The home of white-collar boxing...
May 14, 2008
Bored at work, and I'm staring out of the window at a red brick building at the Liverpool Street end of Curtain Road (EC2) and planning my excuse to slip out of the office. Why? In four month's I've lost nearly two stone, learned the difference between a fish hook and left hook and become part of a fitness sub-culture known as white-collar boxing. Andy, one of the pro trainers there tells me this sport's been around since 2000, thanks to world leaders and UK pioneers, The Real Fight Club, who now have such a cool gym that pro champs train there (David Haye, Carl Froch, Anthony Small, Lenny Daws, Ian Nappa - and scores more whose signatures appear on the club's Wall of Fame).
And what a great change it makes from pump at Cannons, treadmill at Esporta or weights at Virgin because this gym, though 100% boxing focused, doesn't put you under pressure to spar or box on one of their shows, though you're helped along and encouraged if you want to. The training is challenging but so rewarding that the regulars include local business men and women and there's a buzz and comaraderie you just don't find in a normal gym. And the cost of membership is very reasonable too.
So thanks to a New Year's resolution and spare tyre averse girlfriend, I found myself in front of Nick in a 1-2-1 Foundation Class. He got me started by showing me how to wrap my hands, the right stance, how to throw the punches. Did you know there are at least ten ways to counter a jab with a right hand? I didn't, but then I wasn't going to argue with an Oxford Boxing Blue. You can do your own thing there or join one of the classes (there are plenty to choose from and several expert trainers so it's never boring.)
I really rate this place, so if you want to take exercise that's fun, challenging and seriously threatens to give you that bod you've always wanted, stop staring out of your window. You know where to go...
Keywords: City Health Clubs
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