Expert: Alan Kahn - 1/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: i was wondeing how long it will take for a minor wrist injury to heal...i over
extended it...also, i have posterior shin splints from jumping rope....any advice??
i have been training in mma but want to conver to boxing for im a better
striker...i just love to hit...any good advice for boxing clubs in san diego???thanx
alot

ANSWER: Hi Jake,

My orthopedic surgeon has always told me that joint injuries take at least 6-8 weeks to heal completely.  The only treatment I have ever found to work for my own shin splints was rest and stretching really well before each running session. It didn't matter what surface I ran on, when I started "splinting", I had to quit for a while.
I haven't spent much time in San Diego to know any clubs that are good places for MMA. I'm sure they have many boxing clubs, but I haven't been in any of them personally.

Good luck in your training and I hope your injuries heal properly so you can get back in action.

sincerely,

Alan Kahn


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: alan..thanx a ton for the help....im done with the mma though and im strictly
wanting to box...the problem is all the clubs around here are so flashy and large,
i was looking for a more personal place...anyways, im 5'7 and 155 lbs...because
of my height shouldnt i be ia welterweight??i have 8 lbs to lose if so....any good
advice???

Answer
Hello again, Jake,

There are several things to consider when dropping down a weight class, and the first is your health.  
You are 5'7 and 155 lbs? According to "ideal body weight" charts, http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm
(scroll down for men sizes)  that puts you right at the large frame normal. Losing 8 pounds you put you at 147 lbs, or the medium frame size. Both are within well within your height dimensions, so the loss should not adversely effect your health on a weight/height basis, but It might on your strength and endurance basis. First, have you ever fought or trained hard at 145-147 lbs?  Were you a power puncher at that weight? My thought is, if you are a strong puncher at your present weight, I wouldn't drop lower if it adversly effects your punching power. There may be fighters at 147 that are stuffing themselves with food and at FULL stength in that division, and if you have to limit your intake and fight to make 147, losing punching power in the process - it would not be to your advantage to drop. But then again, perhaps for you 8 lbs is not that big a deal and it does not effect your boxing power. Actually, only a trainer that has worked with you personally can really tell if that is in best competitive interest.

But I'm wondering about your stated weight divisions. My research finds the PRO welterweight at 140-147, but for the AMATEUR, the Welterweight is 141-152, which is only 3 pounds under your present weight.  Check these charts: http://www.ringofdreams.com/articles/boxingweightclasses.shtml

Unless you are a PRO level boxer, which I suspect you are not yet, you would be competiting at the amateur weights, and in that case welterweight would be fine for you. My "good" advice would be, if you are planning on competing in boxing, find a competitive level training gym with trainers and boxers that work together for the goal of competition. There you will have both trainers and training mates that can answer most of your competitive based issues, such as boxing license, registrations, and other issues related to legitimate competition. They should also know any weight variations that may be used in your state or local area.

Train hard, but do NOT take going competitive lightly. I can assure you, your opponents won't.  Good luck on your career if you choose that route.

sincerely,

Alan Kahn
author, The Speed Bag Bible