Fitness Classes

Boxercise

What?

Boxercise is a fun way to experience the intensity of boxing training within a fun and safe environment. This means we focus solely on fitness as opposed to getting hit in the head. In fact, Boxercise is completely non contact so we cater for men and women of all fitness levels.

In a typical class, we will run through some challenging boxing drills. These may include shadow boxing, skipping, hitting pads and the much loved conditioning routines of press-ups, sit-ups and shuttle runs. Boxercise is a great way to make friends, learn some solid techniques and improve your overall physical fitness.

Why?

Boxing is for everyone – no matter your age, size or ability Boxercise caters for all. Many people forget that even the top level professional boxers had to start from somewhere, so don’t be put off by a lack of experience. If you attend 3 times a week, you will be in peak physical fitness within 12 weeks. Boxing, kickboxing and any martial arts should never be taught by someone lacking experience. With his 20 years of training and competing at an international level, Junior is the perfect trainer to hone your boxing skills.

Boxing releases your aggression – teaching you the correct technique in a safe environment, we allow you to express yourself intensely and aggressively. We don’t use contact but we encourage that you get after your workout and release some of that built up tension. Over time, this helps you become more controlled and more confident in protecting yourself outside of the gym.

Boxing forges discipline – people don’t realise that boxing is more about mental discipline than it is physical strength. Giving you strong fundamentals at JH Fitness Academy, we provide you with coping strategies that you can implement in other areas of your life. We aim to give you back control over your emotions and mind, whilst improving your physical fitness.

Boxing helps you focus – our Boxercise class is perfect for the shy and understated. I’ve worked countless hours with overweight kids that I’ve seen grow from low self-esteem to confident and proud. Learning how to protect yourself is a great way to avoid being bullied and feeling low. These principles work well with kids but amazingly with adults too.

How?

Boxercise classes are carried out by registered Boxercise coaches. Each class involves a light warm up with a series of boxing drills and a run-through of skills. Once the class starts, we work to build your anaerobic and aerobic fitness systems. This means that although we like to improve how long you can train, we also like to make you more powerful and explosive. This class is challenging and achieves big results, so only enrol if you are prepared to work.

Every time you leave one of our Boxercise classes, you will have improved your fitness but also learnt a new skill. By focussing on a different skill in each class, you will forget how hard you are working and you will end up more confident as your skill set develops.

What the studies say:

Increases mental agility – training methods used by boxers such as pad drills and sparring leads to better decision making.
Better hand-eye coordination – developed both on the left and right side of the body. Boxing offers total and even coordination development as opposed to one sided sports such as golf or tennis.
Improved stamina – boxing training not only makes your lungs stronger but it also makes you extremely powerful. It is the perfect way to develop total fitness.
Functional core strength – boxing is not just throwing punches. You use your whole core to twist and project power. This develops functional core strength and helps to improve problems such as lower back pain.
Stronger muscles – boxing improves the ‘look good’ muscles but also the muscles you use everyday to carry out tasks. You’ll find the more classes you attend, the more you’re able to do in real life.

Boxercise

Jh Fitness Academy

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is a form of kickboxing that incorporates knees and elbows as well as punches and kicks. This is an extremely physical class that will skyrocket both your fitness ability but also your skill set. With my 20 years of fighting experience, I run you through specific drills and techniques that will make you a better kickboxer. This class is a contact class, which involves pad work and sparring. All members who want to spar at the end of each class must first obtain a license from me to do so. This ensures safety and proper practice procedures.

The history of Muay Thai

The sport of Muay Thai was developed among the young thai servicemen returning from war who needed an outlet for their fitness and aggression. This started as small local bouts in Thai villages and towns, but has now become the national sport practiced over 500 years. The spark of the sport proper was initiated back in 1767 when the Burmese invaded Thailand. A local Thai fighter was brought forward to the Burmese King, who requested that he be matched against one of the king’s prize boxers. Opposing two different styles like this, the Thai boxer quickly emerged as the superior fighter and was subsequently demanded to fight 9 more opponents back to back. Upon defeating all of his opponents, the Burmese King was so impressed that he rewarded the Thai fighter for his dignity and prowess. This famous event has been deemed as the legitimisation of Muay Thai fighting, which draws a huge audience of fans and contributors from around the world today.

What to expect

Cardiovascular conditioning – Muay Thai combines both aerobic and anaerobic activity that places great stress on your muscular power and stamina. Using all parts of your body, Muay Thai training will improve you cardiovascular system making it easy for you to train harder and longer.
Leg strength – kicking and footwork plays a huge role in successful Muay Thai fighting. Kicks such as the roundhouse and front kick help strengthen the legs and improve their muscular endurance. The repetition of such varied movements also improves agility and your balance as the non-kicking leg supports whilst the other leg projects.
Core strength – this style of fighting requires quick rotation of different parts of the body. When you punch you power through your core and when you kick you pivot your hips. Striking, defending and clinching with your opponent will help the fighter develop an incredibly strong core.
Hip mobility – many of us spend hours a day sitting at a desk or watching TV. This tightens our hips and pulls on our hamstrings, making it harder to remain flexible. With Muay Thai training, overtime you will improve your hip mobility and strength. This will take pressure off of your lower back and help you to avoid injury.
Stress management – life is hectic and stressful. With safe but challenging Muay Thai training you will have an effective outlet for aggression and tension. We respect one another’s boundaries but we encourage you to be aggressive on the pads. At the same time of releasing pent up aggression you are improving your health and learning a new skill. These can be the difference between protecting yourself or getting hurt in the outside world.Why Junior?I have trained in martial arts for over 20 years having won three British kickboxing and Muay Thai titles for the WKA and WMTO, as well as one Commonwealth title in kickboxing for the ISKA. I know what it is to win and lose on an international scale which as brought with it a lifetime of experience in forging physical and mental skills. I am a Third Dan Black Belt in Muay Thai and upon retiring from fighting, I have naturally progressed to passing on my wealth of knowledge to others.

Muay Thai Gallery

Jh Fitness Academy

Transformation Challenge

What is the Transformation Challenge?

The Transformation Challenge. If you are reading this then it means you are someone who wants to take their training to the next level and find the best way to reach your overall fitness goals.

As a strength and conditioning coach for Muay Thai Fighters, I understand the requirements and intensity needed to get a fighter “FIGHTING FIT”. If your strength and conditioning are not on point then you will be found out in the ring.

The TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE uses workouts based around fight preparation to give you the benefits that combat fighters experience, without having to negate the combat side. You don’t have to be a Muay Thai fighter to gain the benefits from these workouts.

The Transformation Challenge is a THREE TIMES a week commitment with the added benefit of nutritional advice included in the programme.