PREVIOUS POSTS

• 27 March 2018   USIBA NATIONALS 2018: RESULTS
• 03 May 2017   SUMMER IS HERE
• 28 March 2017   2017 USIBA NATIONALS: RESULTS
• 12 February 2017   SPRING PRACTICES HAVE BEGAN
• 14 August 2016   FIRST PRACTICE OF THE YEAR
• 11 April 2016   2016 USIBA NATIONALS: RESULTS
• 18 March 2016   A GENEROUS DONATION
• 31 August 2015   FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE
• 15 August 2015   AUGUST BURNS ORANGE AND BLUE
• 20 March 2015   A WELCOME NOTE

Practice typically begins with stretching and a good 15 - 20 minute warm up consisted of a variety of jogging, calisthenics, push-ups, crunches and shoulder exercises followed by the 3 main parts of training.

The first part is a few rounds of shadowboxing, where we all work on the fundamentals, balance and endurance while the coaches and occasionally the team members go around giving advice and feedback. Typically each shadowboxing round consists of a specified routine or goal, such as improvising new combinations, maintaining good foot-work, focusing on your head movement, etc..

The main bulk of practice starts after the shadowboxing and depending on the day it may vary. The most standard scenario is pairing up and working on our technique in pairs: Where the focus is technique and form in offense and defense as well as conditioning. Other times we work on foot-work and endurance drills, making sure that proper balance and strong legs are built. Less often we work on heavy bags and do mitt work with one of the coaches / team members for more advanced technique drills.

During the final part of practice two days of the week the more experienced members and under the approval and supervision of a coach, pair up for sparring, while the rest work on muscle endurance burnouts. Every member sparring is required to wear mouth-guard and if you are a not a member of the team you are always also required to wear a headgear too. Once a week we go upstairs on the track and run as the last part of practice.

Our coaches are Allan, Danny, Francisco and Ramon.

The club has members in every weight class, so if you are anywhere from 101 - 200+ lbs you will most probably find a partner on your weight to train with.

In terms of starting gear, the minimum starting kit is: hand-wraps (180 in.) and a mouth-guard. If you have gloves bring them along but if you don't we will be able to provide them for you in the beginning. Finally if you happen to own a headgear, it can never hurt bringing that along as well!

Who can box

Basically everyone can box! If you are a student of UIUC (undergrad or grad) then you can box with us. The club consists of both male and female members and we cover almost all weight classes in the sport. At the club you will find athletes ranging anywhere from beginners to experienced fighters. Naturally, some people are in shape coming in and some others, in either case if you stick around, you'll be fit in no time!

Can I join the club at any point

This is sort of complicated, the short answer is no. We accept new people up until the end of the first full month of classes for each semester; end of September for fall and end of February for spring semesters. The idea behind this choice is that although we want the club to grow, at the same time we want to focus on the people we have and invest our time in improving them. That being said exceptions can be made: if you are an experienced boxer or experienced athlete in some other combat sport, or are devoted enough to work on your own time.

Do people get hurt a lot

As with any sport, people may experience injury when boxing. However, we are VERY careful about avoiding injury by making sure people only engage in activities that they feel confident in participating in. Additionally, the coaches and the more experienced boxers keep a close eye on the inexperienced boxers to ensure proper technique is being executed and all activities are safe. While we cannot guarantee no injuries, these procedures, along with other common practices, help us keep our boxers safe.

What does a typical class look like

As we said above training mostly consists of warm-up routines, muscle endurance cardio, shadow-boxing, pair exercises, heavy bag, pad work and sparring, with the occasional wild-card. Usually we will begin with a warm-up, do a few rounds of shadow boxing/punching technique, some defensive tactics in pairs and finally optional sparring dependent upon coach's approval. Almost every practice ends with a combination of cardio-strength workouts.

Can I come just for the fitness part

Yes! The club already has many members that are there for the physical training and challenge of practice, with no intention of sparring or competing. You will find that boxing is not only a great exercise but also a great way to blow some steam off.

What equipment will I need to have

The basic things you need to own that are personal and should not be shared is a mouth-guard and wraps. From there the club will be able to provide you with boxing gloves, though most people eventually end up owning their own pair.

How can I purchase Illini Boxing apparel

Get in touch with us either by e-mail or talking to one of the coaches at practice.

How much are the dues

Dues are set at the start of every year and are paid once every semester. The total gathered goes towards booking the facilities, buying equipment, organizing events and help support the fighting team's travel and tournament expenses.

Does the IBC take part in competitions

The club made it's competitive debut in 2015 when it entered the 2015 USIBA National Tournament. Our goal is to keep going back to the USIBA Nationals every year with a stronger team each time. Moreover, we try to attend at least a couple more events within the academic year.

Can I join the team and compete

Competitive amateur boxing is not easy, it is physically demanding and mentally challenging. If you show your commitment to the craft and work hard enough or you already have fighting experience then you will be considered for the team. Ultimately, of course, the decision of who makes the cut and who doesn't is made by the coaches.