Because once you master it, you won't look back.

We speak to the experts at Hustle Boxing on how great this all-over workout is for your body.

Sick of slogging it out in HIIT class or bored of taking it pace-by-pace on the treadmill? It’s so easy to fall into monotony with your workout routine, so maybe it's time to start switching it up.

Taking your first boxing class might be the first step in that direction, but what will you get out of it – and how should you prepare?

Lead trainer at Hustle Boxing (which has just opened a new location in Brisbane) Sam Maree kindly shared his tips for everything you need to know before that first class.

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“I started boxing five years ago, not long after entering the fitness industry. It was a sport I was always keen to try. After putting on my first pair of gloves for a boxing class, I absolutely fell in love and haven’t stopped since,” Maree tells Body+Soul.

“Boxing is a great mode of exercise for an endless amount of reasons and I could spend all day talking about it. The biggest benefits (in my opinion) are that, contrary to wide belief, boxing is a total body workout, not just arms. Boxing requires strong legs, strong core, good balance, and it helps teach you an understanding of body mechanics.”

Maree recommends wearing comfortable training shoes and your usual gym workout gear, along with a pair of gloves. He would encourage his clients to purchase gloves between 12oz and 14oz, but many gyms including his offer loans until their members decide to make the investment.

He adds that first timers should always bring a good attitude towards the learning phase. “Trying something new is half the fun and we pride ourselves on being the most ‘unintimidating boxing class’ in Australia,” he says.

“Like with learning any new skill, people who have never boxed before will come up against their own unique challenges,” says Maree.

The main one he sees, is when guests get a little out of their comfort zone moving their body through new shapes and movements. “As a first timer, you’re going to put your body in new positions that it wouldn’t have been in before, so the sooner you understand that and embrace it, the faster you’ll be able to move onto refining your craft," he says.

He adds that a lot of first timers also don’t realise that a lot of the strength from boxing starts from the ground up. It’s not all about throwing the arms as hard as possible.

“It generally takes a couple of classes before people realise this. Watching first timers have the ‘light bulb’ moment is a part of my job I really enjoy.”

Like any new exercise, first time boxers may feel it the next day – but not where you think!

“Funnily enough I regularly hear that first timers feel the workout in their legs. This is because you’re basically sitting in a quarter squat position while you’re boxing to maintain balance and generate the power for your punches from the ground up. Of course your shoulders are going to be sore the next day but a lot of the time people are surprised how much they feel it in their legs!” Maree explains.

He adds that boxing offers a combination between cardio and strength and will activate and tone the body, including all the little muscles through the core.

“Who doesn’t like washboard abs? It’s a great form of exercise that [also] targets the toning of the arms,” he says.

“People train for many different reasons and we are able to facilitate that. From weight loss goals, to muscle toning and mental respite. So depending on the individuals needs or goals, boxing will be able to provide a path to those results” Maree says.

The thing about boxing, unlike other activities like swimming and cardio machines, is that it requires a mental workout as well as a physical one.

“Boxing has been shown to have great benefits amongst an older age group as you are constantly having to think about what you’re doing, rather than getting into a monotonous rhythm of movement where you can find sometimes your brain might switch off or go into autopilot. Boxing encourages good neural activity in the brain,” he adds.

Given that boxing works out the whole body, Maree says it’s important to get in a good mix of a healthy diet and active rest days to compliment the workout.

“'Active rest days' imply that you do a light form of exercise – swimming, walking or a gentle bike ride – to promote recovery around the body. Other forms of exercise like pilates or yoga also compliment a regular boxing routine wonderfully,” he adds.

Sam Maree is the lead trainer at Hustle Boxing in Brisbane. He holds a Certificate III and IV in Fitness and has worked in the industry for over seven years, two of which have been at Hustle. You can follow Hustle Boxing on Instagram here.

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