An Aspie boxing *league* (as opposed to a team)?

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Wow. I'm really surprised about the number of reads and replies the "Aspie boxing team thread" received. I didn't think there would be so much interest in the topic.

After reading some of JerryHatake's postings, particularly about the Special Olympics, and thinking about the issue for a while, I have realized that I might have missed the mark with this topic. Instead of asking about an Aspie boxing team, it might make more sense to consider an Aspie boxing league.

I first started this discussion because there seem to be a considerable number of Aspie boxers here at WP. My intent was to find a way to create more opportunities for fellow athletes to participate in their sport, while promoting greater public awareness of Asperger's syndrome and the Autism Spectrum generally. I was thinking we could organize a team that could compete in various events, raising funds to promote awareness, or support Wrong Planet and other worthwhile autism organizations.

However, instead of a team, it might be more reasonable to establish a league for Aspie boxers. After all, if we simply created a team, the odds are we would have mostly NT opponents if we entered the same boxing competitions they did. The likelihood of having an Aspie opponent would be very small.

By contrast, if we had a league, we could limit participation to boxers with Asperger's syndrome and perhaps others on the Autism Spectrum. I think that would result in more even match-ups and better competition; however, I don't know that for a fact because, as far as I know, all my opponents have been NTs.

What do you guys think? Does it make sense to arrange competitive bouts for Aspies in this sport?

I think it could go either way, but the idea of a league, instead of a team, seems at least worth considering.

Even though my background is wrestling, I would be willing to try sparring with Aspie/Autistic boxers in the Denver area (with proper headgear, shoes, and equipment of course).

Great. I'm glad you're interested. The sport is a blast. As long as I never see you staring at me from the opposite corner of the ring, I think it's a great idea!

ive really want to get into boxing, but i don't think people with aspergers should have anything to do with Special Olympics, come on!

Please say more about this, because I don't understand the point you're making. Thanks!

I think it's funny that people with aspergers (like me) have wanted to do boxing, but the thing about aspergers is that normally we have bad hand eye co-ordination (blocking mainly the issue), so boxing is bad, but if you had good eye co-ord and aspergers then you would simply be able to become a boxer, not a special olympics boxer, it just seems a bit unneccesary for a special asperger boxing thing

Thanks for explaining that. I think I see your point now, but isn't that really the same issue for any sport?

well with the "model" attributes an asperger person has, it eliminates the reason why we would need a seperate division or whatever for boxing

i have many similarities to a "model" aspie, but i do believe i have a better hand eye co-ordination than normal, all i gotta say is if you are an aspie and want to do boxing, you should only choose normal boxing with NT's or whatever, if you can't, well then bad luck

Excuse me for butting in here, but I know they do have special sport leagues for deaf and hearing impaired participants, to which includes boxing and wrestling, so why not one also for autistic and AS boxers? Or would this be a bit unfair to certain athletes because somebody like myself would qualify for both the AS and hearing impaired leagues? Just fueling discussion.

I don't see how it would be unfair just because you would be eligible for both leagues, or even if you participated in both leagues. If you were my opponent in the AS league, then you and I would probably have a better chance of being evenly matched than if one of us were AS and the other NT. That's my main point here.

If you were an NT boxer, I might still be able to win, but you might well have a huge advantage that I might not ever be able to overcome, even with a great deal of training. Isn't that sort of disparity the idea of having separate sports leagues in the first place?

I like the idea of boxing as a team sport. Each team could have one fighter per weight division, and then that way, boxing cards could all be centred around the members of one team against members of another team, and that would give the fighters something more to fight for than just individual championships.

I'm glad you like the idea. What do you think of one team of Aspie boxers competing against another Aspie team? Or against a team of NT boxers?

Also, would you be interested in participating?

Thanks.

Regularguy,

I think your idea is wonderful, what better way for people will Aspergers and slight autism to compete in boxing than by having the same people fight each other. Another thing that caught my attention is this: 99.9% of Aspies and slightly autistic people don't have the inflated egos, arrogance, and disdain for rules like a lot of NT boxers do. Therefore the likelihood for unsportsman like conduct would be smaller, and since we are all brothers in affliction, we would have mutual respect for each other. I was a boxing instructor for 2 years and I competed in Golden Gloves once, and I tell you, neurotypical boxers can be animals without restrain. If two aspie guys boxed, we could easily monitor when things are getting too rough.

However, one disadvantage and diffuculty of setting up a boxing league is this, the mental aspect of boxing. I have mastered the techniques and the defense, but boxing is 90% mental 10% physical. Every aspie has the ability physically to box, I did very well sparring in the gym, and I'm autistic myself. AngryJessMan, you have the capability to box physically, everyone does. It is harnessing the mental aspect that gives us so much diffuculty fighting, because we can't understand emotionally why the guy across the ring is attacking us. However this being said, it is diffucult for a naturally shy and introverted aspie guy to go into a ring and fight another guy. Therefore, if you planned to do this, you would to have an extremely friendly and supportive atmosphere when you set these matches. If a guy refuses to fight because he is nervous, even during the middle of the fight, he should be allowed not to fight without ridicule from others. All the rules of regular boxing would apply, no elbow throwing, low blows, hits after the bell, headbutting, wrestling, shoving, or showboating.
I figure this, if there is a very comforting and friendly atmosphere when two autistic guys fight in a boxing leauge, they will want to fight again because they have support from the rest of the autistic boxing league. Eventually they will lose fear of fighting and end up fighting NT guys as well, kind of like aversion therapy. These are just my thoughts though, but great idea, regularguy.

Personally, if I took up boxing, I would have no problem with an opponent who in mid-round suddenly wished to "take a brake" and resume the match when he felt more comfortable with it. After all, I feel I would want to be involved in the sport because I enjoyed doing it and also for the bonding/camraderie that it is supposed to bring, and not to be there for the purpose to prove to everybody that I'm some sort of "macho man" or seeking other ego-boosting effects. As I previously said, the only thing I would insist on is that myself and my opponent had on the proper equipment (lightweight hi-top boxing or wrestling shoes so we don't injure each others toes, headgear so my hearing aids don't get damaged, and of course regulation gloves along with a mouthguard). Also as I have an ugly surgical scar running down much of my torso, I would definatly request to be able to wear a T-shirt during my matches.