Plan on turning your garage into a home boxing gym? Take a look at nine tips for setting up the perfect boxing den.
If you’re keen on transforming your garage into a boxing gym, and you want to do it the right way, there are several important factors to consider. With the right equipment and a good home setup, regular boxing practice will get you ready for the ring in no time, but you’ll need to ensure that your gym is safe to use, well-ventilated, and spacious enough for a range of exercise routines.
Build a home boxing gym
Space is critical for a home boxing gym
Do you own a single garage or a double garage? The amount of space you have available will be a key factor in deciding how elaborate your setup will be. Ideally, you want at least one car’s worth of space for a trouble-free workout.
When it comes to a home boxing gym, garages are the perfect space to practice boxing. Provided you have enough space to move around freely, all you need are some bare essentials and you’ll be good to go in no time. However, if you want to get the most out of your time, making the effort to add a few extras will be worth it in the long run.
Stay protected
Protecting your body at all times is critical both in and out of the ring — and that also means in your home boxing gym. Make sure to grab some hand wraps before you start swinging, or better yet, a reliable pair of gloves to avoid any unwanted mishaps.
Speaking of gloves, there are five main types to choose from, namely bag gloves, bag mitts, sparring gloves, competition gloves, and lace-up gloves. Each type has different sizes to choose from, so don’t be afraid to explore your options and find the gloves you’re most comfortable wearing.
Choose the right bag
Adding a punching bag to your home boxing gym is basically a rite-of-passage if you want to take boxing seriously. Even as a regular piece of exercise equipment, a punching bag is one of the easiest ways to work up a sweat.
Make sure that any bags you purchase can be placed in an area with plenty of space. Remember that most bags need to be attached to a strong support structure, and that the weight of the bag can make relocating it a difficult task.
The quality of your chosen punching bag is incredibly important. Besides choosing a reputable brand, you need to know the difference between the various types of bags on offer. Heavy bags alone come in several varieties, such as freestanding bags, banana bags, and pole bags.
Build a mini home boxing gym?
Investing in some good quality equipment will save you time and money in the long run. Aside from gloves and a bag, there are many different machines, weights, and other exercise equipment for a home boxing gym to consider.
Home boxing gyms need at least some variety in terms of equipment. This is to prevent falling into the trap of an unbalanced workout. The last thing you want to do is focus on one muscle group to the detriment of others.
A skipping rope, for example, is considered a must for both cardio and coordination. You can also use dumbbells for weight training, or consider some fixed benches like an adjustable weight bench or a squat rack.
Test your hand-eye coordination
Once you’ve got a basic home boxing gym setup going, with all the aforementioned needs taken care of, you’ll want to start focusing on more specialized equipment, such as a speed bag or a double end bag.
Specialized equipment for a home boxing gym can be considered a necessity if you want to take boxing seriously. Ball bags in particular are often cited as the best tools for improving various aspects of athletic ability.
Ball bags improve your hand-eye coordination, keep your reflexes sharp, and get you into a good rhythm for focused training. Because of these vital perks, they’re a highly useful addition to any home gym.
When in doubt, improvise
If budget or space are limiting your options for equipment, there are a number of ways that you can adapt your plans for a home boxing gym. Some people make their own training weights out of regular household items, for instance.
You could make an entire home gym from objects found in your home. Even without equipment, there are a great many exercise routines that don’t need anything except your commitment in terms of time, energy, and willpower.
At the end of the day, you are more limited by your creativity than anything else. However, if you want to set up a home boxing gym the right way, be prepared to put in enough time, money, and energy into making a competent home gym.
Optional extras
From floor pads to air conditioning, optional additions to your gym will greatly improve its overall efficacy. Floor pads are particularly useful, as they add some much-needed friction and protect against preventable injuries.
Instead of the weather influencing your workout routine, air conditioning can give you an edge over mother nature, allowing you to exercise just that little bit longer, which can honestly be the difference between winning and losing a competitive fight.
Don’t underestimate the difference a well-lit home boxing gym space can make either. To further enhance the atmosphere of your gym, why not add a poster or two? Or maybe some music or a TV? While they do have the potential to distract you from your workout, they can also be powerful motivators.
Effort vs payoff
It’s important to note that effort and dedication are far more useful than deep pockets. A fancy home boxing gym is great once you have it, but if you aren’t willing to put in the time and effort towards getting fit, your home gym will be a complete waste of space.
No matter what your dream home boxing gym may look like, don’t fantasize if you don’t have the means to get it. Plan a reasonable budget and act accordingly. If it’s necessary, build up to your dream one piece of equipment at a time. Avoid falling into the trap of having too little equipment by being frugal about your investments. Use the space you have as efficiently as possible, and avoid overspending on one item.
