Healthista’s How to Box video series is onto it’s tenth lesson and this time former champion boxer and head coach at BXR London, Gary Logan, shows us how to skip
Female boxing is hot on trend
Boxing has become a super hot topic with an abundance of ‘hot’ celebs, including superstars Gigi Hadid, the Kardashians, Dua Lipa and Adriana Lima, saying it’s their favourite way to keep fit.
Female boxing champions such as Nicola Adams, Ronda Rousey and Katie Taylor have also made headlines in the sport and inspired women everywhere to fight fierce in what used to be seen as a male-dominated sport.
‘Women’ and ‘boxing’ are no longer two words that sound odd if used in the same sentence, with women’s participation in boxing and other fight-style sports rising dramatically in recent years. In fact, boxing classes are now predominantly made up of women.
Boutique boxing gyms are even hotter
Thanks to this rise in popularity, trendy boxing gyms are popping up all over London. Boutique boxing gyms will help you to train like a boxer, without forcing you into any real physical fights because, let’s be honest, after a long day at work that really isn’t what you want to be doing.
This is particularly perfect for those who are slightly nervous about starting the whole boxing thing – hitting a bag is far less nerve-racking or intimidating than hitting an actual person.
Boutique boxing gyms help you to train like a boxer, without forcing you into any real physical fights.
Boxing gyms are set up to take people from complete beginner to professional level, so if you’re worrying you’ll be the only one there who has never boxed before, don’t.
Don’t worry about what other people in your boxing class are thinking either – they’ll be too busy focusing on what they’re doing to judge anyone else.
Boxing is an intense full-body workout and the techniques can be quite intricate. This can be slightly intimidating for those who are new to boxing.
That’s why Healthista have teamed up with BXR London – a luxury boxing gym that launched in January 2017 – to give you thirteen videos of Boxing School lessons with BXR’s head boxing coach Gary Logan.
BXR is also known as ‘the Anthony Joshua gym’, as the Olympic boxing champion is an investing partner.
Logan has trained top clients, including a number of celebrities, since he retired from professional boxing. He knows his stuff, and although he can be strict on technique he also makes sure you have a great time – so naturally he was the perfect choice for our boxing series.
Gary’s mantra is ‘it’s all in the details’, which is exactly what our ‘Boxing School’ series focuses on – how to execute the details correctly.
From footwork to stance, keeping your guard up to balance, Gary will teach you how. If head boxing coach Gary Logan can’t teach you how to deliver a punch fit for a professional fight then no one can.
Here’s lesson number ten…
Boxing School Lesson #10 How to Skip
So for boxers it appears that apart from punching and defending themselves they also like to skip. This is because it is great for your fitness and to practice quick footwork.
‘Apart from bag work, skipping is probably one of the most important exercises in boxing. You burn so many calories, it creates great muscle tone and endurance, plus it looks really cool, providing it’s done right,’ explains Gary.
‘You see so many people who, when they start skipping, their hands come way too far up and they are looping around in big circles,’ says Gary. ‘This leads to the rope becoming caught on your feet, which means you have to keep stopping and won’t be skipping properly, you want to be as efficient as possible’.
Gary suggests starting with both ends of the skipping rope in one hand, using just your wrist to spin the rope around, rather than your whole hand.
‘Notice that my hand is not lifting,’ continues Gary, ‘it is only my wrist that is moving round. Then find a nice steady rhythm.’
‘Also notice that the feet are not coming up high off the floor, I’m just bouncing from foot to foot gently and lightly.’
Use this technique when you have the skipping rope in both of your hands: bounce from foot to foot, keep hands down hands with just your wrists moving around. Gary suggests that you do this for 30 seconds to a minute, so that you will be nicely warmed up ready to start your boxing.
Signed up for a boxing class? Here’s what you’ll need…
If you’ve signed up for your own boxing class and are unsure what to expect here are some things you will need, other than sheer determination and the motivation to hit as hard as you can:
- A pair of trainers
- A good sports bra
- Comfortable training clothes
- Boxing gloves (most clubs will lend you a pair on your first visit but bare in mind these will have been worn many times before)
- Wraps (available online or from most sports shops)
More from Healthista’s How To Box Video Series:
HOW TO BOX Lesson #1: Stance and Balance
HOW TO BOX Lesson #3: How to Back Hand
HOW TO BOX Lesson #4: How to Hook
HOW TO BOX Lesson #5 How to Uppercut
HOW TO BOX Lesson #7: How to Block
HOW TO BOX Lesson #8 : How to Slip
HOW TO BOX Lesson #9: Punch Bag Combo
More Healthista Content:
8 subtle signs you have low self-esteem
How a tantric massage could boost your sex life
Could a probiotic help you sleep?
Why female boxing is so hot right now
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