Title Boxing Club offers a new, exciting way to get in shape

Recently, I was lucky enough to get to try a boxing class at Title Boxing Club in Solon. A friend and I went to the 60 minute class, for a first time offer of a free class. While the workout is certainly not for anyone too out of shape, it’s a great way to stay fit besides the typical treadmill-loaded gym.

My friend and I chose a Sunday morning 60 minute class. We arrived at the class about twenty minutes early, as the internet suggested for first time boxers, in order to appropriately learn the punching technique and purchase wraps. The wraps cost $8 which is well-worth it after getting to try the whole class for free. We used their community gloves, which was a little gross (your hands sweat A LOT), but it’s a better option than buying expensive gloves for your first, and possibly only, class.

After getting properly wrapped up and learning the four basic punches, the class’s instructor arrived and the 60 minute workout began. In my opinion, the first fifteen minutes were the worst. The “warm-up” as they call it, consists of 15 minutes of pure movement. The instructor called out various different exercises, including high-knees, butt-kicks, jumping-jacks, burpees, and several variations of planks and push-ups. Each one was required to do for a minute or so, until the instructor called out the next one.

After the warm-up, we got a minute break to grab some water and get our gloves on. Then we had 30 minutes of boxing, separated into eight three-minute rounds of boxing with a minute break between, during which you can do one of the exercises she calls out, or rest and take and water break.

Each boxing round, the instructor calls out the order of punches she wants you to use. There’s the jab, cross, hook, and uppercut. After the first two rounds, I was able to pick up which punch is which, but at first it was certainly confusing. The instructor we had was very nice and welcoming however, and she didn’t mind helping us out since we were new to the class.

The boxing rounds were certainly strenuous and difficult on the arms, but it’s the kind of exercise you feel more later than while you are doing it. Punching the bag is definitely more desirable to me than normal weight-lifting, as it’s more than just exercise. It helps you let out your frustration and anxiety on the bag, and you feel all around better in your body and mind afterwards.

After the eight rounds are over, there is a fifteen minute cool-down and core session. We did some more of the exercises from before, and also added in some core exercises with a medicine ball, such as planks, russian twists, v-ups, and plank-jacks. Yes, you read that correctly--planks but with jumping jacks, and there are push-up jacks too.

Then the 60 minutes are over and you are thoroughly exhausted. It’s completely worth the feeling of accomplishment and fitness though.

Boxing is getting more and more popular, and I can confirm it’s because boxing is a great way to stay fit, and release and little anger in the meantime. The hard workout is unquestionably more exciting than a daily routine at the local gym, and Title is a great place to get involved in it. The staff and instructor were both engaging and encouraging, and the facility is clean and appealing. I’d certainly recommend it to get in shape for the beach-bodies of summer.

Title Boxing Club is in Solon, and it offers a free beginner’s class for first-timers. After that, you can sign up for either a punch card membership, with which you only pay for the classes you attend, or you can sign up for the full membership with unlimited classes.