A first boxing class is more intimidating than a first class of almost anything else. People arrive thinking two things: that they’ll make fools of themselves, and that they’re going to get hit. Neither happens, but you don’t believe it until you see it.
Here’s what actually goes on.
What to bring
- Comfortable training clothes. Nothing specific. A T-shirt and shorts or leggings.
- Light shoes. You’ll be moving on your feet a lot. Heavily cushioned running shoes are the worst thing for this because they sink; something flat is better.
- Towel and water. You’ll sweat more than you expect.
- Wraps, if you already have them. If not, don’t worry about it.
What NOT to buy yet
Gloves. It’s the classic mistake: people buy gloves before their first class, pick the wrong weight, and they end up in a cupboard. There are gloves at the club for you to use, and after three or four classes you’ll know what weight suits you and whether you want your own.
Same goes for everything else: bag, mouthguard, boots. None of it is needed to start, and almost none of it is ever needed unless you’re going to compete.
How the hour goes
Warm-up (10-15 min). Shoulder and hip mobility, jumps, some skipping. Raises your heart rate and prepares the joints you’re about to use.
Technique (15-20 min). Guard, footwork and one or two punches. Day one isn’t twenty punches: usually it’s the jab and not much else, repeated until your body understands it. This is where you feel clumsy, and that’s completely normal.
Bag or pad work (15-20 min). You apply the above against something that doesn’t complain. It’s the most satisfying part and where you realise that punching well is technique, not strength.
Conditioning and stretching (10 min). Core, some strength work, and stretching out.
Is anyone going to hit me?
No. There’s no sparring in a beginner class, and in regular classes contact is an option, not an obligation. There are people who have boxed for years without taking a single punch: they train technique, bag work and conditioning, and it suits them perfectly.
If at some point you want to try sparring, it’s done controlled and with gear. But that’s your decision, and nobody will push it on you on day one or day one hundred.
Boxing or fit-boxing: which is your first class
They’re two different things and it’s worth not confusing them. Boxing works real technique: guard, footwork, defence, combinations. Fit-boxing takes the boxing movement and uses it as a conditioning tool, with more cardiovascular work and less technical detail.
If you want to learn to box, boxing. If what you want is to sweat and switch off, fit-boxing.
Where
At KOR, boxing and fit-boxing are only at the Les Corts club, at Carrer de Maria Barrientos 16. The other three clubs — Arc de Triomf, Badalona and Mollet — run CrossFit, Hyrox and hybrid training, but no boxing. We say so plainly so nobody makes the trip for nothing.
Timetable and class detail are on the Les Corts boxing page.
One last thing
Go in expecting to be bad on day one. Everyone is. Boxing is one of the few disciplines where you can feel the improvement week to week, and that hooks people more than anything else.
The first class is free: pick Les Corts, tell us which day works and we’ll confirm the time.