Why Women Need to Start Boxing

I began my journey with Thai Boxing during the summer of 2023, just as I faced a particularly challenging phase in my life - one where the turbulence of my early twenties reached new heights. After moving cities to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing, I contracted glandular fever. While most cases resolve themselves after a few weeks, mine led to hospitalization and a drip and nebulizer. The fever was impacting on my liver, breathing, and causing my spleen to enlarge to six times its normal size. After five days in the hospital with treatment and careful monitoring I recovered enough to be released.

I returned to my regular weightlifting sessions at my local gym, but shortly after, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid which speeds up the body’s metabolism. With a dangerous resting heart rate of 148 bpm, I was prescribed medication to slow it down together with my metabolism. Unfortunately, the treatment caused weight gain and now a dangerously low heart rate of 38 bpm.

One day I was lethargically weightlifting at the gym when I noticed a young woman training with a personal trainer on the boxing pads. I was immediately mesmerized by her - she wasn’t doing the typical "boxercise" or boxing-based cardio which I had seen women do before. She was the first woman I had seen in the flesh who was learning traditional boxing. Her movements were sharp and fast - she rolled, slipped, and threw punches with such force that her gloves produced a whip-like crack as they met the pads. The sound echoed through the gym, drawing the attention of people nearby. She was a boxer.

Inspired by her, I walked over to the personal trainer profiles displayed on the noticeboard and found the PT who was doing Padwork. His profile stated that he was an undefeated amateur and had fought in mixed martial arts. Unsure and nervous, I texted him expressing my interest in becoming one of his trainees. He booked me in for my first session with him that week. I soon realized that I was still not in good health. I often felt irregular heart rhythms and chest pain during rounds, so my coach adapted the sessions to suit my capabilities: shorter rounds, simple combinations that focused on conserving energy. Despite my poor health and stamina, I discovered two things: boxing made me feel happy and most importantly, it made me feel strong.

I fell in love with the sport and chased the happiness and strength it gave me.

I fell in love with the sport and chased the happiness and strength it gave me. What started as one session per week grew to two, then three, and eventually five. My cardio, speed and power all improved, and so did my boxing. I felt grounded in my body for the first time in a long while. I was no longer just a mind lost in thoughts; I had returned to my body. I started to recognise the healthy person I once knew.

Encouraged by these changes, I made the bold decision to leave my regular gym and start training at a local fight gym. The transition was intimidating. I went from personal trainers and typical relaxed gym-goers to training alongside champions from boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and even Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters.

The move to a fight gym was challenging. After a gruelling first session with a UFC fighter turned coach, I was left in tears and considered returning to my old gym. Also, I struggled to find a coach willing to train a beginner, but then I met a female coach who changed everything. Tough as nails, with a history of injuries she’d overcome to become a professional athlete, she was exactly what I needed – she was an inspiring role model.

With her I was pushed to my absolute limits - whether it was padwork, footwork, sparring or lactic acid training. If I injured myself, I was expected to walk it off. If I showed pain, discomfort or fatigue, I was reminded it was unacceptable. It was tough, but it transformed me. It wasn’t just about embracing strength and resilience like a man - it was about doing it without losing our femininity. It was women empowering women.

I grew stronger both physically and mentally. I pushed through exhaustion, kept my gloves up in sparring despite bleeding, and pushed myself to the brink of vomiting during lactic acid training. These experiences reshaped my relationship with pain and discomfort. They also reshaped my perspective on life:

“I’m too tired to weightlift today.” Tough. Weightlifting makes you stronger.

“I feel sad today, I don’t want to clean the house.” Tough. You’re a grown woman, clean your house.

The lessons I learned in the ring became invaluable lessons for life.

The lessons I learned in the ring became invaluable lessons for life. I realised that weakness is infectious and spreads when you avoid discomfort. The discipline and drive to improve each and every day became my new mindset.

As time passed, I continued training with both my old male coach and my female coach at the fight gym. During my first session back with my old coach, he noticed a significant improvement in my abilities and invited me to join his Sunday sparring group, which was only made up of men. Initially, I was hesitant about sparring with men which is a significant challenge for a woman, however, he insisted it would help me to improve. He explained that sparring with the men would give me a significant advantage when facing women, as men tend to be strong and fast. He reassured me that the male fighters would adjust their actions to accommodate my size and sex - the ultimate goal was to help each other to learn and improve.

Despite the occasional split lip, my boxing IQ skyrocketed. The 90-minute sessions, filled with back-to-back three minute rounds with different partners, pushed me to adapt quickly. I realized that my smaller size made me faster and harder to hit, even when sparring with male heavyweights. With each session, I felt increasingly empowered, going from strength to strength. My former self who was lost and weak became a distant memory.

Two years into my training, I’ve fully recovered from my health issues.

Two years into my training, I’ve fully recovered from my health issues. Boxing has transformed me. It has shown me that physical strength and mental resilience are the foundations for a fulfilling life. When I box, I feel unstoppable in all aspects of life. As a bonus I am capable, if the situation ever arises, of defending myself in ways many women can’t.

Boxing has helped me rediscover my authentic self. It taught me that women can be fighters too, and that pushing yourself physically brings peace to the mind. Ironically, a sport rooted in violence has brought me inner tranquillity and balance. I’ve never felt happier or more mentally at ease, and it’s all thanks to learning how to fight.

by Phoebe Allcott