RHETORIC AND/AS BOXING

The Ancient Greeks were keenly attuned to the close relationship between rhetoric (speech and debate) and combat sports (wrestling, boxing, and pankration). Both were taught in the gymnasium, sometimes by the same people (Plato was a wrestler and Protagoras wrote on wrestling). In boxing, a fighter must develop a game plan and adjust it as the fight goes on. Likewise, a rhetor must plan their arguments and choose the best tactics to persuade their audience. Both showcase performative excellence (arete). Boxers must train extensively to develop their skills and techniques, and rhetorical speakers must also practice and refine their public speaking skills. Boxers physically communicate their intentions (and feints) and strategies to their opponents. Rhetors often verbally communicate their arguments (and feints) to their audience. Both require quick thinking, the ability to remain calm under pressure, and the ability to effectively communicate. In this page, we will explore the similarities and differences between rhetoric and boxing, and how the skills developed in one can be applied to the other.