigh the cons as they use boxing as training when they are not on the court.
On the other hand, professional boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have both shared their love of playing basketball when not training for the ring.
If you can take care of your body in the long run, learning how to box and play basketball at the same time can be beneficial.
Where Should You Go From Here?
Whether you decide to learn how to box, play basketball, or both, there are a few exercises that are common to both sports.
Jump roping is a great way to learn footwork and timing, and train cardio. Both boxers and basketball players see the benefits to jump roping consistently.
Shadowboxing is a great exercise for both boxers and basketball players to develop mental visualization and creativity.
Learning how to roll under a punch is a great way to teach basketball players to stay light and explosive on the court.
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