After yet another spanking from my gorgeous girlfriend at ten pin bowling, I decided it was time to return to my first sporting love, boxing. So I packed my beloved gloves and headed to Surbiton to take on a days workout with Thump Training Systems to see if I still had it.
On the train down to Surbiton I couldn’t wait to pull on the gloves and start hitting the focus pads. Boxing is an activity that once you’re hooked (not literally!) you can’t stop yourself from going back time and again.
I arrived at the training centre to a friendly welcome from both Phil and Jon, two of Thump Training Systems' master trainers. I excitedly got my kit out although Jon quickly pointed out that I wouldn’t be needing my gum shield, as apart from an unforeseen wayward punch, I’d be leaving with my good looks in tact! Both Phil and Jon were excellent in teaching the boxing basics, the stance and the basic punches. No matter how good you become with the focus pads, you still need to show your client how to throw punches correctly. For all my time in boxing (15years and counting) I had never put on a pair of focus pads, but with some expert guidance we all were soon working our partners like a professional.
An hour into the course I found that I was enjoying taking my partner on the focus pads, rather then punching at them. As an ex-boxer myself, this was something I was not expecting. Working someone on the focus pads is an art in itself and a lot of fun as you have to catch your client’s punches correctly. Once you do start catching punches cleanly you get the same buzz the puncher gets when landing a punch.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day on the Level 1 Thump course and learnt more than enough to not only take a boxing class correctly, but also to continually keep classes fresh for my clients. I won’t be pulling the boxing gloves back on to fight, so Mr. Kahn can continue to sleep safe at night, but working with the focus pads is something I now want to get evolved with more. So look out Freddie, I’m coming to get ya!