拳击运动有着悠久的历史。近年来，在英国，拳击成为了一项受大众喜爱的运动。许多人开始通过拳击来强身健体，不过除此之外，拳击还有其它好处吗？本文列举练习拳击的好处。

词汇：exercise 体育锻炼

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What kind of people do boxing in the UK?

2. True or False? Boxing is a workout only for the arms.

3. What impact can boxing have on the symptoms of anxiety and depression?

4. Why is boxing not just an individual sport?

5. What social benefits can cooperation and teamwork in boxing have?

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. They’re a really interesting band! Their music is quite unusual, they’re not _______ at all.

from all walks of life            profound               mainstream                     in the ring

2. My younger brother and I have always _______ each other, but we’re close.

had a positive impact on     alleviated              faced an opponent          sparred with            

3. Jumping rope can increase _______. It is a short but intense form of exercise.

full-body workout                 benefit                  anaerobic fitness             symptom             

4. A continuous cough and a high temperature are two _______ of Covid-19.

symptoms                            benefits                disciplines                        focuses

5. My first teacher in primary school had a very _______ effect on me.

profound                              mainstream           full-body                          physical

答案 

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. What kind of people do boxing in the UK?
There is not one particular group of people that does boxing. People from all walks of life participate.

2. True or False? Boxing is a workout only for the arms.
False. Boxing is a full-body workout.

3. What impact can boxing have on the symptoms of anxiety and depression?
Boxing can alleviate them, make them less severe.

4. Why is boxing not just an individual sport?
Boxing also involves cooperation with others and teamwork.

5. What social benefits can cooperation and teamwork in boxing have?
Cooperation and teamwork can create a sense of identity and belonging.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. They’re a really interesting band! Their music is quite unusual, they’re not mainstream at all.

2. My younger brother and I have always sparred with each other, but we’re close.

3. Jumping rope can increase anaerobic fitness. It is a short but intense form of exercise.

4. A continuous cough and a high temperature are two symptoms of Covid-19.

5. My first teacher in primary school had a very profound effect on me.