What Is Boxfit?
If you plan on punishing your body over the Christmas period with food, you may want to consider repairing it after with Boxfit!
The popular Boxfit craze is continuing to sweep through New Zealand using non-body contact boxing moves to help shed those stubborn kilo’s and develop core strength and coordination.
Boxfit is a cardiovascular workout increasing stamina in the heart and lungs. Classes last between 45 mins to one hour and are for all levels of fitness. It is based on the training used for boxing so includes skipping, boxing drills including footwork and abdominal, focusing on fitness and toning.
You will do a mixture of focus pad partner work as well as drills on the bags. Classes usually include core work and an element of fitness and conditioning work.
Sports behavioural studies have shown that the training techniques adopted by boxers using punch bags and sparring lead to superior decision-making skills and improves hand-eye coordination.
To take a punch and hold your balance, your abdominals need to be strong and toned. This strong core stability can reduce the risk of back pain and improve your posture.
Most gyms expect you to bring your own boxing gear with a select few offering hire options. You will need boxing gloves and hand wraps. Make sure to bring a towel to mop up your sweat as well as a water bottle for rehydration along with comfortable workout gear (leggings, shorts and a loose top) and running shoes.
Hand injuries are the biggest risk in boxing because there are so many small bones. Knuckles need to be wrapped up when punching bags to avoid bruising and scraping.
Protect your thumbs as these are vulnerable to strains and dislocation; learn to strap effectively, and if wearing gloves, hold your thumbs in.
Muscles at the front of the leg are commonly injured or inflamed by skipping. Use shin supports and wear good running shoes.
Make sure to eat a small snack i.e. banana, sandwich or protein drink an hour before attending classes as you’ll be burning a lot of energy.
