Being only 5ft2in and rather on the weak side, we were slightly apprehensive as we arrived at Haddins Gym for our boxing class. The only thing keeping us happy was that we had successfully colour coordinated our gym outfit.
Michael Haddin, founder and owner of Haddins Gym, explained that boxing is a mix of technical skill, grace, speed and aggression. ‘When all of these things come together, this is when boxing is at its best. You really need to master the basics to become a great boxer.’
After we had done a quick warm up of skipping, footwork drills and a few circuits with the dreaded medicine ball, we were already exhausted and wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. We strapped on the wraps and boxing gloves that are kindly provided by the gym – but if you want to bring your own they are fine with that too.
‘Boxing is great for weight loss and muscle toning, and is also good for people who have issues with their knees and hips or who have trouble running. It is also more fun than your traditional exercises, like lifting weights or going for a run, and is suitable for all fitness levels.’ Michael explained, adding that boxing is an excellent full body workout and that it can be really good for people who are bored with their current gym routines.
The first thing we ran through was the boxer’s stance. The stance is the basis for everything else you do so take the time to get it right. The theory behind it is to create a stable platform from which you can unleash your fury and not fall over or be caught off balance.
To learn the boxer’s stance, we were first told to position our feet. Stand facing forward with your feet about shoulder width apart. Then take a comfortable sized step backwards, moving the foot which is the same as your dominant hand and at the same time rotate your feet about 45 degrees in the direction of the foot that moved. For instance, if you are right-handed, take a step backwards with your right foot and rotate your feet 45 degrees to the right. If you are left-handed, step back with your left foot. The heel of your back foot should be in line with the toes of your front foot.
The position should feel strong. Bend your knees slightly and feel for the floor with your lower body. You should be slightly turned presenting a shoulder to your target. You should feel like no matter who came and pushed you, you would not fall over.
Michael took us through the benefits of boxing, apart from it being a good form of exercise. ‘Boxing is great for coordination, balance and core strength. With all of the rotational movements it is a really good abdominal and core workout. I personally like exercises that work the body in the standing up position because it teaches us to hold and stabilize our body, hence boxing is one of my favorite cardio workouts. If you continue with boxing you will see a reduction in weight and increase in muscle toning, especially in the upper body as well as an overall improvement in general fitness level.’
Next comes the positioning of your hands and head. You tilt your head down and to bring your chin to your chest, because it is vital to protect your chin. If you are caught square on the chin with a punch, it does a lot of damage. One good hit can knock you out. You hold your hands up so your foremost hand is just below your left eye and the other hand (of the back foot) is right beside your chin.
‘In the beginning when you are learning, it is more important to get the technique right then to just smash out any punch using all your energy. Consistency is much more important than power in the beginning stages,’ explained Michael, when we seemed too focused on the power punch.
Once we had perfected the stance and defense positions (or tried to) we were ready to learn the skill of the punches. There are four basic offensive moves in boxing; the jab, the hook – left or right, the straight – left or right and the uppercut – left or right. We practiced these first by using the punching bags and mixing the punches up in quick repetition. We were a little scared at how good the punching felt and when our fist connected with the bag when we managed to land a really good hit, the sound it made was amazing. It would appear that we got quickly addicted to boxing, and we really enjoyed it.
Before we hit the showers, Michael gave us a few final tips. ‘Don’t try to go too hard on the punching. You often get new people come in and try to punch too hard. Focus on technique for the first couple of sessions. This will help you in the long run to get a better workout and will also help to prevent injury. The other key factor is to remember to breathe. It can be easy to punch really hard and hold your breath. Try and get into a rhythm with your breath. Stay relaxed through the shoulders and try not to tense up.’
Classes are Dhs60 per class or Dhs500 for ten classes, Haddins Fitness Centre, Zayed Sports City (02 403 4200) check the website for timing, www.haddins.com.
