AOC turns our attention to ‘Ring Parade’, and we’re not talking diamonds — although model Karlina Caune is sporting some serious watches in this fashion story for the September 2024 issue of Madame Figaro Paris [IG].

Stylist Sylvie Clemente is ringside, preparing Caune to fight, fight, fight — as women did in Sparta. Photographer Thiemo Sander [IG] photographs the fashion action for Madame Figaro; and AOC takes a seriously-informed deep dive into the health benefits of boxing. / Hair by Kazuko Kitaoka; makeup by Maria Olsson

Women boxers may be revolutionary today. But back in ancient history, certain cultures encouraged women to have bloody knuckles. Yes, it came at a time 3000 years ago when women were losing our rights to patriarchal forces. But there is documentation that real women boxers existed.

All AOC can say is “Thank goddess for cave paintings.” Let’s go.

Women Boxing Is Not a Revolutionary Concept

Boxing has long been revered as a challenging and dynamic sport, historically dominated by men. However, in recent years, it has gained considerable traction among women as a powerful fitness regimen, drawing enthusiasts with its unique blend of strength, endurance, and agility.

Historical records and artwork from different civilizations reveal women engaging in activities like wrestling, running, and even boxing. Ancient Minoan artifacts, for example, depict women participating alongside men in athletic competitions, while the society of Sparta in ancient Greece famously encouraged women to train in physical exercises to strengthen them as future mothers of warriors — male and female.

Female boxing fitness offers a transformative experience for women making the dedicated commitment to unlock its regenerative powers. The sport offers a comprehensive workout that engages both the mind and the body, making it an ideal choice for women seeking to enhance their fitness levels.

The Unique Health Benefits of Boxing for Women

Boxing exercises our bodies in a unique cocktail of moves and concentration. Punching, ducking, and weaving involve coordinated movements that work various muscle groups, including the core, arms, shoulders, and legs, fostering improved balance and coordination.

Moreover, the high-intensity nature of boxing leads to significant calorie expenditure, aiding in weight management and fat loss.

The focus required during a boxing session promotes mental clarity and concentration, offering a cathartic release of stress and anxiety. By empowering women to push our limits, develop discipline, and gain confidence, boxing goes beyond fitness, becoming a transformative practice that nurtures both physical and mental well-being.

Enhancing Coordination And Balance

Boxing is not only a formidable sport that builds strength and endurance. It also plays a pivotal role in enhancing coordination and balance for women. This intricate sport demands precise movements, agile footwork, and a keen sense of timing, which collectively contribute to improved motor skills. The practice of boxing requires synchronizing upper and lower body movements, forcing the brain to create new neural connections that enhance overall coordination.

As women engage in repetitive and complex combinations of punches and defensive maneuvers, they develop finer control over their body movements and heightened awareness of their physical positioning in space.

Furthermore, balance is a crucial aspect of boxing, as maintaining stability while moving and striking is essential for executing techniques effectively. Through regular training, women learn to distribute their weight evenly, allowing them to maintain center of gravity, especially during rapid movements and directional changes. As women master this skill, they experience improved posture and a greater sense of body awareness in everyday activities.

This enhanced balance not only benefits their boxing performance but also translates into better athletic performance in other sports and everyday tasks. Overall, the sport of boxing offers women a dynamic way to refine our coordination and balance, contributing to a more agile and physically confident lifestyle and positive aging.

Boxing’s Cardiovascular Health Impact

Boxing is an exceptional way to improve cardiovascular health, particularly for women. This high-intensity workout involves bursts of vigorous physical activity alternated with periods of rest or lighter activity, which is a prime example of interval training. When you engage in a boxing workout, your heart rate is elevated, and your heart muscles are strengthened over time.

Boxing promotes increased blood circulation, which ensures that oxygen and nutrients are efficiently delivered to various tissues throughout the body. This can lead to better metabolic function and more efficient calorie burning, aiding in weight management and reducing strain on the heart. Women engaging in regular boxing workouts often notice improvements in energy levels and stamina, owing to the enhanced capacity of their cardiovascular system to sustain physical activity over prolonged periods.

Boxing helps in lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels, which are critical factors in maintaining heart health.

Mental Health And Stress Relief

Stress response is deeply embedded in our body mechanism as a complex physiological and psychological response to perceived challenges or threats. Stress response is primal and rooted in the body's instinctual drive to protect itself. Eliminating any and all stress in our lives is a negative goal for women.

Thankfully, it’s almost impossible to achieve an absence of in our modern life. Unmanaged stress is, however, a major threat to women’s wellbeing and especially as a key contributor to heart disease. Boxing primes us to effectively handle stress head-on.

Adrenaline and Cortisol

At its core, stress involves a release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body for a "fight or flight" response. While this reaction can be beneficial in life-threatening situations, chronic exposure to stress can have detrimental effects on throughout the body, particularly the heart.

Exercise prompts a temporary increase in cortisol levels, which can enhance resilience by conditioning the body to better manage stress. Moderate-intensity, consistent exercise appears to be beneficial in maintaining healthy cortisol rhythms, thus supporting anxiety reduction and mood improvements — even in children.

Not all dangers have equal impact on our wellbeing. We must consider the impacts of both perceived threats — real and imagined — and also historical stress in our own lives that promote an adult tendency to overreact to perceived threats. Children who are physically and emotionally abused often enter adulthood with elevated cortisol levels.

Feed Good Endorphins and Flow

As a second component of how boxing modulates stress, the activity triggers the release of endorphins, often referred to as the brain's feel-good chemicals. These neurotransmitters are natural mood elevators, helping to reduce stress and combat symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The rhythmic nature of boxing, including the repetition of strikes, footwork, and the constant movement of the body, can be meditative, allowing participants to enter a state of flow that quiets the mind.

Boxing also offers an effective outlet for channelling aggression and pent-up frustration, enabling women to release tension and anger in a healthy and controlled environment. The sport promotes not only physical empowerment but also mental fortitude, enhancing self-confidence and providing a sense of accomplishment and control over one's body and mind.

The empowerment that comes from boxing can also foster a sense of solidarity and community among women who train together. The shared experience of pushing through tough workouts and celebrating each other's achievements creates a supportive environment where women uplift and embolden each other, alleviating feelings of isolation.

Building Confidence And Empowerment

Boxing can be incredibly transformative for women, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Engaging in this sport often leads to a profound increase in confidence and a sense of empowerment. As women learn the techniques and skills involved in boxing, they develop a deep sense of self-assurance in their abilities. This newfound confidence extends beyond the ring, permeating various aspects of our daily lives.

The challenges faced in boxing, such as learning how to throw a punch correctly or enduring a grueling workout, teach resilience and tenacity. Overcoming these hurdles can cultivate a mindset that is better equipped to tackle hardships and setbacks outside of the gym.

Furthermore, the physical strength gained from boxing contributes immensely to a woman’s empowerment. Knowing that one can defend herself if necessary can be a potent catalyst for self-empowerment. It shifts the perception of vulnerability to one of strength and autonomy.

Ultimately, boxing helps women tap into our collective inner powers, promoting a healthier self-image and fostering a resilient spirit that carries through every facet of life.

Just ask Ramla Ali. The Somali-born, London-raised, competition boxer is a Dior ambassador. Cartier as well. In her own words, “I’ve been to loads of photoshoots with a black eye.”