Boxing for exercise

[FurnaceFace]

I've been thinking of what to do to get rid of my washboard ab (yes, that's singular) over the winter and I thought of boxing. Does anyone or has anyone done this and have any suggested places? I'm not looking to actual fight, I'm just looking to do boxing like training, if that makes sense.

I figured someone here has had some experience with this.

Cheers.

[jam26]

I started boxing in January and it's the first activity I've discovered that I look forward to every day. It's also one of the most intense forms of exercise you can find.
I go about 3 times per week and each class is 1.5 hrs long. When I first started, I was tremendously out of shape but I have lost about 25 lbs since January and put on quite a bit of muscle, so it's been very rewarding.
We generally start with about 10 mins of skipping, run up and down four flights of stairs 15 times, then do some shadow boxing and technique before doing some sparring, working on the heavy bags and then doing situps and pushups.
It's definitely a high intensity workout.
I never had any notions of fighting but I've been giving it some serious thought lately. In fact, I am aiming to compete in an amateur bout in the spring. My school is in TO, so I doubt that helps you much. But I would advise to get involved with a real boxing club and not a boxercise class. I think it will be far more intense and the culture at these places is pretty interesting.

[Buff]

Train to become a pro-wrestler. They have some intense workout sessions. I'm half serious on this one. I'm not saying become a pro-wrestler because eventually you'll need the roids and pain-killers to get out through a day and to help you stay in shape. What I am saying is find out how a new "recruit" at a pro-wrestling school is trained. There are schools that will run you into the ground with exercises for weeks before they let you get into the ring or even learn a wrestling hold/move.

I saw a documentary on wrestling that took some time to look into a wrestling school. There was this very athletic looking guy who was fresh from the marines, and he couldn't hack the out of ring training and quit after the first day.

Or course you're not going to last long in a wrestling school if you're just in it for the exercise, so a boxing school is your next best bet. You could also consider some martial arts too if you are into those.

One day, if I think I have the time, I'd like to take some form of martial art.

[Otto-matic]

I always wanted to do boxing for the exercise but I want to have some fights to see if I have what it takes. I always wanted to be a pro boxer since I was a kid.

[CaptainCrunch]

I used to box and go through the training religiously, take a plastic bag to deposit your lunch in for the first couple of weeks.

Its pretty much non stop cardio, and strength training, where the easiest jumping rope.

I had an amateur box, and remember thinking how pretty the ceiling lights were errrr I mean I knocked the ******* into next week.

I had to quit because my knee's couldn't take it anymore.

But a great way to get in shape.

[Red Mile Style]

I took boxing about three years ago, and then just this summer I did a boxing conditioning class three times a week. I used to train for triathalons, but this one hour boxing class kicks my ass every time. It is the hardest work-out and you are guaranteed to get into better shape.

I know I was scared the first time I went because I didn't want to get into the ring, but from my experiences, it usually takes a while and a lot of preparation until you finally have a bout. So, if you're a little soft around the edges, don't worry you won't get thrown into a match for a while, if at all.

It's also nice to go to these classes because you get to learn excercises that you can do on your own, at home or at the gym.

Plus, I would do a drop-in session to see if it's up your alley. The drop out rate at these things is huge.

[mykalberta]

Boxing is not just going to Crappy Tire and picking up and hanging the bag. Its the cardio training that goes along with it. If you expect to just buy a bag to punch while watching the news dont bother.

Where do you go for the boxing classes, I would love to do that a few times a week.

MYK

[Scorponok]

How many boxing clubs are there in Calgary? And where are they?

[Sheva #7]

bump

looking for some boxing classes and was wondering if anyone can recommend any? drop-in preferably if possible as i'd like to see if I'll actually like it. thanks

[soreshins]

Impact boxing on 10th Ave downtown is a nice facility. Louis is the boxing coach there and they have classes I think on Tues/Thurs/sat evenings and also at lunchtimes. Mixed classes and no pressure to fight if you just want to train for fun. They also have Muay Thai kickboxing there as well if you are interested in that. I used to train MT there before we moved.

There is also Teofista away out at Bearspaw. It has a good reputation but have never trained there.

[darklord700]

I had good experience with Mike Miles' Ranchland location about ten years ago. Trevor ran the store and Mike was never seen there. I wouldn't mind picking up boxing if I can find a close enough location.

[rain_e]

Noticed this place just open up on 130th. Just another fitness program www.9round.com