MOTOR SKILLS AND BOXING

Motor skills and Boxing

Motor skills and Boxing

Introduction

Inadequate physical activity in boxers is a health-related concern as it is one of the main contributors to adulthood obesity. The most recent estimates indicate that 35.5% of boxers are overweight and 19.6% are considered obese. These rates have nearly tripled in the past few decades. Although the increase has been minimal in the last few years, there is still a need to focus on reducing these rates given the relatively high prevalence rates and adverse consequences. (Crespo 2005) Given the importance of physical activity in reducing obesity, examining the determinants to participation in physical activity is an important area of research. A few important potential barriers that have been identified are the lack of motor skills, low health- related fitness levels, and low perceived competence of boxers and adolescents. If these barriers are reduced and boxers have positive physical activity experiences while young, physically active youth may be more likely to maintain physical activity levels throughout the lifespan. (Barkoukis 2007)

There are numerous benefits of an active lifestyle. In boxers, regular physical activity and appropriate nutrition are necessary for normal growth and development of physical fitness, which includes body composition (Strong et al., 2005; Thomas & Thomas, 2008). Lack of activity is a concern because people who are physically inactive may incur health problems such as becoming overweight or obese which increase one's risk of many diseases and health conditions. Adulthood obesity is associated with a range of physical, social, and psychological consequences, including poor self-esteem, depression, and social isolation. (Goodway 2010)

One major reason for encouraging boxers to be physically active at a younger age is the implications for future physical activity involvement and health benefits. Youth who are inactive as boxers and adolescents are more likely to grow up to be sedentary adults than youth who are active. However, the magnitude of these findings is weak, and additional evidence has identified a genetic component linking physically active adults to more physically active boxers. Lack of physical activity may contribute to adulthood obesity, which is the foremost predictor of obesity in adolescence. In turn, obese boxers have a higher tendency to become overweight adults. (Barlow 2007)

Many factors explain a boxer's participation in physical activity, which may influence the boxer's ability to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. One way to approach understanding the determinants of physical activity is by examining the model proposed by Stodden and colleagues. The four main components (motor skill competence, perceived motor competence, health- related fitness, and physical activity) in the inner square of the model are all interrelated and lead to the risk of obesity of boxers. (Cho 2009)

Motor Skill Development of Boxers

Motor skill competence refers to proficiency in common fundamental motor skills, which include both locomotor and object control skill development. From birth through childhood individuals experience the development of human movement; and as they grow and mature into adolescents, they continue to refine and practice skills learned at younger ...