I started to backyard box with a few friends. The only equipment they use is gloves. Other than that, all (most) boxing rules apply.

Aside from being knocked around and a few very minor concussions (I know the difference) could it pose any long term damage to my brain, body, bones, etc. I can't think of any other dangers, we are very unlikely to uppercut each others brains from our spinal cords.


Should this be moved?

Mouthguard.

Add elbows, unless you're scared and shit ... :o

You want headgear.

Like Numberjumbo and Random said, mouthpiece and headgear.

On a side note, be weary of you or your friends getting their feelings hurt. It does happen. Back in high school me and my friends used to make our weekends of this and we had to break up what turned into some pretty serious fights. So play nice. :)

My first fight I wanted to murder my best friend. Right after though we were joking and such. I'm not worried about that. Although I could see how things could escalate.

You want headgear.

What is this for? Concussions? How imperative is it?

It helps a little with concussions, prevents cauliflower ear, protects the zygomatic arch, and even prevents abrasions.

This.

And seriously get a mouthguard. Having your teeth knocked out is no fun.

I played a couple Rugby games w/o a mouth guard early during my career. UNTIL I saw a teammates two front teeth dangling by his braces.

A mouth guard is defiantly a good idea, thanks.

You have a rugby career and have only just started to back yard box?

^^^

I never used to wear a mouthgaurd playing Aussie rules until i seen a team mate get 2 of his side teeth knocked out :D .

+1 for the mouthgaurd

Use sparring gloves, not bag-gloves.

The bag-gloves are significantly stiffer and heavier. Took two trips to the hospital for our friends to figure all that shit out.

(We went to the hospital for chronic headaches after a good blow.)

Please, use the right gloves.

headgear? what are you faggots?

Mouthguard yeah cause its stupid not to but at the end of the day if your shit enough to let yourself be hit hard enough in the head you shouldnt be boxing (thats what i've always been taught) and if you do it just teaches you not to let it happen again. Its all in the name of learning to be a better fighter, i mean who fights with headgear seriously...

You remind me of xxombie.

No, I'm just not a dumbass. If you seriously train in such a pansy-ass fashion, like maybe half-speed, to not ever require headgear, then keep at it.

Who fights with gloves? Seriously?

I've actually been training on and off for years, and understand you fight like you train. This includes hitting at full speed, normally on the bag. If you sustain even light continuous injury, you will end up with problems. You want headgear even if you don't use it all the time. I used to use headgear for maybe 1 out of 6 hours a week training. That's with a fulltime job and hobbies. I doubt you've been really training hard/long at all if you've never been hit in the head. That's kind of part of boxing.

Are you serious?

Professionals even spar with headgear, only time they don't use headgear is a professional fight.

In my gym we use headgear whenever we get in the ring to spar, period, also, we better not think of sparring without a mouth guard.