13 Reasons Women Should Take Up Boxing

Written by

I recently posted my Ignite Durham speech titled “How to Win a Fight in a Bar,” and it made me realize I’d never posted the first Ignite speech I gave, “13 Reasons Women Should Take Up Boxing.”

The Ignite idea is that if enough people vote up your idea and put you on the stage, you get 5 minutes and 20 slides (which auto advance every 15 seconds) to say your piece and change the world.

So, it’s much delayed, but here it is. The SlideShare slides are below (btw, I’m no longer @glowbird on Twitter, I’m @LCBledsoe now):

Ignite Raleigh 2: Lisa Creech Bledsoe – 13 Reasons Women Should Take Up Boxing

Thanks again to the fabulous producers of both the Ignite Raleigh and the Ignite Durham show, Ryan Boyles, Zach Ward and Jeffrey L. Cohen and all of you who voted me onto the stage!

See more Ignite Raleigh 2 videos

See more Ignite Durham videos

Comments

21 responses to “13 Reasons Women Should Take Up Boxing”

May 11, 2011

Laura

Oh my god, Lisa. You are too friggin funny! That was awesome (and spot on)!

Reply
1. May 11, 2011
  
  Lisa Creech Bledsoe
  
  It was a lot of fun to do. But now that I’ve done “How to Win a Fight in a Bar” and “13 Reasons Women Should Take Up Boxing” I can’t think of any more topics to speak on!! Please send help, in case I decide to go up there again.
  
  You know, like “What Would Lucia Rijker Do?” or some damn thing. 🙂
  
  Reply
May 11, 2011

Girlboxing

I absolutely *love* this!!!

Reply
May 12, 2011

Margaret Reyes Dempsey

This was great and so timely as I was in Sports Authority this afternoon buying some hand weights for physical therapy and spotted a pair of pink boxing gloves. Now, I’m not sure why women’s boxing gloves have to be pink, but I will say they called out to me. It’s just a matter of time before you and Girlboxing get me into the ring. 😉

Reply
1. May 12, 2011
  
  Girlboxing
  
  Hey Margaret! Pick a Saturday and come on over to Gleason’s!!!
  
  Reply
  1. May 12, 2011
    
    Margaret Reyes Dempsey
    
    It’s going to happen eventually. Just a matter of time. After I finish with my PT.
    
    Reply
May 12, 2011

Lisa Creech Bledsoe

Imma tell y’all what. If you’re not careful I’m gonna be planning a road trip up to NYC on the Chinese bus (I’ll pick Margaret up on the way) and we’ll descend upon you for 15 kinds of boxing fun at Gleason’s, GB.

Aw, man would that be awesome!! (I’ve never been to NYC!)

Reply
1. May 12, 2011
  
  Margaret Reyes Dempsey
  
  That would be awesome. You ladies have inspired me. During my retreat last week, I wove a boxing thread into the novel. Now I just have to pick your brains for correct terminology.
  
  Reply
  1. May 13, 2011
    
    Girlboxing
    
    @lisa. That would be soooooo cool!
    @Margaret. I can’t wait to read it!
    
    Reply
  2. May 13, 2011
    
    Lisa Creech Bledsoe
    
    Ooooo, we’re practically gonna be FAMOUS! Finally 🙂
    
    (Can one be “practically” famous?)
    
    (Eh, it’s all semantics. Or is it hydraulics? Fame & Glory, bay-bee!)
    
    Reply
May 13, 2011

Amy Scheer

One of your first sentences hit on what’s been bothering me (and yes, I did watch the whole thing). Why did it take me til my forties to find this sport? Now here I am, starting from square one (boxing fitness doesn’t count), learning this move over and over, then the next over and over and over and over. I’ll be in the old folks’ home before I get to it all. It’s a lot of work and i enjoy it all, but it takes so much time to master or become remotely competent at. Maybe I need to work on patience…

Reply
1. May 13, 2011
  
  Lisa Creech Bledsoe
  
  No, Amy, you’re totally right, it’s a real pisser that we didn’t know until now. F*ck patience, I wanna fight, and the only way is to painstakingly build up the hours over a period of years. I don’t have 20 years to do that, though, so I figure I need to maximize my time and fight my heart out while I can.
  
  Last night I trained in a new gym — everyone there was a teenager, in phenomenal shape. I could keep up, but only barely. I was happy for them, but also mad.
  
  I better stop myself now, or I’ll end up ranting again. Suffice it to say “I feel ya.” In the end, though, you and me — let just DO IT. Regardless.
  
  This is why my ring name is Relentless. I’m not giving up, I’m not. Don’t you give up either. I’m with you, girlfriend.
  
  Reply
May 13, 2011

Amy Scheer

In my gym, I stick out due to my age, race, and gender*. But I’ve been working on my conditioning, and in that aspect, I fit in just fine, which heartens me. There ARE factors under our control, despite our age. But it upsets me nonetheless. Catch me on another day with that “relentless” stuff, will ya?

*and incidentally, sticking out due to these factors doesn’t bother me a bit. And I hear that a woman my age has been coming lately.

Reply
May 14, 2011

niamh

Brilliant!! Great, great, great.
And great to see you “in person” But seriously, very funny , bet it hit a nerve with a few people. I’m going to post this up on my site next week if that’s alright? Think people would love it!
Did you make the “we can do it” poster youself, love the boxing glove on her!

Reply
1. May 14, 2011
  
  Lisa Creech Bledsoe
  
  Thanks, niamh. And of course, please feel free to post it; I’ll be honored. Yep, I re-did the “Rosie the Riveter” poster in boxing’s image. It just needed to be done!
  
  Reply
  1. May 17, 2011
    
    niamh
    
    You’re wisdom is spreading!
    http://niamhgriffin.blogspot.com/2011/05/13-reasons-women-should-box.html
    
    Reply
May 26, 2011

One reason to love boxing … « Girlboxing

[…] and Girlboxing friend Lisa Creech Bledsoe over at The Glowing Edge has a great post on the 13 reasons women should take up the sport — but let me tell you, the number one reason has to do with the […]

Reply
June 3, 2011

Victoria

Lisa… you are awesome!! Women should be boxing!!! I joined a gym when I got a free coupon for a class at Biscayne Boxing & Fitness Club . Stuck with it, and I love it!!!

You put it across so well.

Reply
1. June 5, 2011
  
  Lisa Creech Bledsoe
  
  /blushes/ Thanks for the kind words, Victoria. And kudos to you for connecting with a boxing gym and sticking with the discipline. It isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination, so you deserve your props!
  
  Reply
May 22, 2012

Troy

I love this! I was wondering If I could re-post this on my blog with a full transcription? I would of course credit it to you and link back to here.

Reply
1. May 23, 2012
  
  Lisa Creech Bledsoe
  
  Sure, you may post it with a link back. I appreciate your asking in advance.
  
  Reply