Why Boxing Is a Physics Lesson in Disguise

Written by Rakim Sajero

This piece examines Paul Hewitt’s article "Physics in the Sport of Boxing – A Personal Story." Hewitt reflects on how his early experiences as a young boxer helped him understand the physics of motion, energy, and timing. He later used these insights in his teaching, showing that science becomes more meaningful when connected to real-life experiences. His story demonstrates how boxing teaches efficiency, awareness, and discipline, and how sport can make scientific ideas more accessible and human.

Photo by Nikita Palenov on Unsplash

Paul Hewitt’s article Physics in the Sport of Boxing- A Personal Story explores how the science of motion and energy connects with the art of boxing. Hewitt was not only a physics teacher but also a boxer in his youth. Growing up in a tough neighbourhood near Boston, he was drawn to the boxing gyms where, as he recalls, “boxing was more popular than baseball, basketball and football combined.” He trained under amateur boxers Eddie McCarthy and Kenny Isaacs, who helped shape both his confidence and his curiosity about how the body moves.

In the ring, Hewitt began to see physics in action. Every punch, dodge and step involves forces, energy and timing. He later used these lessons in his classroom to show that science is not just about numbers on a board but is set in real experiences. When a boxer throws a punch, the power comes from both speed and control. When they block or move away, they are applying an understanding of force and motion, even if they do not think about it that way.

Hewitt’s story shows that physics is not only in textbooks. It can be seen in how athletes train, how they manage energy and how they learn to stay calm under pressure. He once wrote that “prancing and tossing punches in the air consumes energy…valuable energy that should be saved for the fight.” This simple statement links science to strategy, teaching that awareness and efficiency are just as important as strength.

By sharing his own journey, Hewitt makes science more human and relatable. He shows that learning can come from personal passion and that knowledge is strengthened when it connects with real life. His background as a boxer gave him a deep respect for both physical skill and mental discipline. These qualities later shaped his approach as a teacher, inspiring students to find science in their own interests and experiences.

At Boxing Is Love, boxing promotes growth, education, and opportunity, and Hewitt’s story offers a meaningful example. It demonstrates how a sport often seen as physical can also encouragecuriosity, reflection and understanding.

Hewitt reminds us that boxing, like physics, is about balance, rhythm and awareness. It teaches us to use our energy wisely, to think before we act and to find purpose in movement. His life shows that science and sport are not separate worlds but two ways of understanding the same truth, how we move through life and learn from every action.

References

Hewitt, P. G. (2021). Physics in the Sport of Boxing: A Personal Story. The Science Teacher, 88(4), 12–15. National Science Teachers Association