Category: Uncategorized

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Guest post by Max Fraser at of REAL – Power of One (www.realpowerofone.com)

While on a journey East (from West London), to The Troxy last week, a colourful billboard
caught my attention. It said: To nourish – is to flourish. As this advert was attached to a
building site, I initially took it in the context of the flourishing community that this building
would soon be proud to house. As I hovered at the traffic lights staring back at the
billboard, the message landed in the most resonant way. Light bulb moment – I had my
next instagram slogan sussed. Since then, the notions ignited by that initial phrase have
travelled various corridors of exploration and it now forms the basis of September’s blog.

If you like something, you will be good at it – If you are good at something, you will like it. I
have paused previously to deliberate on which way round that cause and effect statement
should be, but I think you’ll agree – it doesn’t matter. And there it is; in all its simplicity. Find
something you like and never look back, as everything else will fall into place.

If only it was that simple. How lucky are those people who are doing what they love! How
did they know that was what they wanted to do and how on earth am I supposed to know
what I want to do, were the questions I and so many face when growing up. Faced with
not enough options, too many options, the pressure to comply (with peers or parents),
wanting to follow in someone’s footsteps and simply to make ends meet are all very real
drivers towards an unfulfilling journey. But as much as it’s good to have and end to journey
towards, it is always the journey that counts. And in order to have a fulfilling journey, to find
what we love, we have to engage, take a risk and explore before we can land on a place
that reciprocates our gifts. To anyone yet to ignite their passions, it can happen at any turn.
Just keep saying yes to things that feed you, however small or obscure.

When you follow what you love doing, you will find reciprocated passions. It is this
feedback that lands us where we need to be. There’s no longer a need to ‘fit in’, we’ve
found ourselves. A peak experience exists that is universal to the human condition. This
experience is underpinned by a feeling of oneness with an activity, a loss of self-
consciousness, and deep joy in the process.

Motivation is now intrinsic; we turn up early, we practise after class, we begin a pursuit of
constant improvement for the love of our game or vocation. We realise how much more
there is to learn, which is humbling. We become better students and we want to include
anyone whose inclination is to pursue the same journey.

It’s important to recognise that what we love can co-exist with a career. What we love to do
doesn’t always have to feed us financially. What we love to do can be a perfect counter-
balance of meaning and purpose vs our day-job, so-to-speak.

When imbued with meaning and purpose, our self-worth and self-efficacity are high. We
have every confidence in what we are doing and any hurdle is a challenge we are happy
to accept. Life never runs smooth for long.

Motivation comes from activation. While many of us have sat, perhaps in despair, doing
our best to illicit the motivation required to ‘finish the job’, there is no better way to do it
than by doing, even if that means progress is slow. Progress breeds progress, which is
where confidence comes from. Once you’re moving, then it’s easier to keep moving.
Getting to the gym is the hardest part.

Doing what you love will sustain your resolve from setbacks, becoming vain or bitter. Keep
your interests alive and don’t neglect your talents, they are a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.

Do what you love, love what you do and pass it on.

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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://12roundsboxing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_7641.jpg” title_text=”IMG_7641″ _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://12roundsboxing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_7636.jpg” title_text=”IMG_7636″ _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://12roundsboxing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_7635.jpg” title_text=”IMG_7635″ _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]As the gym is now quiet, Kat has suggested that I write a blog post for our website about my
experiences so far with 12 Rounds. Until today I hadn’t even read a blog post, let alone written one!

Hopefully by now most of you would have met me, if you have, I’m sure that you would have formed
some kind of opinion of me, and I do hope it is a positive one?

I’ve been coaching for a long time… since retiring from professional boxing in January 2009 I’ve

coached at various amateur boxing clubs. Initially I coached at my childhood club, Crawley Amateur
Boxing Club.  That gym is truly my happy place, there is something about the place that I can’t
adequately put into words. As a child and then a young man it was the place where I felt safest and
most able to be my authentic self. Even now as a 38-year-old man I get this incredible sense of being
completely at peace when I enter Crawley Amateur Boxing Club.

After relocating to Epsom and starting a family, I opted to volunteer at the local boxing gym because
making three round trips per week to Crawley was starting to wear on me. The way it was run was
completely different from what I was used to, and I thought the sparring sessions were more like
battles between sworn enemies than a way for boxers to learn from one another. In my opinion,
sparring should primarily be utilised to put what has been learned in training into practise rather
than an attempt to beat each other senseless. Hard, competitive sparring is sometimes necessary,
but by no means every session. At Epsom, I didn’t think my coaching approach fit well, so I decided
to move on.

I had met Keith Hawkins on a coaching course, and since Smallholdings Boxing Club was just
launching, he came to me and asked if I would like to come work as a coach there. We had a
successful start, with our boxers winning something like their first 10 bouts. The defeat was bound
to come soon enough but we thoroughly enjoyed that undefeated spell while it lasted.
George Brown, my amateur boxing coach, and the closest thing I ever had to a father figure, moved
from Crawley to run Battlebridge Boxing Club. Since it was only a 10-minute drive from my house, I
leaped at the chance to go with him. Prior to Battlebridge's closure due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, I
was a coach there for around 7 years.

I have learned from working with numerous coaches, that ego can be a big issue in boxing gyms,
especially among trainers. If someone has a different method for doing something, men in
particular, seem to perceive it as a personal slight. As a result, I expected some opposition to my
viewpoints and ideas when I started working at round 12. To my surprise, everyone was really
receptive to my suggestions for improvement and new ideas. There is such a fun and vibrant
atmosphere in the gym, and I love spending time here.

Although I haven’t yet trained all of the members, everyone I have met have been fantastic.
Everyone who trains here is upbeat, and the workouts are always enjoyable. As a coach, although
given an outline as to what is to be included in the sessions, there is plenty of autonomy, allowing
each coach to get creative and let their unique personality shine through. The atmosphere at the
gym is cheerful. Members and staff enjoy interacting with one another and people are treated more
like friends than clients or colleagues. I think I’ll be very happy here hopefully for a long time.

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://12roundsboxing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0278-Crop-scaled.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Anthony Young, boxing coach [/author_info] [/author]
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‘I used to meal prep like my life depended on it. ‘

Todays blog is about nutrition.  Something I used to be very into.  Throughout my 30s I was always trying to lose weight.  I read/studied everything I could on how to eat for weight loss.  To cut a long story short I became obsessive about it.  On the weekends I would meal prep like my life depended on it.  Making sure I had healthy food at all times was essential as god forbid I got hungry and ate some chips. 

That approach didn’t work for me as what I didn’t know was the amount of stress I put on myself was completely counterproductive.   I never did lose the weight and I was pretty miserable too.  

Now I realise as what the body and mind need is balance.   

I stopped stressing about what I ate, learned about the nervous system and how to relax and guess what? My body found a balance and my weight stabilised.  

So what’s the problem I hear you ask? 

As I stopped worrying about losing weight my bad habits started to creep back in.  At first was just a few biscuits here and there, then, crisps, takeaways.  I’ve even eaten McDonald’s in recent times which is something I swore off since my 20s…. 

I have no problem with any of these things in moderation.  In fact one of the best things I learned through my nutrition education is the 80/20 rule.  Eat well 80% of the time and the body can cope with a little bit of the not so good stuff. I was getting closer to 20% healthy, 80% not so great food.  Chips, toasties, crisps and biscuits had become my go to. My diet had become what I used to warn against – beige – carb heavy with little nutrition.

I’ve been coasting along like this for a while now and I’ve decided things have to change.  I have a new motivation.  Health  I want to be healthy and stay well for my daughter. 

I don’t want to be obsessive about what I eat like the old me.  What I want is to be better.  

• I want to eat a balanced diet and add more nutrition to my meals.  
• I want to allow myself the odd treat but ensure it is a treat not a everyday occurrence (eg.  no more biscuits for breakfast) 
• I want to have more energy and feel good.  

All these things are easily achievable it just means getting organised and changing some habits.  Having studied how the brain works and how we create patterns and habits, I’m well equipped to do this.  

What I’ve decided to do is give myself a 28 day challenge 

• 4 weeks of conscious eating and improving my nutrition 
• Re-establishing good eating patterns 
• Increasing my protein and eating more vegetables.
• decreasing the biscuits and crisps.  

The reason I’m sharing this with you is that I’ve had quite a few members ask me about nutrition recently. 

So I’ve decided I’m going to run this as a group challenge.

As you all know from the success of our training programmes, being part of a group programme greatly increases your chances of success.  It gives you structure, accountability and it’s just more fun. 

So if you too want to eat better and feel you can join me throughout July on my 28 day challenge.  

There is a small cost of £30

What you’ll get: 

• A healthy eating PDF guide 
• Weekly emails giving you tasks, recipes and shopping plans 
• Full support through a private Facebook group. 
• Weekly accountability check in.

I can’t promise you will lose a stone or dress size (you likely will lose some kgs but this is not the sole focus) 

What I can promise is that you will feel better, have more energy and you have a better understanding of healthy eating, empowering you to make better choices. 

Who’s in? 

Sign up at the link below 

ps you will need a Facebook account for the support group.

Chatting to these to ladies in the gym the other day and we realised that they’ve both been training here for 6 whole years now.  Ellie started Fundamentals back in Feb 2016 – when we only had the upstairs space.  Laura joined fundamentals a few months later in May.   Both of them have gone on to do white collar fights and remain some of our most experienced and committed members to date.

We wanted to find out what’s kept them coming back over the years;

Here’s there views on why they love boxing and why they’ve kept coming back to 12 Rounds.

Laura  Fish 

‘I’ve never been the sporty type but boxing is the one thing that I’ve consistently stuck at (maybe not every week but when I’ve fallen out of the routine of exercise, it’s the thing that gets me back in the gym!) For me though, it’s more than exercise. I love that I’m always learning…from how to throw the basic punches correctly when I first started, to how to outsmart my opponent in the ring. Boxing has allowed me to push myself, mentally as much as physically, and I always come out feeling stronger. 

The team at 12 Rounds have played a big part in my love for boxing. The gym has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and I’ve met some great people over the years, especially Ellie, who will be my boxing bestie for life! I’ve always appreciated the time that the coaches take to explain the technique…anyone can throw a punch but can you throw it well?! Their energy and passion is infectious and I always leave the gym feeling better than when I arrived – this is why I come back.’

Ellie Welton

“I feel strong, confident and happy. No matter what has been happening in my world. I always feel good after training. 

I first came to 12 rounds to learn a new skill and became part of a family. I loved the way you could progress and challenge yourself and you got me from beginner to fighting. 

&… of course Rich. He may have told me to say this… but I have been at the gym since Rich started. He knows me, my strengths and weaknesses. 

I know all the trainers take care to get to know people who come to the gym. That’s part of the community created.”

We are delighted to have Laura and Ellie in our boxing family and can’t wait to see what’s next for them.   Here’s just a few pics of them in training and showing off their well earned abs.