Is Boxing Fitness Right for You?

Have you ever thought about “lacing them up”?

About 20 years ago Billy Blanks (Tae Bo), with perhaps a little help from the “Rocky” franchise, introduced boxing-based exercise to the general public. It’s still going strong.

Boxing demands nearly unparalleled stamina, core stability and muscle endurance. And it torches body fat. Following a well-designed and delivered boxing based fitness program can easily get you in the best shape of your life, while, unlike the programs of actual fighters, leaving your pretty face intact.

Here are some boxes to checkmark if you want to know if it’s a good fit for you:

1. You have no back, shoulder, hand, wrist or knee injuries

2. You love very high intensity training

3. You like learning new things and don’t get easily frustrated mastering new skills

And here are some qualities to look for in a program or trainer:

1. It is run and closely supervised by experienced trainers who have both boxing instruction experience and, more importantly, are nationally certified (ACE, NASM, ACSM or NSCA) fitness trainers as well.

It’s also a good idea to meet with your trainer/instructor in advance to make sure the fit feels right to you. You should be completely comfortable with the trainer’s and facility’s reputation, with the rapport you have with the trainer, and with the level of knowledge the trainer has about both training in a non-competitive, fitness environment as well as having authentic, first-hand experience working with actual fighters. Both points are important for safety and to be responsible about the quality of instruction for the discipline they are teaching. This combination is rare, so do your homework before committing to a trainer or program.

Pleasanton, while not a big fight town in terms of competitive boxing (Oakland and San Jose are the nearest concentrations of that activity), does offer some boxing based fitness programs you may want to explore. Elite Training Center, 9Round and The Quad all provide either group or private boxing training, or both.

I do too, at Tri Valley Trainer. Here are the details of my upcoming class (for adults). I’m also offering a series for high school athletes that runs through rest of the summer.

So, take a “jab” at it, and I hope we “cross” paths!

Want to learn more about living a healthful lifestyle? Contact Dan at Tri Valley Trainer.