Boxing

As compensation for moving with me to Seattle, I promised Ken that I would try muay thai.  As many of you know, Ken began practicing (or "playing," as I usually say) muay thai, a martial art with 8 points of contact.  It's like boxing with the additional use of elbows, knees and feet.  Or kickboxing with elbows and knees.

Now, I don't want to get hit in the face, but a promise is a promise.  Ken found a new gym that teaches muay thai, boxing and yoga that conveniently offered a one-day groupon for 10 classes for $50.  I told him I would try boxing first, because that has 6 fewer points of contact.

Last night, I went to my first boxing class.  Boxing 101.  I started with jump roping, which I am terrible at.  I can only really skip rope, and when I try jumping with both feet, I need to do a double jump (two jumps for every spin of the rope.  I don't spin fast enough.).  I kept hitting my feet or ponytail and stopping.  I felt like a complete idiot.  Who can't jump rope?

After this, the instructor went through 6 punches, then moved on to foot work.  Finally, he showed me how to duck and avoid punches.  So here I was, learning how not to get hit.  It was fortunate that my hands and gloves were covering most of my face as I did this, because I started laughing.  I already know how to avoid getting hit: stick to running.