nu thang

I think i'm in love...

ok, having said that, let me give a little clarification/disclaimer: The following is basically a first-timer's critique of a particular local boxing establishment, or gym. So the "love" is in the feeling of that glove, and of that glove-to-bag contact of that first of many punches I threw today. ahh, sweet love. Now there were things about the place itself that were, at this point, just "likes". But let me just settle in on the "love" factor...

This "love" started when the owner guy wrapped up my hands and handed me a pair of loaner gloves.(no, not with the guy, silly, the gloves!!!) I'll eventually need to buy my own gloves, and learn how to wrap my own hands, too. wow. I'm feeling tough and ready to slug someone already!!!

So the kickboxing class begins. Compared to my Body Combat at my gym where I'm a member, this is a much smaller class, maybe about 10 of us, half men, half women. Unlike my Body Combat, this is not choreographed, but is more of a series of drills, boot camp-style. He barks out the orders, and a lot of the participants actually bark back, "Sir!!" What is this, the Army? So we warm-up without the gloves, doing all sorts of stuff, like burpies, and basic calisthenics. I'm feeling a little let-down, as I love the fun choreography of Mr. Bob's class, but I'm keeping an open mind here..

Then we glove up and go to the 150-lb. bags just waiting for us to punch the "help" out of 'em. That's where I was humbled. I thought I was pretty tough from doing Body Combat, and yes, I will still rave about the muscular benefits of that class, but these bags turned me into a crying baby running for its mommy. almost. I mean, this hurt! Good thing my knuckles were wrapped as tightly as they were, but I could tell I needed more practice to strengthen these baby fists! And kicking these things, ouch!

 

Now here I have to add that I was a bit disappointed that the instructor didn't keep up with us on these exercises, he would just demo them, quite impressively, I might add, but then he just stood there and watched us, yelling at us to work it, work it, while I"m thinking "c'mon buddy, let's see you try this!" (actually I shouldn't criticize, the guy's got great credentials, is a kickboxing champion in his event...) but I liked that in Body Combat the instructor never stops doing it with us.

ok, so he's breaking the bag-time into separate drills. One of them has us partnering up with someone nearby to do this relay race-type of thing. I'm with this cute thang next to me, this perky girl who reminds me of someone at my church. Hmm, maybe I should invite this girl sometime...anyway... The drill is for partner #1 to sprint across the room, hammer into a bag 10 times, sprint back and tag your partner who then does the same. Over and over and over. Very aerobically challenging, plus the guy is standing right next to my bag that I'm hitting, & the longer this goes on I"m tempted to "accidentally" miss the bag a few times. I swear he's got that timer set on a longer 5 minutes than God ever created. When it finally beeps, he rewards the winning team (a couple of chicks!) the relief of a smaller number of push-ups than the rest of us. oh well.

We return to our own bags, and he comes around wearing these catcher's mitt-like gloves, where each of us gets our turn to face him and give him all the punches we can handle, or that he can handle. I love this part!! I actually see him backing up as I smack into his gloves, yes, folks, I am pushing him back into the ropes... and I love when I see that slight flicker of fear when my glove almost misses his glove and comes that close to pummeling his nose and wiping off that lazy, cat-eating-fish grin of his. (oh i wish!)

After 30 minutes on the bags, we take off the gloves and do more conditioning exercises, most of which are done in the push-up position. (how does he dream up so many variations of the basic push-up? this is insane! cruel, I tell you!!) We also add dumbells or kettle balls, and as usual, he just stands there and picks on us if we dare rest our arms for a second. meanie. But really the camaraderie here is fun. Since we're not as focused on keeping up with a beat-by-beat choreographed routine, and it's a smaller class, there's a lot of joking around and getting to know the other inmates, I mean classmates, better. I like that part.

Class finally ends, and I have to return my wraps and gloves. I end up sticking around for a half hour, talking more to the owner and that instructor who's still hangin around. I learn more about their program and am happy that they are taking up my advice to contact my Body Combat teacher about teaching some of his classes here, since they were already planning to add BC to their schedule. I can't commit to a dual membership at this time, but will certainly be back often for that satisfying smack of the glove into the bag. Or another person, if I'm lucky. Nice that they have class package deals, without having to be a member. I buy a pair of wraps but will have to wait on the particular color of glove that I want, not in stock. Might check out Dick's Sporting Goods.

So that's it. My new love. If only real love were as uncomplicated as donning a set of gloves and blazing into a punch bag. that'd be easy. goodnight, y'all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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