Are gym-based "Boxercise" classes not satisfying you? Too many illogical combinations, too many…read morepeople who can't hold pads?
Fed up with instructors who can't throw a decent hook?
Ever wanted some decent tips on technique? Ever wanted to take your boxing and kickboxing training up to the next level?
Yeah well, we understand. We have suffered through Fitness First (and other similar silly gyms) and the boxing instruction is, pardon the pun, very hit and miss. We wanted to go to a class that pushes your fitness hard, but doesn't sacrifice technique. So it was great luck that we stumbled upon the UTS Kickboxing Club (aka Fierce Kickboxing).
Classes are usually taken by Ben Ly (who also runs the UTS Fitness Centre). Ben has a lot of brothers, so if you get this weird feeling that you're seeing Ben everywhere, don't worry, you don't have brain damage, it's probably just his siblings.
Expect a lot of yelling, a lot of hard labour, and expect to be scared at first. Don't think you could make it through 100 burpees? Don't think you could do 150 pushups? You can. This class pushes you further than you imagined you could go, but also respects people's limitations (such as age, injuries, etc). Don't worry about the yelling and the threats of punishments: it is never personal, and as long as you show you are trying, your hard work will be respected. Also, there is a bin outside the room if you need to throw up.
The UTS Kickboxing Club is operated through the UTS Fitness Centre in Harris Street Ultimo. Since it's a university sporting club, you don't have to be a UTS gym member to attend classes. There is a small annual membership fee (about $30, give or take), and this entitles you to a very low fee per class ($10). If you're not a member, it's $16.50 per class, or thereabouts. It may go up this year, I'm not sure.
Classes are as follows:
Tuesdays 6.15pm: Beginners (and everyone). Turn up early because these classes fill up quickly;
Wednesdays 6.15pm: Beginners & Intermediate -- this class is harder than Tuesdays, and involves things like TRX cables hanging from the ceiling and kettlebells;
Thursdays 6.15pm: Advanced (and me, for some reason they let me come to advanced classes, it's very generous of them).
Classes are usually 75 mins long.
What do you need?
Gym clothes, no shoes, ... but you will need boxing wraps. These can be purchased before class, or bring along your own. Gloves & gear provided, though if you have your own gloves, bring 'em of course.
Note: This is not a hardcore kickboxing club in the serious training sense. There is no real sparring (no insurance cover for it), and the skills range from absolute beginners to more advanced folks. It's not in a dojo, it's just in a carpeted room, and you don't have to bow when you enter the room (just at the end of class, when we all line up).
