Analysis of the experience and practice of amateur boxing in three sports venues in the city of Temuco, Chile

Abstract

In the context of amateur sports activity, boxing acquired a new air in this 21st century, and in the city of study in recent years various boxing schools/clubs have been opened with the aim of promoting recreational activity in young people who see in this sport a space for socialization, recreation, as well as improving physical performance and mental health. Based on a qualitative research experience, the sporting experience of amateur boxers is analyzed in accordance with sport as a recreational tool that encourages comprehensive development, considering motivations, physical performance and competitive personal projections. For this, 17 young boxing practitioners were interviewed and they attended boxing classes in three sports venues in Temuco during the period 2017-2023. Among the results, personal improvement through sport stands out; boxing as a self-defense mechanism; sports practice to channel psychological pressures; improvements in physical performance through aerobic and anaerobic activities and generation of social bonds through sports. It is argued that boxing is an individual activity in its physical and mental area, but a collective one in terms of technical and strategic learning, where the role of boxing clubs is fundamental in terms of delivering a boxing style. © 2024 Federacion Espanola de Docentes de Educacion Fisica. All rights reserved.