12 Rounds of Boxing Fitness

12 Rounds of Boxing Fitness

By Eric Pulsifer Friday, 30 January 2009

The thought of taking a punch is enough to keep some people from even considering boxing. 12 Rounds of Boxing Fitness owner Rey Perez said most novices that take up training at his southwest Austin gym say they will never go in the ring.

“Sometimes people are intimidated to come in here because it’s boxing,” he said. “But you don’t have to come in here and fight. We don’t focus on the competition aspect of it, so it allows us to focus on just the fitness side of boxing.”

But that does not mean those training at 12 Rounds never find themselves on the painful end of a jab. Perez said even those who swear it off begin to crave a chance to test themselves in a sparring match as their skills and confidence start to increase.

“I don’t force that, but about a month after starting, most people say they want to get in the ring.”

The training up to that point — whether it is with a goal to learn to box or just develop some lean muscle mass — is intense. Many of Perez’s classes involve circuit training, combining short bursts of strength building and cardiovascular exercises for a more complete workout. Building up the core muscles is also important, to strengthen blows and lessen the sting of an opponent’s punch.

If and when students feel prepared to spar, Perez said they start out slow, not fighting at 100 percent and working more on developing technique than going for a knockout.

“I’m a perfectionist,” he said. “I want to make sure if you’re going to shoot a jab, you’re doing it correctly.”

Perez has built his eye for pugilistic perfection with more than 20 years in the ring. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, he started boxing as a teenager to stay out of trouble.

Today, Perez, 37, still loves the sport and the workout he gets from it.

“It’s addictive,” he said. “It keeps you centered, gives you discipline, and the feeling you get at the end is rewarding. I’m a better man because of it.”

When Perez first moved to southwest Austin, he found the nearest boxing gym was too far away. Looking to create a place to train himself, Perez opened 12 Rounds almost three years ago and went from boxer to business owner.

“I’d do it for free if I could,” he said.

Perez’s class has proven to be quite popular with women, with an overwhelming majority of his clientele not fitting the traditional image of a boxer.

“Boxing is a proven athletic performance enhancer. It’s just a great workout, and the amount of results that my members are getting is remarkable,” he said.

Throwing jabs and jumping rope

A jab is a quick punch thrown with the lead hand — for right-handed fighters this would be the left and vice versa for southpaws — while the other hand protects the face. Even this most basic of punches works several muscles in the arms, stomach, chest and back.

“The jab is the key in boxing,” owner Rey Perez said. “If you don’t jab, you’re going to get pounded.”

Practicing jabs on a punching bag can be workout enough, but even the simple act of maintaining one’s defense can wear out boxing newcomers. Though the gloves weigh just under a pound, that weight adds up when holding them up high enough to guard the face and the body.

But Perez said the best workout overall for pros and amateurs can be done at home for little to no cost. Jumping rope helps build endurance, agility, balance and rhythm.

“Jump rope is good for building up fitness,” he said. “That’s their homework.”

Video of boxing basics and tips for novices online at more.impactnews.com/2998

12 Rounds of Boxing Fitness, 12110 Manchaca Road, Ste. 401, 282-2BOX, www.12roundsofboxingfitness.com