Boxing has been practised for centuries – it was even one of the sports in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece. More recently, boxing has become mainstream in the UK, with hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life participating in the sport every week. But why? The answer lies in the physical, mental and even social benefits boxing can bring.

拳击已经有几个世纪的历史了——它甚至是古希腊最初奥运会的项目之一。最近，拳击在英国成为主流，每周有数十万来自各行各业的人参与这项运动。但为什么？答案在于拳击所能带来的身体、心理甚至社会效益。

Its physical benefits are clear. Whether it’s practising with a punching bag, sparring with a partner or facing an opponent in the ring, boxing can be an intense form of exercise and give a full-body workout. It can improve muscular strength, and it can also increase anaerobic fitness – allowing someone to work out harder, for longer. These can, in turn, have a positive impact on other aspects of physical well-being, like heart health and weight management.

它的身体好处是显而易见的。无论是使用出气筒练习、与伙伴对练还是在拳击台上面对对手，拳击都是一种高强度的锻炼方式，可以锻炼全身。它可以提高肌肉力量，还可以增加无氧健身——让人们更努力、更长时间地锻炼。这些反过来又会对身体健康的其他方面产生积极影响，例如心脏健康和体重管理。

But the high physical demands of the sport aren’t just good for the body – boxing can also have a positive impact on someone’s mental well-being. Dr Jessica Pinchbeck, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at the Open University, says that boxing ‘can alleviate some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression’. Exercising regularly is already widely known to be good for mental health, but boxing can also bring a sense of discipline and focus.

但这项运动对身体的高要求不仅对身体有益——拳击还可以对一个人的心理健康产生积极影响。开放大学运动与健身高级讲师 Jessica Pinchbeck 博士说，拳击“可以缓解一些焦虑和抑郁的症状”。众所周知，定期锻炼有益于心理健康，但拳击也可以带来纪律感和专注力。

And there is a third benefit to putting on the boxing gloves. Practising punches can be done alone, of course, but boxing is not just an individual activity – it also involves working with others to train and stay safe. Dr Gavin Williams, Senior Lecturer in Education at the Open University, says that this cooperation and teamwork can ‘create a sense of identity… and belonging’. So, no matter what the reason that attracts someone to boxing, the interactive elements of the sport, mean it can also have profound social benefits.

戴上拳击手套还有第三个好处。当然，可以单独练习拳击，但拳击不仅仅是一项个人活动——它还涉及与他人合作训练和保持安全。开放大学教育高级讲师 Gavin Williams 博士说，这种合作和团队合作可以“创造一种认同感……和归属感”。因此，无论拳击吸引人的原因是什么，这项运动的互动元素都意味着它还可以产生深远的社会效益

Good for body, mind and social interactions? It’s not surprising that more and more people are stepping into the ring.

对身体、心灵和社交互动有益吗？越来越多的人踏入擂台也就不足为奇了。

词汇表

practise 练习
mainstream 主流的
from all walks of life 来自各行各业
physical 身体的
mental 思想上的，精神的
punching bag 练习拳击用的吊袋
spar with 与…练拳击
face an opponent 面对一名对手
in the ring 在拳击台内
full-body workout 全身锻炼
muscular strength 肌肉力量
anaerobic fitness 无氧适能
well-being 健康
high physical demands of …对身体素质的高要求
have a positive impact on 有积极的影响
alleviate 减轻，缓和
symptom 症状
discipline 纪律，约束
focus 专注力
sense of identity 认同感
sense of belonging 归属感