Want to get relaxed? Join a boxing class!<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
It is not that time of the month, and the teen angst period has
\npassed, like, eight years ago. But lately, the level of my anger,
\nemotion and rage have been reaching unprecedented levels. If
\nsomeone gets on my nerves, I want to punch him\/her right away.<\/p>\n
I was still sensible, thank God, but I knew that it was only a
\nmatter of time until I could do something destructive. So, all of
\nthis emotional baggage had to be channeled somehow.<\/p>\n
But how? Getting bitchy with all of my colleagues and scolding
\neveryone around, of course are not viable options.<\/p>\n
The answer then came about two weeks ago, while exercising at
\nthe Jakarta Hilton International's LifeSpa and Fitness Center.<\/p>\n
There was an announcement that the Center was going to open a
\nboxing class and invite its members to join.<\/p>\n
This is it. Sign me up, baby!<\/p>\n
With the spirit of Rocky Balboa, I started the class by
\nhumming Sammy Hagar's Eye of a Tiger (cue theme of Rocky)
\nendlessly.<\/p>\n
The Cus D'Amato (late, legendary boxing trainer) of the class
\nis former boxing champion Syamsul Anwar Harahap.<\/p>\n
On the first day of the class, the thirteen of us were taught
\nhow to stand, step and look fierce (I made up the latter).<\/p>\n
We should not stand straight on with legs parallel, as it will
\nmake your opponent easier to punch you. Instead, we should stand
\nwith one shoulder and one foot forward.<\/p>\n
As my right hand is stronger than my left, I was asked to put
\nmy left foot forward.<\/p>\n
The legs are slightly bent and apart as far as shoulder width.
\nThe legs, however, make a 45 degree angle with our body. The foot
\nin the back must be tiptoed, or what Syamsul calls \"heel up\".<\/p>\n
As for the fists, the right fist is placed on the right chin,
\nwhile the left fist is a span away from the left cheek.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, Syamsul taught us to step forward, backward, step
\nto the side, and rotate.<\/p>\n
\"This (stepping) is the basics of boxing footwork. You have to
\nmaster it first before you learn how to punch. It's very useful
\nto move about, avoiding opponent's attacks,\" Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The left feet move first if we step forward or move to the
\nleft side, and vice versa.<\/p>\n
\"The right foot, or the foot at the back, is indeed the
\nsupport. Even if you move with the left foot first, it's actually
\nthe right foot which moves it,\" said Syamsul.<\/p>\n
After we got the footwork down, Syamsul then asked us to
\npractice all of the steps in several rounds, each was for three
\nminutes, just like in a boxing match.<\/p>\n
And, whew! After 15 rounds, it felt like we were doing a high-
\nimpact aerobic class.<\/p>\n
We were sweating all over, tired but fresh, and the thigh
\nmuscles were throbbing. The right leg, though, felt a bit weary.<\/p>\n
\"Boxing is very good to improve our agility, speed and
\nstamina. Because as you see, we keep on moving dynamically. It's
\ndifferent with weight training, isn't it?\" Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The sport can also be done by people of any age, as long as
\nthey are in the prime condition, as boxing requires prime
\nstamina.<\/p>\n
There are some aerobic classes which have some boxing movement
\nin it.<\/p>\n
\"But the benefit of the real boxing is its explosive
\nmovements. Hands and feet move with the same speed. As for boxing
\naerobics, like taebo for example, it's only hands that move,\"
\nSyamsul said.<\/p>\n
The other benefit has to do with self defense, as boxing,
\nunlike karate for instance, enables us to punch right away at the
\ntarget.<\/p>\n
\"Boxing also helps to improve our self esteem and increases
\nconcentration. Because we have to always monitor and anticipate
\nour opponents' movements,\"<\/p>\n
\"All in all, however, the key is agility. It's very useful if
\nyou're a dancer, or at least, like to dance,\" Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The next session will be started with a jumprope routine, a
\nvery good exercise to synchronize hands and feet.<\/p>\n
According to Syamsul, boxing can be combined with weight
\ntraining, but not too much.<\/p>\n
\"The mistakes of the local boxers now is that they think the
\nbulkier the biceps are the stronger the will be. It's untrue.
\nInstead, bulky biceps will make it difficult to punch, and your
\nmoves will be more stiff. The most important is the momentum, and
\nthe pressure to the target. And the best targets that knock your
\nopponents out are the chin and the pit of the stomach,\" he said.<\/p>",
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