Most people don’t know that many moons ago, in another lifetime, in a galaxy far, far away, I used to be in kick-butt shape. During college I got hooked on judo, and that led to karate and then kickboxing classes years later at a martial arts studio.
When my kickboxing instructor got injured and couldn’t teach anymore, I couldn’t find another teacher like him, so I gave it up. That was at least 10-15 years ago. I’ve been struggling ever since to find a workout that I love anywhere near as much.
I got bored quickly with running, but I kept trying to force myself to do it anyway. Finally I decided it was time to get back to what I loved to do. These days, martial arts classes are pretty expensive, so I found a reasonably priced cardio kickboxing class, clicked on the link for their online registration…and hesitated.
I’m not ready for this! I was practically screaming at myself to just back away from the computer. I am nowhere near the shape I was in when I took kickboxing classes. I am overweight. I am out of shape. I told myself to wait until the next session of classes starts in August, and use this time to get into a little better shape first.
But even as I thought it, I knew what would happen. Between now and August, I would promise myself I’d get into better shape, then I wouldn’t do it. August would show up with me even heavier and in even worse shape. Nope, not giving myself the chance to do that. I registered for class.
The first class was last night. Right after the warm-up, we hit the floor for 60 push-ups. I knew I was deeply, hopelessly, and horrifically in trouble.
We ran. We did push-ups. And more push-ups. We punched with weights. We did movements and activities I believe are used to torture people for information. I was gasping for breath and sweating so bad, it was running into my eyes.
At some point, when I was near death and contemplating stumbling to the front desk to beg them to call 911, the kickboxing instructor bounded over to me like a hyperactive Tigger and asked, “How are you doing?”
I wanted to punch her in the face. When I could actually draw enough air into my battered lungs, I said, “Really?”
She laughed, gave me a thumbs-up, and said “You’re doing great!” before zipping off to lead the next round of agony.
I was a bit disappointed it’s more of a boot camp than kickboxing. Yeah, there were rounds of punching and kicking, but after having serious teachers like I’ve had in the past, I cringed at the lack of instruction about proper form. (Kicking with bad form will kill your knees). I was sweaty, worn out, and drained, so it was a great workout, but I was hoping for more kicking and punching than running laps and doing push-ups. Well, it’s not like the classes I used to take, but it sure beats doing nothing, so I’m still glad I signed up.
Sweat & Sparkle 
Okay, so I almost couldn't stop laughing as I read this because I'm visualizing the look on your sweaty face when the instructor came Tigger-bouncing over, with a big grin on her face to ask you how you were doing. LOL On a serious note, could it be that this is only the start, where she's trying to get everyone's muscles loosened before the real kickboxing starts? I don't know, I've never done kickboxing but unless she's clueless I would think that's the first thing she'd do and then in another session or two get to the nitty gritty part of the class. Either way, it was one hell of a workout.
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Okay, so I almost couldn't stop laughing as I read this because I'm visualizing the look on your sweaty face when the instructor came Tigger-bouncing over, with a big grin on her face to ask you how you were doing. LOL On a serious note, could it be that this is only the start, where she's trying to get everyone's muscles loosened before the real kickboxing starts? I don't know, I've never done kickboxing but unless she's clueless I would think that's the first thing she'd do and then in another session or two get to the nitty gritty part of the class. Either way, it was one hell of a workout.
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Everyone else in the class has been there before, since she asked if anyone was there for the first time, and I was the only one who raised my hand. It's an ongoing class. So it's not really the start of the class, just the start for me. She seems to circulate and keep an eye on everyone, so maybe she would stop someone with really bad form.
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Everyone else in the class has been there before, since she asked if anyone was there for the first time, and I was the only one who raised my hand. It's an ongoing class. So it's not really the start of the class, just the start for me. She seems to circulate and keep an eye on everyone, so maybe she would stop someone with really bad form.
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lol…I'm not sure if I blogged about my first experience with kickboxing, but it was as bad or worse. I knew I was in trouble when the guy said “a lot of people throw-up when they first start since it's so intense.” :-O It was more bootcamp too. We would kick some and then down on the floor and then box some and down on the floor. I looked over at another new person (guy) and at one point he was just laying there on the floor not even doing anything. I didn't go back. I wonder if he did!
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lol…I'm not sure if I blogged about my first experience with kickboxing, but it was as bad or worse. I knew I was in trouble when the guy said “a lot of people throw-up when they first start since it's so intense.” :-O It was more bootcamp too. We would kick some and then down on the floor and then box some and down on the floor. I looked over at another new person (guy) and at one point he was just laying there on the floor not even doing anything. I didn't go back. I wonder if he did!
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I know what you mean! I had a great pilates instructor for four years but I moved and I can't find one here.
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I know what you mean! I had a great pilates instructor for four years but I moved and I can't find one here.
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