Your First Boxing Class: A Beginner’s Experience

Boxing ClassAt XSport, we offer more than traditional workouts, knowing that it’s good for our bodies to try new things. Still, beginners aren’t always comfortable with new fitness alternatives. So we’ve sent in a newbie to give things a try. Last month we met Faith, our XSport blogger and beginner in AthletiX. This edition she writes about her first boxing class!

Intro: Meet Faith, our Fitness Reporter

Hello! I’m happy to be testing out various programs offered at XSport Fitness clubs. I’m reporting my first-hand experiences as someone new to the clubs and the classes.

If you’ve always admired boxers’ fitness but wondered if you could do it, read on. I’ll give you a thorough peek into this training to help you know what to expect when you try it for yourself.

PS: I’m a middle-aged female, am of average fitness level and average size, I’m being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, and I don’t work out very intensely these days. Now on to the review!

Boxing is an X-IT Xtra—what’s that?

X-IT is XSport’s interval training program exclusive to members who join X-IT, and taught by the most elite personal trainers. They use best practices for intense workouts in classes throughout the week. In the standard X-IT classes, your workout is 100% personalized to your heart rate, while you experience the energy and motivation of group fitness training.

X-IT Xtras are additional, alternative types of classes for X-IT members, often including special accessories or equipment such as kettlebells, Barre and boxing class.

How does the boxing class work?

We had a super full room for the Saturday 11 a.m. class I took at the St. Charles club. There was a full range of ages, and I was accommodated as a beginner. When we were paired up, I was assigned to partner with a gal who was 7 months pregnant. It was a perfect match because she had to modify a bit here and there. (But gee, she was impressive.)

We started with vigorous warm-ups including shadow boxing and jumping jacks, and we learned how we would move as partners through the room, eventually making it to one of the three heavy bags that were hanging at the front. We received a few tips on form and reminders about resting or slowing as needed.

With me being the only complete newbie, I was given a quick tutorial on the main types of punches we’d be throwing—jabs, hooks, uppercuts, and something where we’d punch across… no kicking, at least not in this particular session. Finally, some loud rock music really puts you in the mood to be fit.

What do you do in Boxing Class?

There is so much that can be done with fight conditioning, you won’t find the exact same intervals in any two classes. But the basic set up of one person wearing the gloves and the other person wearing the mitts is the norm in most boxing classes. The combinations were clear and simple for each 4 – 6 minute interval set.

Here are a couple of examples of how our intervals went –

  1. Person A: Right jab, right jab, left hook, squat/up, squat/up … 30 seconds of that, then 30 seconds switch to mitts or vice versa.

    Person B: Same thing, while Person A holds up the mitts or holds the bag still from behind.
    Person A: Left jab, left, jab, right hook, squat/up, squat/up … repeat the timing and sides with Person B…. this set totaled 4 minutes.
  2. Person A: Cross right left right left, fast and hard. On floor to plank, lift right foot then left foot. Up and start over. 60 seconds of that, then 30 seconds switch to mitts or vice versa.
    Person B: Same thing, while Person A holds the bag still from behind.
    Person A: Cross left right left right jabs, fast and hard. On floor to plank, lift left foot then right foot. Up and start over. Repeat the timing and sides with Person B…. this set totaled 6 minutes.

We made it through about 7 or 8 rounds. There was a little cool down to stretch a bit and towel off. Boy did we need it!

Faith’s Takeaways:

Best parts: Movements are generally simple, but still challenging to coordinate and perform (in a good way). You can get lost in your punches and even take out some frustrations!

Watch outs: If you have arthritis in your hands or wrists, this class can hurt. I do, so it did. If I continue with boxing class, I’ll invest in my own pair of gloves, and wrap my hands too, which will definitely help.

Aftereffects: This was such a good workout—for strength, agility and heart rate, too. My arms were dead weight the rest of the day, but I was over it in a day after a hot shower and a little stretching.

Recommendation: Don’t be shy, and realize that even if you could only complete half of the movements as instructed, you would be getting a lot of bang for your fitness buck with boxing class.

Alternative: If boxing a person’s hands seems too intense for you at first, try a group fitness kickboxing class to get the hang of the fight moves done in the air!

Click here to request a free session.

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