Core Recipe

I’m not quite sure if I’m really out of shape, or that Bo-Hi-Do is the hardest boxing class I have ever taken. A combination of boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and various strength, core and cardio training — this class kicked my bootie (into shape). I didn’t realize that the class was a full-on boxing class with gloves, but I had to put on the smelly, used and abused, gym gloves (gross).

Taught at Equinox by Angel Alicea, and with only 4 other people in the class, there was no place for me to hide…and Angel was not cutting us any slack.

The first five minutes went something like this:
1 min. – jumping jacks
1 min. – squats
1 min. – crunches
1 min. – bicycle sit-ups
1 min. – push-ups
1 min. – cobra push-ups

 

Cobra Push-Up

 

The next part of the class was a punching and kicking routine — jab, cross, elbow, knee kick (left, right, left), back swing punch, other side, switch stance, elbow, knee, switch stance and finally, two punches. This routine was then taken to the punching bag and by the end, I could not breathe, and taking a sip of water was a little difficult with huge boxing gloves on.

In between this routine, we did a little more strength training:
1 min. – push-ups
1 min. – mountain climbers (knees to elbows in push-up position)
1 min. – jumping squats
1 min. – squat thrusts

 

Mountain Climber

 

Then we went back to the bag:
25 sec. – punching
25 sec. – knee kick
25 sec. – punching
25 sec. – knee kick
25 sec. – punching
25 sec. – knee kick

During the above series, I almost died — I could barely lift my arms for the knee kick part. And it didn’t end — Angel had us hold squat position for over a minute and then back to the bag for punching as fast as we could. The class was supposed to be 45 minutes, but it was more like 55 minutes. He finished off with calming yoga stretches and then I ran to the shower to wash the stench off my hands.

I am so sore, but I may return for more torture at some point.