I hate exercise I love punching
April 9, 2013 8:04 PM Subscribe
Please help me find a way to combine my love for punching things with my need for exercise, for cheap, in NYC.
As I creep into my late twenties, my metabolism isn't what it used to be, and I would like to expand my exercise habits, which currently consist of walking places, occasionally picking up toddlers, and a dance party or mosh pit here or there. But, I find exercise so terribly boring.
However, a recent bout of play fighting with my partner has reminded me that I really like punching. I know next to nothing about martial arts, so please bear with me. Boxing seems prohibitively expensive, and I'd rather not show up at my next nannying job with a black eye. Kickboxing, I hear, involves punching air, which seems...unsatisfying. Am I correct in my assumptions? What am I not thinking of?
Can anyone recommend some cheap (preferably under ten bucks a class, though maybe that's insane) exercise classes in NYC where I can punch away to my heart's content, and maybe get a bit more fit?
As I creep into my late twenties, my metabolism isn't what it used to be, and I would like to expand my exercise habits, which currently consist of walking places, occasionally picking up toddlers, and a dance party or mosh pit here or there. But, I find exercise so terribly boring.
However, a recent bout of play fighting with my partner has reminded me that I really like punching. I know next to nothing about martial arts, so please bear with me. Boxing seems prohibitively expensive, and I'd rather not show up at my next nannying job with a black eye. Kickboxing, I hear, involves punching air, which seems...unsatisfying. Am I correct in my assumptions? What am I not thinking of?
Can anyone recommend some cheap (preferably under ten bucks a class, though maybe that's insane) exercise classes in NYC where I can punch away to my heart's content, and maybe get a bit more fit?
Is hanging a heavy bag in your home/apartment an option? Pound away at your leisure.
posted by xedrik at 8:47 PM on April 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by xedrik at 8:47 PM on April 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Huh. I took a kickboxing class and we absolutely kicked and punched bags or targets, not air. When we were just learning a move or doing cardio-type drills, yes, but not all the time.
posted by MadamM at 9:12 PM on April 9, 2013
posted by MadamM at 9:12 PM on April 9, 2013
Even if you go the home heavy bag route you should find a legit gym for classes. If you have no formal experience in fighting it's pretty easy to mess up your wrist, hand, and limbs if you go punching and kicking at it without instruction.
posted by Anonymous at 9:23 PM on April 9, 2013
posted by Anonymous at 9:23 PM on April 9, 2013
When I was in the best shape of my life, I had a heavy bag hanging in my basement and would follow Bas Rutten's boxing routines 3 or so times a week for 30 minutes: http://www.basrutten.com/dvd/bas-rutten-mma-workout-cds-and-dvd.html
But as schroedinger said, you really need at least a few months of training to do it in a way that is safe and effective.
posted by PCup at 2:10 AM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
But as schroedinger said, you really need at least a few months of training to do it in a way that is safe and effective.
posted by PCup at 2:10 AM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
can I suggest getting a pair of thai pads, and you and your boyfriends can take turns punching and kicking.
much more fun than a heavy bag.
posted by compound eye at 3:06 AM on April 10, 2013
much more fun than a heavy bag.
posted by compound eye at 3:06 AM on April 10, 2013
A good kickboxing class will have a lot of bag work and pad work. Look for a gym that specializes in kickboxing or martial arts. If the class is called "cardio kickboxing" or if it's taught at a gym that offers a variety of flavor-of-the-month trendy workout classes, you're likely going to be punching air. (There are exceptions; my YMCA has a totally legit boxing program.)
Sparring is totally optional in boxing/kickboxing, and won't really be an option until you have some experience under your belt, so don't worry about black eyes. I took boxing and kickboxing classes for a couple years and never had to fight.
The cheap and easy solution, though it requires a bit of initial investment, is to hang a smaller bag from a Door Gym-style pull-up bar. This is what we've got at home, and it works really well.
But, as schroedinger says, even if you're just going to hit the bag at home, you need to invest in a few classes anyway to be sure you're doing it right. In addition to avoiding injury, it just feels better to know what you're doing.
(Also, buy hand wraps and wrap your hands every time you put on boxing gloves. If you hit the bag without them, you will tear up your knuckles.)
posted by Metroid Baby at 3:48 AM on April 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sparring is totally optional in boxing/kickboxing, and won't really be an option until you have some experience under your belt, so don't worry about black eyes. I took boxing and kickboxing classes for a couple years and never had to fight.
The cheap and easy solution, though it requires a bit of initial investment, is to hang a smaller bag from a Door Gym-style pull-up bar. This is what we've got at home, and it works really well.
But, as schroedinger says, even if you're just going to hit the bag at home, you need to invest in a few classes anyway to be sure you're doing it right. In addition to avoiding injury, it just feels better to know what you're doing.
(Also, buy hand wraps and wrap your hands every time you put on boxing gloves. If you hit the bag without them, you will tear up your knuckles.)
posted by Metroid Baby at 3:48 AM on April 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
maybe some of the more contact-y martial arts? Mixed martial arts does a lot of punches, kicks, and grappling, from what I can tell. Krav Maga is... pretty crazy 'take them down and make sure they wont get up again'. Also possible is Muay Thai, or even Capoeira, which I can say with a totally straight face (and mean it!) is dance fighting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_Maga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira
I'm not capable of giving advice on finding good studios/places to learn these, though, but I do know there can be some.. less than professional ones.
posted by Jacen at 5:57 AM on April 10, 2013
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_Maga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira
I'm not capable of giving advice on finding good studios/places to learn these, though, but I do know there can be some.. less than professional ones.
posted by Jacen at 5:57 AM on April 10, 2013
I take kickboxing in NYC and we only punch air during the warm-up. Over half the class is spent punching and kicking heavy bags or kick shields. Let me know if you want the name of my gym.
posted by millipede at 6:39 AM on April 10, 2013
posted by millipede at 6:39 AM on April 10, 2013
Are you interested in becoming technically proficient at boxing, or do you just want to punchpunchpunch? If it's the latter, you could try Wii boxing. I found I did get incrementally better at it, so it doesn't exactly feel like you're just flailing about.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:31 AM on April 10, 2013
posted by Room 641-A at 7:31 AM on April 10, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks so much for the responses so far!
Unfortunately, I do not have space in my apartment for a heavy bag, not even a small one. I would like to become more proficient at boxing, as I currently have no technique, so I definitely want a class.
Seems I was wrong about Kickboxing, and it sounds like the right fit. Any recommendations for inexpensive classes/gyms? Millipede, I would love to know what gym you go to.
I know Shape Up NYC has a few free scattered Kickboxing classes, but they are way out of my way, and infrequent. Anywhere below 72nd in Manhattan, in Greenpoint or Williamsburg in Brooklyn, or near Sunnyside or LIC in Queens would be best!
posted by dysh at 9:06 AM on April 10, 2013
Unfortunately, I do not have space in my apartment for a heavy bag, not even a small one. I would like to become more proficient at boxing, as I currently have no technique, so I definitely want a class.
Seems I was wrong about Kickboxing, and it sounds like the right fit. Any recommendations for inexpensive classes/gyms? Millipede, I would love to know what gym you go to.
I know Shape Up NYC has a few free scattered Kickboxing classes, but they are way out of my way, and infrequent. Anywhere below 72nd in Manhattan, in Greenpoint or Williamsburg in Brooklyn, or near Sunnyside or LIC in Queens would be best!
posted by dysh at 9:06 AM on April 10, 2013
Yeah not only can you combine punching and exercise, you'll find punching and kicking is the BEST exercise. If you think punching something feels good wait 'til you can throw a halfway decent muay thai round rick---THUD.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is also a really hard workout, from what I hear. Constant resistance and core stuff.
posted by TheRedArmy at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is also a really hard workout, from what I hear. Constant resistance and core stuff.
posted by TheRedArmy at 12:02 PM on April 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't have recommendations about kickboxing gyms, but I found there are 3 general types of kickboxing classes, from my experience.
Cardio kickboxing is where you punch air and do some aerobics moves. It's mostly women, if that matters, and no, it's not as satisfying as punching a heavy punching bag.
Muay Thai kickboxing can be one of two things: kickboxing where people are seriously training to spar/fight/whatever. That was very intimidating for me, being the only girl to attend a class, and where I could tell I was holding my assigned partner back because he wanted to punch instead of lightly tap me. Never went back. It was a cheap groupon, so that's OK. Or there are some schools/classes where a mix of people go - those wanting to get in shape, and those wanting to advance onto the next belt color. These classes were perfect for me, it was a mix of guys and girls, we punched and kicked the crap out of those bags, did lots of push ups and sit ups and cardio drills, got an awesome work out. Also a cheap groupon, and it turned out great.
So anyway, if you find a cheap class, call them up and ask them what kind of classes they are, or ask if you can come in and watch one day, so you know what you're getting yourself into.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 1:49 PM on April 10, 2013
Cardio kickboxing is where you punch air and do some aerobics moves. It's mostly women, if that matters, and no, it's not as satisfying as punching a heavy punching bag.
Muay Thai kickboxing can be one of two things: kickboxing where people are seriously training to spar/fight/whatever. That was very intimidating for me, being the only girl to attend a class, and where I could tell I was holding my assigned partner back because he wanted to punch instead of lightly tap me. Never went back. It was a cheap groupon, so that's OK. Or there are some schools/classes where a mix of people go - those wanting to get in shape, and those wanting to advance onto the next belt color. These classes were perfect for me, it was a mix of guys and girls, we punched and kicked the crap out of those bags, did lots of push ups and sit ups and cardio drills, got an awesome work out. Also a cheap groupon, and it turned out great.
So anyway, if you find a cheap class, call them up and ask them what kind of classes they are, or ask if you can come in and watch one day, so you know what you're getting yourself into.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 1:49 PM on April 10, 2013
I go to NY San Da. They are cheaper than a lot of what you'll find and decidedly more no-frills, but I really like it. They usually have specials on ilovekickboxing.com that let you try them out for a few classes.
posted by millipede at 8:43 AM on April 16, 2013
posted by millipede at 8:43 AM on April 16, 2013
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posted by Conrad-Casserole at 8:20 PM on April 9, 2013 [1 favorite]