In the pulse of China’s growing fitness frenzy, Chinese millennial and Gen Z women are sculpting a new narrative of strength, with boxing stepping into the ring as their latest fitness flavor–packing a powerful punch. Time to lace up those gloves and see how the aficionadas are knocking out stereotypes.
DisclaimerALL IMAGES USED IN THIS PIECE COME COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR’S SECOND FORAY INTO AI–USING CHATGPT4 TO ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. AND ABOUT THOSE “CHINESE CHARACTERS” YOU MIGHT SPY WITH YOUR LITTLE EYE: THEY’RE WHAT ONE WOULD CALL 鬼画符 (GUǏHUÀFÚ OR “GHOST DRAWINGS”) IN CHINESE, MEANING “THEY DON’T MAKE SENSE.” BUT WE STILL THINK THEY UNLEASH SOME POWER AND POISE. #insertwink
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As women in China increasingly engage in all types of fitness pursuits, from striking a yoga pose at the gym to hiking the rolling hills of the great outdoors, they are not just honing their physical tones but also reshaping their self-perception. It’s becoming about valuing capabilities rather than conforming to external standards.
Female fitness influencers, athletes and trainers in China have in recent years become beacons of inspiration. They exemplify resilience, determination and strength, inspiring other women to chase their aspirations, and strive for personal growth and success. In the Chinese fitness circus, women flip the script, flexing empowerment muscles by busting stereotypes.
On Douyin (China’s TikTok), for example, hashtag “fitness girl” (健身女孩| jiànshēn nǚhái in Chinese) had racked up 770k short videos as of March 23. The tag “female running host” (跑步女主播 | pǎobù nǚzhǔbō) had amassed a whopping 1.55 million. Just to throw some related numbers your way.
But then stepped onto the big screen an unsung heroine, a real underdog, in true Rocky—or rather Rockette—fashion, embodying the YOLO spirit of seizing the moment and chasing dreams against all odds.
Who, what, when, where, why? Bear with us as we lace up our gloves and step into the boxing ring to explain.
China’s Boxing Basics
The tale of boxing in China is a story spanning centuries of evolution. Traditional Chinese martial arts like Kung Fu and Sanda set the stage, blending philosophy, self-defense and physical prowess.
With the arrival of Western boxing on Chinese shores in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a new contender entered the arena. The punchy style and footwork finesse brought a fresh flavor to combat sports, contrasting sharply with the intricate techniques of its traditional Chinese “counterparts.”
Fast forward to the tumultuous early 20th century, where boxing in China became more than just a sport—it became a symbol of resilience and modernity in a society undergoing rapid transformation. Despite facing challenges amid political upheavals, boxing stood its ground as a testament to strength and adaptability.
Now, in the ring of the 21st century, boxing in China is making a fierce comeback, fueled by economic prosperity and a surge in global sports enthusiasm. With a booming gym scene, dedicated trainers and a growing army of fans, boxing’s renaissance in China is part of a new era of sporting prowess and passion.
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YOLO Momentum
The festive season is a time of gathering for families and friends to reunite, bond, and indulge in sumptuous spreads. However, this often results in the battle of the holiday bulge.
This year’s Spring Festival holiday, China’s biggest annual celebration and one marked by elaborate family reunions and extravagant meals, from February 10 to 17, proved no different for many indulgers.
With an increasing focus on health and wellness among Chinese millennials and Gen Zs, especially after periods of indulgence like holiday celebrations, many are seeking active and engaging ways to kickstart their fitness routine and achieve weight loss goals.
Interestingly, the Chinese movie YOLO (original Chinese title: 热辣滚烫| rèlà gǔntàng, meaning “hot and piping hot”), directed by and starring actress Jia Ling, became a box office smash hit during the holiday.
Enter Jia as Le Ying, a woman in her thirties battling obesity and an accompanying sense of unworthiness whose life transforms when she meets a boxing trainer. Summing up: she decides to take up the sport, sheds 50 kilograms in the process and punches her way to self-acceptance and societal embrace.
As the credits rolled on Le Ying’s empowering journey, echoes of change reverberated through post-holiday reveries, striking a chord with women seeking a fresh start in the new year.
Cue Zhang Chuchen, a gym devotee turned boxing newbie post-festive feasting, inspired by the YOLO spirit of self-reinvention. “I always figured boxing was for the pros,” she told Zhang Yage, a reporter for Beijing Review, China’s only English newsweekly, in issue 13 of this year (March 28).
With stats buzzing and trends shifting post-holiday hullabaloo, a wave of enthusiasts like Zhang jump ropes into boxing rings, signaling a shake-up in workout preferences and perceptions.
Fueled by social media buzz and movie musings, the boxing bug bites as netizens swap stories, swap goals and swap treadmills for gloves in a flurry of newfound fitness fervor. Former Chinese K-pop star and solo artist Amber Liu. for one, is a big fan of the boxing workout, with regular pics of her indulging in a sesh or two appearing on Chinese social media.
Meituan, a ubiquitous delivery and e-commerce app, reported a significant surge in search interest related to “boxing” following the release of YOLO on February 10, Zhang Yage reported. The search volume for terms like “adult boxing,” “boxing experience classes,” “boxing monthly subscriptions,” and “women’s boxing” saw a tenfold increase compared to the previous year.
Some trending hashtags related to women and boxing on Douyin and the lifestyle bible slash e-commerce app 小红书 (xiǎohóngshū| Little Red Book (LRB)) at the time of writing include “women’s boxing” (女性拳击 | nǚxìng quánjī) with 134k posts on Douyin and 60k on LRB as of March 24.
Combat “Couture”
And then of course there’s the stylistic side of things–as you do. Global sports apparel hardhitters like Lululemon, Adidas and leading combat sports brand Venum are proving popular among the aficionadas posting entire “boxing workout gear” (with 10k posts on LRB as of March 24) tutorials, but so are high-end brands such as Seoul-based luxury label Clu Too, which has been dipping its toe in the workout waters.
Many fans also recommend turning to Taobao, Chinese tech giant’s Alibaba’s online shopping Walhalla, or Chinese e-commerce behemoth Pinduoduo (PDD) to obtain the appropriate gear, catering to the demands of fitness and fashion alike. On a more local note, the Taiwan-born Fizzcoco athletic apparel brand’s products are gaining thousands of likes and positive feedback from satisfied customers on Taobao.
Plus, this author would dare say that sooner rather than later–probably come early April already as we move at China Speed, we will see domestic sportswear labels putting a guochao spin on things.
Guochao (国朝| guócháo, literally “national wave”) means “hip heritage” that is packed with traditional Chinese elements. At its core, guochao is about the growing inclination of young Chinese consumers toward domestic brands and products, especially those labels integrating traditional Chinese cultural elements and styles.
Packing a Punch
So far, Zhang Chuchen has participated in six hours of boxing sessions, and she thinks it’s “physically demanding yet ultimately rewarding.”
Huang Chao, a boxing coach and co-organizer of a boxing gym in Beijing, emphasized that boxing offers benefits beyond weight loss, promoting cardiovascular health.
“People who don’t work out regularly may struggle with boxing at first, but once they get into it, they will find this sport extremely beneficial,” Huang told Beijing Review. “Contrary to the stereotype that boxing is just for men, it is equally suitable for women.”
Huang’s gym offers boxing sessions to students of all ages and genders at a rate of RMB 300-500 (USD 55-69) per hour.
“I’m genuinely happy YOLO has inspired more women to take up boxing,” Huang told Zhang Yage. For those engaging in the sport to lose weight, he added, “Over three months, an adult woman can lose up to 3 kg of fat by taking two to three boxing classes a week. It is a healthy and sustainable approach to weight loss without resorting to extreme diets.”
But it’s not just about ye ole stereotypical weight loss goals either.
Boxing serves as a powerful stress reliever, allowing practitioners to release pent-up emotions and tension through physical activity. Managing stress levels is vital for weight loss, as stress can lead to emotional eating and weight gain.
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HIITing the Gym
Across the board, stress relief, self-transformation and social acceptance feature high on China’s millennial and Gen Z agenda this year.
Unable to dodge influencers and ubiquitous advertising, many Chinese youth are being primed for body image dissatisfaction. This generation is increasingly recognizing the importance of holistic wellbeing, embarking on journeys to achieve optimal physical health and fitness while also addressing their emotional and psychological needs.
In recent years, the growth of the sports and fitness market in China has been exponential.
The fitness population reached approximately 374 million people at the end of 2022, with an increase of 9.6 percent since 2016, and generating a revenue of more than RMB 941 billion (USD 132.4 billion) in the same year.
“The latest booming of outdoor sports was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed more people to embrace a healthier lifestyle and seek adventure,” Beijing-based consulting firm Daxue Consulting wrote in a report on China’s fitness industry published on March 14, adding, “Because it is a so vibrant and dynamic market, the Chinese fitness population has seen the growth of many trends concerning a healthy life and personal achievements.”
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Dazi Culture: From Fitness and Foodies to Gossip and Travel… Chinese Gen Zs Seek Companions
Seeking Boxing Buddy
In the world of Chinese millennials and Gen Zs, the pursuit of health and wellness is a fusion of trends and traditions, driven by a mix of factors.
With the Internet serving as their Delphi Oracle, they understand the power of kale over cake and squats over slouching for a life well-lived. From urban jungles to office cubicles, the rise of convenience grub has sparked a stand against sedentary slumps, prompting a crusade for sweat sessions, green eats and Zen vibes to combat the perils of desk-bound days.
In the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle, characterized by long working days and the juggling of personal and professional ambitions, stress sneaks in, and China’s younger generations to seek solace in mental well-being and take a break from the modern-day madness.
Yoga poses, HIIT highs, CrossFit and (a bit bougie) boutique sweat sessions, sweating it all out isn’t just an urban trend but a social tribe affair, where self-love has become the new black. This in turn ties in with the ever expanding dazi culture ( 搭子| dāzi literally meaning “tied-by-side” or just “activity partner”), which refers to China’s Gen Z seeking new ways to connect with others and share their hobbies. These partnerships, rather than friendships, can range from foodie to fitness buddies to gossip cronies (seriously) to travel partners to mahjong allies to… You name it, they’re out there.
And a boxing dazi （拳击搭子| quánjī dā zi) is the latest IT bag–for women and men alike. On LRB, you will find hundreds of posts related to “seeking boxing buddy,” from Guangzhou, capital of China’s southern Guangdong Province, to Beijing.
But of course, like a blockbuster sequel, one hit isn’t enough to sustain an industry long-term. It takes more than movie magic; it requires the dedication of industry pros to keep the show going.
And thus, to ride the wave of YOLO fervor, boxing institutions have rolled up their sleeves post-holiday to level up their game. From slicker equipment to sweeter deals, tailor-made classes to trial delights, they’re pulling out all the stops to meet every customer’s punch-perfect needs.
When push comes to shove…
The phrase “to fight like a girl” takes on new meaning.
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