As much as I love boxing, I’ve got a few things working against me in terms of keeping in shape:
- I’m paying for graduate school. Makes it difficult to shell out the cash for a fancy gym membership even if I wanted to.
- I hate running for the sake of running. If it’s supplemental to a workout I actually enjoy, I’m all for it (generally in this case instead I’ll hit an elliptical, bike, reclined bike, rowing machine, etc.). It’s not a release, nor is it a way to recenter myself. My Xbox is cathartic; running is not.
- No gyms in the Austin area that I’ve been able to find so far have boxing equipment — read: a functioning speed bag platform with multiple different bags — beyond a cheap heavy bag. Ann Wolfe Boxing & Fitness is not far from my apartment, but they were closed for weeks up until the Kirkland – Julio fight, and I haven’t managed to wander back and check the place out.
At a certain point, it all adds up to a bunch of excuses, but the case I’m trying to make is that I like boxing. Not running, or getting my swoll on, or any of that nonsense. Boxing, with a long cardio workout to warm myself up for that. Had me in the best shape of my life not long ago.
Now I’ve swelled up beyond the 147 that I used to happily find myself at, and given that my frame has filled out some, I’d be happy to just get myself back to middleweight and then from there gradually make it back down to 154. But I digress.
A friend many miles away from here posted the following clip on facebook, and he and I have started doing it (and subsequently have wanted to commit ritualistic seppuku). It’s from Mike Rowe, answering a mailbag question on an episode of Dirty Jobs. Pretty fantastic workout, and you can conveniently do it in a small enclosed space like the prison cell that is my bedroom. Ironic that I say prison cell… I’ll let the video speak for itself. Enjoy!
Bellmont 5th floor (come while I teach).
Bellmont 3rd floor.
Gregory.
The Rec.
Not much in the world of boxing gear, but you at least have to acknowledge the facilities that you have access too.
I recommend looking into the Bas Rutten cds/dvds if you want a boxing type workout you can do wherever. Maybe start by looking at the part of the internet that rhymes with pitborrent.