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Lucy’s boxing blog – week 3

By slhaf | May 18, 2010

Lucy Boxing BlogI have been well and truly bitten by the boxing bug – I have done three boxing sessions this week and I love it.

Session number one is with CJ Swaby at NKD Ambition gym in London, it’s only my third week and already I am starting to notice more definition in my arms and legs. I also feel so much more alert. Boxing has woken up my brain – there really isn’t anytime time to switch off in this game (unless you want a bleeding nose and puffy eye).

This week we start with the basics, the lead jab and the rear hand, and after two rounds I feel confident to move on, everything is feeling more fluid and as I hit the shots, CJ shows me to how to bob and weave. I pick it up pretty quickly and am pleased with how everything is starting to come together. During our hour we do lots of combinations using my new defense methods, the salute, stop and the bob and weave before finishing with kettlebell conditioning work and moves using the powerbag – my body is whacked.

I also sign up for two boxing classes at The Third Space gym in Piccadilly, London. My first one is Wednesday evening. The class is taken by Ex-European boxing champion, Cathy Brown; a small lady with a big voice (and biceps). There are six in the class and everyone looks like they have been coming for years – I feel slightly out of my depth. I put on my wraps anyway and warm up with shadow boxing. Cathy shouts out combinations and between each we perform burpees, press-ups and squat thrusts. After the warm up I pair up with Natalie, one of Cathy’s regulars. She has been going to Cathy’s classes for years now and you can tell.

Cathy BrownCathy tells us to jab for ten, then punch for ten. I try and punch hard while incorporating my core into all my punches. We do this for three minutes and then do 20 press-ups (still in the gloves) before swapping around.

Before Natalie’s turn to hit my pads she shows me how to hold them and warns me to get some resistance behind it – she chucks a punch at me and I understand why she has prepared me – this girl has power. Cathy tells Natalie to carry on, ‘give it your all Nat, she’s strong,’ she says with confidence.

Holding the pads is tiring work and after a minute my so-called strong arms tire but I daren’t move them just in case I get a blow to the face – I have two minutes left and have to grin and bare it.

We swap over. Cathy gives us a new combination, which involves striking our partner to the side of the head as they roll (blows). I’m not sure at first and as Natalie brings her head down and raises her arms – I give Natalie a fairy-like tap. Cathy tells me to hit her harder and that I need to break the attacking barrier and not be afraid of hitting someone. It’s hard but if Natalie does it right and protects’ her head and rolls with the blow, my punch will be absorbed by her forearms. She does it right and encourages me to carry on. Phew.

Cathy BrownTwenty-minutes into the class and I am starting to relax, Cathy and Natalie make me feel welcome as they correct my technique and we chat between rounds of combinations and hundreds of squat thrusts and burpees. Cathy also helps me get to grips with my uppercuts before finishing the session with abs. I walk out absolutely dripping – not a pretty sight.

What I have learnt: The Bob and Weave

To bob and weave successfully, you should move your head from side to side and up and down, keeping your body in a constant state of motion. Always be creative with your movement so that your opponent does not guess where your head is going to be.

Kit supplied by adidas
For more information visit www.cjsfitness.co.uk

Topics: Boxing Blog, Home | 2 Comments »

2 Responses to “Lucy’s boxing blog – week 3”

  1. New York Single Woman Says:
    May 19th, 2010 at 10:35 am

    Interesting… Might as well try this soon. Nice post.

  2. Gym Offers Says:
    October 3rd, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    Lucky you! I am a member of Esporta and pay £100 a month for me and my OH.
    I love the club tho, good instructors and has the Kieser M3 spinning bikes which i love and then the bar is a nice touch for socializing after a workout at the weekend.

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