A common question in martial arts circles is what styles are superior in a street fight. In many cases, it's an "apples and oranges" argument, such as comparing a ground fighting arts, such as wrestling against a stand up art like karate.

As a boxer you must pay far more attention to your diet than the average person. Proper nutrition is not just important, it is critical. You must recover from your training sessions and have the energy to train in the future.

Boxing is a sport that requires explosive and powerful movements for an athlete to succeed. Plyometrics mimics the physical demands of a fight and will train your body to move more quickly and explosively. It's advisable to start your program with a trainer familiar with plyometrics before continuing on your own.

Boxing relies not only on speed and agility, but also on power. You can hit an opponent all you want, but if there is no power behind your punch, you're basically wasting valuable energy. Along with practicing your punches on a heavy bag, there are exercises you can perform to increase your punching power.

Olympic boxers train to fight three three-minute rounds by practicing their boxing technique and doing conditioning and strength training drills.

Boxers should train for stamina using 2- or 3-minute bursts of activity, followed by a period of rest.

For every high-level professional boxer, there are thousands of amateurs putting time in at their local gyms preparing for a first fight. There's no blanket answer as to how much training anyone needs before that first bell.

Double-end punching bags are a great training tool for developing rhythm, hand-eye coordination and punching distance. They train both offense and defense maneuvers and promote fast reaction times. Hooking up a double-end bag requires two anchor points for suspending the bag between bungee cords.

Boxing gloves are simple and effective in design, offering protection both to the puncher and to the opponent being hit. Boxing gloves reduce the impact of punches by increasing the duration of each blow and spreading the impact force over a wider area than a naked first would.

Learning to increase your force in hitting will make a difference. Punching "power" matters more than size ever will. Receiving professional training in how to make use of your fists -- no matter their size -- will ensure that you have the proper form and the correct technique to control the force of your punch.

Buying new equipment every time you take up a new sport can drain you financially. It's tempting to skimp on items such as specialized shoes until you're sure you're going to enjoy the sport. But wearing boxing shoes during training may help you improve your footwork, an important part of boxing.

Cardio boxing classes provide a fun, calorie-burning alternative to monotonous activities like running. Cardio boxing uses boxing moves to provide an aerobic workout. Gyms and private studios offer different types of cardio boxing classes for group exercise.