The 3 Key Elements To Becoming A Superhero - Secrets From The Boxing World

Since discovering boxing at 16 years of age, my perception of the world has completely changed. Though I pride myself on living an extremely diverse lifestyle, much of the success that I've had in business, sport and even my personal life, is a direct result of the training that I've developed from my involvement in boxing. Over the years, I have found myself in the role of the boxer, coach, judge and referee. The sport has not only impacted me personally, but I've watched boxing transform peoples lives. Children have walked through the doors of my gym, too scared to make eye contact - after ten minutes they're throwing punches and smiling directly into my eyes. I have worked with the CEO who has never even walked up a flight of stairs, later become a legend in the boxing ring. I've witnessed the boxer who has lost every round of a fight, manage to find the strength to stop their opponent in the last 10 seconds of the last round.

If there's one thing boxing has taught me, it's that there is a superhero in every one of us. I feel so fortunate to be in a sport that accelerates this discovery of our inner strength.

Photo Credit: Virgil Barrow Photography | Jennifer Huggins coaching at her gym Kingsway Boxing Club

It's my opinion that when people realize their own personal power, and are encouraged to apply it to everyday interactions, life has no limits! I have made it my life mission to share not only the sport of boxing with the world, but also to help people use the sport to better themselves. Below are the three elements that I truly believe are the key to releasing the superhero within all of us.

You don't need to be a boxer to live life like a champion!

Photo Credit: AIBA Internation Boxing Association | 2016 Mens Youth World Championships, Saint Petersburg Russia - Jennifer Huggins (Referee ) Australia vs. Kazakhstan

1. Emotional Conditioning

Almost every week, people walk through the doors of my gym with and tell me "I need boxing to release my anger". Though I realize this is said with the best intentions, the boxer, coach and official inside of me all cringe as I resist giving the lecture of a lifetime. Anger cannot be the driving force behind any goal. Let me qualify that statement, when you operate with only emotion, you're bound to be blind to your peripheral environment.

"It's the punch you don't see coming that will knock you out!"

The boxer who gets upset with his or her opponent for a moment, has lost site of the big picture. You will generally see this with newer boxers, or the seasoned pro who lets their ego get the better of them. On the flip side, I've seen many bouts in which the boxer, who has been losing the majority of the fight, is able to come back and take a unanimous win. Competitiveness is actually one of the criteria we use when judging a boxing match. If the bout is close, and a boxer shows heart - maybe comes back stronger after being knocked down, this can be the deciding factor that gives a boxer the win.

2. Mental Conditioning

The mind has the power to control the outcome of many situations. I've watched boxers, completely green to the international scene, win against seasoned boxers who hold world titles. I've seen the same boxer take a loss in what would be considered a "tune-up" bout, against an opponent with barely any fights. Boxers are notorious for having great performances, and sometimes the worst of their lives when the spotlight is on them. If a boxer is not mentally prepared, they will not be able to call any tool they possess when needed.

Similar to physical conditioning, it's important to constantly train your mind. In a sport like boxing, while you're distracted by the punch that made it through your guard, you'll be hit by ten more shots before you can even process why you got hit in the first place. As a boxer, you need to train your mind to adapt to any situation, and to recover from the unexpected within a split second. You also need to remember to never beat yourself up - there's already someone who has been tasked to do that job. The mental strength of a boxer is said to be what sets the good boxers apart from the great!

3. Physical Conditioning

When I was writing this article, I struggled with the order in which to list these components. What I realized, is that there is no particular order - similar to the training of a competitive athlete or team, if one important piece is missing, the game-plan will fall apart. Physical conditioning is the glue that holds all the pieces together when we're talking about an athlete. In the ring, you're faced with an opponent who has all the same tools as you. Ever notice when watching a boxing match, everyone becomes the best coach, barking out direction at their favourite fighter. Even the untrained eye can generally see what a boxer is doing wrong.

"Keep your hands up" ... "Throw the jab" ... "Punch him in the face!"... It's easy to see what the boxer is doing wrong, so why aren't they listening?

When McGregor fought Mayweather Jr., his technical boxing skill stunned the world, however by the 10th round, he was looking more than a little "wobbly" with 2 mins left on the clock. Though he proved that he could hold his own against arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer for the first few rounds, McGregor ultimately "gassed-out" and was saved by the referee. Without physical conditioning, the ability to use the tools you have spent a lifetime developing becomes impossible. Alternatively, the physical fitness of a trained boxer will make execution of any skill a simple task.

Defeat Is NOT An Option!

This has become my motto for life, however I'm commonly contested on the validity of this statement by people in all walks of life. Sometimes I'm asked: "What about the boxer who clearly lost their fight?"

When explaining the expression, I commonly use the example of the boxer who wins second place in the Olympics. After working their way through a series of bouts including the preliminary, quarterfinal and semi finals, only two boxers will earn their spots in the finals - competing to represent their counties on the biggest stage for sport. There are no "ties" or draws in Olympic boxing. Inevitably, only one boxer will prevail and take home gold and the boxer who loses in the final bout will take home silver. This brings me to my point, did the boxer who takes home a silver medal from the Olympics get "defeated"? Absolutely not! In life you will win some and you will lose some, it's the journey that becomes the reward.

Get In Touch With Jennifer By Visiting: jenniferhuggins.com

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