Local Editor Tackles Boxing as a Novice

Most people know I’m a runner, occasional gym rat and former high school soccer player.

But lately, I’ve felt like adding sparring to my list of athletic abilities.

After , I decided now was as good a time as any to stop by a class and throw on a pair of gloves.

I’m not sure what prompted my newfound desire to drum up enough sweat to fill a small bucket while bashing the sides of a punching bag, but on Monday, I finally got my chance.

Armed with my favorite water bottle and a towel, I stopped by a noon class with  I stood still and spanned both hands out as a boxing club assistant wrapped dark green tape around my fingers. Then came the gloves.

Finally, I was ready.

I joined the rest of the class during a warm-up that reminded me of my days as a soccer player. Jogging. Shuffling. Ab work.

Then came the challenge: hitting the bag.

I realized that the only other time I’d been inside a boxing ring was to. That's when my mind started to wander. What kind of form would I have? How are you supposed to stand while you hit the bag?

After a few suggestions from our energetic instructor on adjustments I needed to make to my strike, I was all in.

For the next half an hour, the tall, heavy punching bag that hung from the ceiling morphed into anything I wanted it to be. An imaginary enemy. A stress reliever. An opponent in the boxing match I staged in my mind.

We bashed the sides of the bag, jabbed it with "knockout punches" and hit it with the backs of our gloves. I was able to keep up with the rest of the class, and got some great feedback from the instructor.

After more ab work, jogging and a cool down, I was ready to tackle the rest of the day.

I might even come back for another round.

Have you been to the club yet? Were you a beginning boxer, too? Tell us in the comments.