| I like to consider myself reasonably fit; I'm | | | | he labeled "1" then moved onto a left jab |
| an active healthy person with a good diet and | | | | straight right combo labeled "2", "3" was a |
| well used gym membership. I can swim for an | | | | left jab straight right left hook combo. I |
| hour, run for 40 minutes and feel fine | | | | was genuinely enjoying myself; we worked |
| afterwards. So perhaps I can be forgiven for | | | | through the combos and basic moves until we |
| being overly confident entering my first pad | | | | had enough to run though from one to nine. I |
| based boxing workout. | | | | tried my hardest as he repeatedly corrected |
| | | | me for the position and movement of my feet, |
| It wasn't my idea; a friend of mine was | | | | hands and placement of my guard. |
| heavily into boxing and mixed martial arts. | | | | |
| I'd been to the gym with him a few times for | | | | As my confidence increased my training |
| more conventional workouts. We'd lifted | | | | partner began mixing up the combo's however I |
| weights together and put in some serious CV | | | | noted my punches weakening, how could this |
| sessions but he could never resist mentioning | | | | be? I was strong and fit and yet within an |
| his Tuesday night boxing class making sure I | | | | hour I could just about hold my hands up! We |
| knew that he considered it the most | | | | called it a day. |
| fulfilling exercise he did. | | | | |
| | | | Nothing could have prepared me for the |
| Why not I thought! I don't claim to be a | | | | following morning. Every single muscle in my |
| tough guy but I'm no wet flannel. How hard | | | | body ached. I could hardly move and was |
| could it be? So along I went. | | | | aching in places I didn't even know existed. |
| | | | I can honestly say that boxing training is |
| We started with some warm up exercises, | | | | without a doubt the single most effective |
| throwing a medical ball back and forth | | | | method of training I've ever participated in. |
| coupled with some light skipping, hopping and | | | | Not only did it get the blood pumping I'd |
| stretching. I was going to be working through | | | | also worked just about every muscle in my |
| a gentle boxing session with the guy that I | | | | body. |
| trained with; he'd decided it would be best | | | | |
| to ease me into it before jumping in the deep | | | | As our sessions continued my conditioning |
| end and taking a full class. | | | | improved, never had a form of training made |
| | | | me feel so unfit. All that time in the gym |
| He kindly provided me with all of the boxing | | | | clearly hadn't been as effective as I thought |
| equipment I'd need for this introduction. He | | | | it had. |
| pulled out a sets of 12 ounce boxing gloves | | | | |
| and some focus pads. I wouldn't be needing | | | | I can honestly genuinely recommend boxing |
| headgear or a gum shield as we were just | | | | training, it needn't be violent and you don't |
| going to focus on the basic boxing moves. | | | | have to spar. It is a fantastic form of |
| | | | exercise that stimulates the mind and the |
| We began. We started with the basic jab which | | | | body. Give it a try. |