Episode 203 of The Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast features Jack Sunderland, a former professional boxer, currently a boxing coach and entrepreneur. Jack goes on to tell me all about the mental and physical challenges that come with the boxing. We also talk about how he helps the local community in West Yorkshire with the social enterprise, The Training Cave, that he founded and runs from a boxing gym in Batley, near Leeds.  We talk about nerves, different psychological challenges that boxers come up against, the difficulties a build up to a fight causes and much more.

Key Learning Points:

• The benefits of taking part in boxing include; increased confidence and self-esteem, self-discipline, and resilience.
• To get to the top of the sport it requires a lot of dedication and commitment, you have to be selfish with your time and your life.
• Breaks are important after training intensely for fights.
• Preparing yourself physically and mentally for challenges and difficulties is hugely important in combat sports.
• Be careful how much attention you pay your opponent.

Connect with Jack Sunderland

Jack Sunderland on LinkedIn

Jack Sunderland – The Training Cave Website

Connect with David Charlton

Sign Up to The Mental Edge

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Helpful Podcast Episodes

Ep 065 Amy Izycky - Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport

Ep 081: Stuart Wade - Mental Toughness in Combat Sports

Ep 083: Billy Schwer – Life Lessons from a World Champion Boxer 

Other Useful Resources

Blog – Do you focus too much on your opponent before or during a boxing match?

Blog – How to Quieten the Mind when Fighting

Blog – 3 Ways to use Visualisation so that You are Mentally Prepared to Win