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Exercise Tips Fitness Regime mental health Mindset Motivation Uncategorized Weight Loss

Alex’s journey

Find something you love and get consistent with it – the physical results will come as a by product of feeling good

After battling with depression and piling on weight Alex decided it was time to make changes.  Last April he walked into 12 Rounds Boxing and started our boxing fundamentals programme.  18 months later he’s worked his way through our skills levels and is itching to get in the ring and have his first fight.  Oh and he’s lost over 4 stone in the process.  Check out his before and after pics below!

Results don’t always happen Instantly, they take time and commitment and Alex has certainly put in the work.  We are so proud and inspired by him that we interviewed him to hear his full story.  

Here’s what he had to say:

What got you into boxing? 

I’ve always been really interested in combat sports, boxing and MMA. What also interested me was the mental side of it, the chess game that you play with your opponent in the ring is unlike any other sport I’ve played.

What do you enjoy about training at 12 rounds?  

The atmosphere at 12 rounds is amazing, everyone is there to have a good time and really put in work, once you’ve been there more than a couple of times, the coaches know your name, they’re joking around with you and that laidback atmosphere couple with really focussed and high quality training is a winning combo.

What’s been your highlights/biggest achievements? 

I did my fundamentals last year in April and around that time I was about 19st 7lbs, I was able to work my way up through the programs, all th way to sparring which I love, and as off the last time I weighed myself I am now 15st on the dot. Losing all that weight is great, but the mental focus has had a huge impact on my mental health and my outlook on life. So really, I suppose my biggest highlight has been all of it, because it’s really helped to transform my health and life 😊

What’s been biggest challenge? 

The biggest challenge for me has been getting my head around footwork, anyone can throw a punch but it’s being able to move around and create angles and opportunities that also come with the mind games. It can be quite difficult to wrap your head around, but once you pull of your first pivot and angle out of a combination, it makes it all worth it.

What’s next for you? 

For me I’m preparing for when COVID restrictions are lifted and the fight school is back on, my goal has been to fight and before lockdown went into effect i was getting ready to sign up. Now that I’m down to a more natural weight for me, I’m hoping to continue working on my strength and do ruining to get in the best shape possible for a training camp.

What’s your fav class and why?

I have a real love/hate relationship with the bag and burn sessions 😅 if you want a good all body work out, those are the sessions for you; Rich and Chloe are always their to push you to your absolute limit. I also love the technical sessions, learning more about boxing and how to chain all the skills you’ve learned together is really satisfying.

 

We love Alex’s story and how boxing gives you the mental clarity, focus and feel good factor to keep going.  To get results in anything requires consistent practice.  Luckily boxing is something that’s easy to get addicted to :)

 

 

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Boxing tips Fitness Regime Latest Motivation Uncategorized white collar

New coach in the house


At 12 Rounds our focus on real boxing technique is something we are very proud of.  Teaching our members skills by nailing the basics from the ground up is a big part of our ethos.  To learn to box properly is an art form, you must get your balance, footwork and hands all working together to throw basic combinations before you can progress.

We also believe that the best people to teach you are those who’ve walked the walk themselves.  Our trainers are all competitive boxers and Thai boxers and we are very pleased to welcome new coach Scott Smart to the team.  Scott comes with vast boxing knowledge and experience with over 50 amateur fights in the bag.

We’ve done a little Q&A so you get some cool info on the newest member of the 12 Rounds family:

Name:Scott Smart

Amateur Bouts:55.  Wins – 39, Losses – 16

Previous Club:  Islington ABC

Favourite bout– Scott’s favourite bout was away in South Africa. He and his team travelled to South Africa in 2013 to box against the Johannesburg boxing team. They were there for 10 days for a training camp and at the end of the camp they had a tournament against the Johannesburg team. Not only did Scott win his bout, but he also won the boxer of the tournament award!

Toughest bout –Scott was a guest boxer at a show against a travelling team from Denmark. The bout ended with a split decision loss, however the loss wasn’t the toughest part to take. The boxer Scott faced was extremely aggressive, constantly coming forward with little let off. By the time Scott had worked out how to box against him, it was too late.  If only he had had another round to go…

Favourite punch –Lead upper cut.  “It’s a really nice punch to land”.

Favourite boxer –Pernell Whitaker.  Scott describes him as the “perfect southpaw”.

What are you excited to bring to 12 rounds – Scott’s excited to show his perspective on boxing.  He is looking forward to teaching his style, whilst working with the 12 rounds members to develop their skills.

What excites you most about joining the team?  Making new friends and enjoying what we do!!

We are so pleased to have such an experienced boxer and coach joining the team.  If you’ve been thinking of learning to box, even if you just want to do it for fitness, our fantastic coaches are there to teach you the ropes and are in your corner all the way.

Why not join us for a trial session?  Head over to our calendar and choose taster session to book yourself in for a free trial.

We can’t wait to meet you

Big love
The 12 rounds team!