Wimp tired of wimping out..

Whew!! Signed up last night for boxing lessons!!  Ahahahaha!!  Imagine me signing up for boxing lessons!!  I signed up with The Goat Locker Boxing Gym in Marikina City for a 3-month unlimited boxing promo.  The week before I had already dropped by their gym to inquire about their rates.  I also asked what equipment I would be needing and noted that I would need boxing gloves and hand wraps.  Fortunately for me, my sister had previously taken boxercising classes in the past and had a pair of 12oz gloves lying around at our parents' home.  After getting my hands on her gloves and just buying hand wraps at the gym, I was all set!

While my main plan is to lose weight and improve my physique whilst gaining improved stamina, learning how to fight is also something I have always wanted to do.  I learned basic karate when I was a kid and I am still fascinated with the world of Marial Arts and Combat Sports.  Now that I've gotten a lot older, I believe that I can no longer pursue my interest in Aikido and instead have chosen to learn Boxing - a gentleman's combat sport.

I have to admit that I was pleased to see that the people at the gym were very friendly.  The trainers were fighters themselves and were very accomodating!  They were that open to the new guys.  They welcomed a total newbie like me like I was family.  This gesture made me feel at ease and excited at the same time to be learning boxing despite my advanced age of 35.

My trainer yesterday was Sem.  He was built like a rock just as you would expect boxers would be - a lean, mean, fighting machine.  He had callouses on his knuckles that really told you how long he had been using them.  His feet were muscular and he had amazing balance!  And boy was I not prepared for what it would be like to learn boxing!  I have been working out lightly for the past 3 months by jogging and doing floor exercises.  But the warm up alone was already making me catch my breath!  Also, I was constantly losing my balance while Sem didn't even wobble once!

I noted that the canvass on the ring was actually harder than I imagined and it was actually rough and provided a lot of grip for my shoes.  After my warm up, Sem put on his mitts and he taught me some basics.

1. He asked me if I was left handed or right handed - this determined whether I'd be an orthodox (right handed) or a southpaw (left handed).
2. After teaching me the correct stance, he taught me how to jab with my left fist.  Jabbing is actually harder than I thought!
3. He then taught me how to do a straight punch with my right fist.  This was harder than I though as well!  And I couldn't quite get the timing!

After some rest, he let me hit the punching bag.  The bag he said was for me to build up power in my punches.  Although it seems so easy when you see it on TV, it was hard to do!!  It also hurt to punch that bag!  Just goes to show that I have a long way to go.

Again after some rest, Sem brought me over to the dumbells and told me that I would have to do some curls and thrusts with a 6lb dumbell in each hand.  These exercises he said were to strengthen my arms so that I could maintain my guard at all times.

I have changed my view of boxers.  They are amazing and frightening at the same time!  And I hope that I would someday learn some of their discipline if only to improve my health.  I can't wait for my next visit!!  Ahahaha!!