Boxer's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Boxing (Start-Up Sports series) (Paperback)

by Doug Werner (Author) "Your introduction to boxing is a building process that will take awhile..." (more)
Key Phrases: Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
This latest entry in the Start-Up Sports series covers boxing, which, the author argues, offers a good aerobic workout, builds physical self-confidence, and promotes self-defense. Equipment suggestions, safety tips, and offensive and defensive skills and strategies are discussed, with sequential photographs lending clarity. The volume finishes with a brief boxing history, as well as a personal diary documenting Werner's supervised boxing lessons and sparring bouts. Although some boxing techniques, drills, and workouts are included, the book is not so much a how-to manual as a general overview of an ancient sport. Includes glossary and a list of helpful resources, though some of the suggestions, like "just type in boxing" when looking for Web sites, are less than helpful. Sue-Ellen Beauregard

Product Description

A user-friendly, highly illustrated, straightforward boxing guide that promotes fun, fitness, self-defense, and self-confidence. Endorsed by USA Boxing, national governing body for amateur boxing.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tracks Publishing; illustrated edition edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884654096
• ISBN-13: 978-1884654091
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,840 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boxing Hopefuls - Welcome To The Basics, February 4, 2004

By	Buster Paris (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really liked this book.

The first 2 chapters are an introduction to boxing and what equipment you'll need as you go deeper into training.

Chapter 3 through chapter 10 are the fundamentals - from stance (very important) through sparing.

Each function and mechanic of a technique is described very well and great and useful detail is given.

The section regarding wrapping your hands - don't worry too much if you don't get it here. It takes a while to figure out how to wrap. They have dvd's and videos dedicated to just wrapping your hands so don't stress out.

The writing has personality and the teaching isn't preachy or too butch or too vague. It's a nice and easy introduction to the fundamentals. Again - this is a beginners guide and is really for the beginner - NOT exclusively as I got some good detail regarding throwing a hook punch.

Also the pace of the book builds as your skill builds - the order of chapters and tools taught are exactly where they should be.

Chapter 11 is a brief history of boxing which I enjoyed.

Chapter 12 consists of the author's journal entries(a newcomer to boxing)- they are his first 6 months of lesson's with Alan Lachica - who sounds like one very cool guy and one of the best coaches out there for those interested in practicing the Sweet Science.

Great book for the beginner

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Beginner's Guide!!!, October 21, 1999

By	"fascarz" (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews

Great beginner's guide to boxing! The author goes through the basic movements, punches, evasions, counters and working on the heavy bag. There are lots of pictures to show the technique that the author is trying to explain. Great camera angles from the side, top and front views for some of the techniques. There is also a short history of boxing included, as well as brief descriptions of those who made the sport great. As someone who wanted to learn the "basics" of boxing, this was a welcome book to add to my library!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent instruction, September 3, 2003

By	Seppo Vesala (Helsinki, - Finland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have previously thought that you simply can not learn a new physical skill by just reading a book. After being introduced to Boxer's start-up my opinion has changed. The book is filled with exellent photography to support the text, and you really can learn the techniques from just reading the book!

The book can be divided into three parts. The first part covers about 100 pages, and it is the actual instructional part of the book. It covers everything from the ground up (boxing gear, stance & footwork, the punches, punching combinations, hitting the bag, defense & counters, sparring, and so on). The second part is really just one chapter, and it covers the essential history of boxing, including the greatest fighters. The third part is shortened version of the author's diary, covering his experiences on learning to box. This part is about 35 pages long, and it's a matter of taste if this is too much. On the other hand, you don't learn much from reading this, but on the other hand it is fun to read other beginner's experiences.

In conclusion, I have to say that I was impressed with this book. It's amazing how good an intruction you can get from reading a book. Compared to the instruction I got from my beginner's boxing class, I think I learned more from this book.