Pack some punches
Over a year ago, Wang Xiao'ou, 31, a clinical researcher at a pharmacy company, was new to training in mixed martial arts (MMA), a style that uses both striking and grabbing techniques.
With interest purely sparked by martial arts movies, his passion in combat has grown into a mania. Focusing on boxing in particular, he has been training three times a week at the Glee Gym in Chaowai Soho, Chaoyang district, for about four months, and has made up his mind to do an intensive program with Thai boxing trainers in Thailand next year.
Even though boxing is considered "barbarian" by his friends, he enjoys the intensive work out and the mental and physical challenges he has to overcome.
"It is also very spiritual as you have to have the mentality of perseverance either during a fight or in your training," noted Wang.
A big hit
Despite the fact that boxing has not actually taken off in China and the locals are still adapting martial arts as a new way to exercise, there is a growing number of sports enthusiasts who are taking up the sport.
There are about 20 combat clubs in Beijing, teaching professionals and amateurs MMA, Thai boxing and other combat genres.
"The trend begun to take off following the 2008 Beijing Olympics in which the Chinese athlete Zou Shiming won a gold medal," said 28-year-old Li Gen, founder and head coach of Gen's Boxing Club in Wangjing, Chaoyang district.
His club, headed by a former veteran athlete from China's National Boxing Team, has coached about 800 professional and amateur boxers and boxing fans since it opened in 2009. It currently has 180 members aged from 13 to 60.
Club Hero, which reopened in Chaowai Soho earlier this year following the closure of the previous one near Beijing Workers' Stadium, has had about 500 members in the past two years, with 30 percent being expats. The members vary in professions, from English teachers and students to doctors and IT professionals, with the majority of members being men.
"We train amateur boxers for fighting, but more people are interested in it because it is a good way to release pressure, for self-defense or as an effective way to get fit," said Zhao Wenkui, Sales Manager at Hero and a former combat trainer.
Hilary, an English teacher from the US, who declined to give her full name, has been training with the club for over a year. Introduced to boxing by her friends as a means to get fit, she enjoys the high-intensity the one-hour training brings. "It's not about violence at all. It's the power and strength the training gives you. I always feel powerful after each session."
The sport, despite its violent nature, also demands strength, speed, agility and stamina. One hour of training can burn about 700 calories and the body can be much lighter after, said Li. "For those who know next to nothing about the sport I would just tell them that boxing, when it is not for competing, only does good rather than harm to the body."
Boxing was listed as the most difficult sport by ESPN in 2004. "It is not a sport that everyone is capable of doing as it is based more on intelligence and moving legs instead of fists. It is 90 percent based on mental capacity and 10 percent on physical capacity," Li added.
Oliver Gordon from Scotland has only trained for three weeks at the Glee Gym, yet he has begun to take extra classes during the weekends and is determined to keep up his new hobby.
"I only exercised for 30 minutes but was already drenched in sweat. I haven't exercised for almost five years and this is really a good way for me to get fit soon," said Gordon. The training is a lot of fun as the coach plays games with them rather than routine practice, he noted. In order to get to know the range of the boxing ring, the attendees are asked to take turns to have their eyes covered, trying to catch other members running in the ring.
Getting started
With annual membership costing 4,800 yuan ($758), Hero has been appealing to office workers nearby and takes in newcomers almost every day thanks to one free trial.
Before new members join the training, they are advised to get equipped with the essential gear of wrist straps and gloves to protect their hands, sports shoes and shorts that allow them to move freely, suggested the club's boxing coach Ryan Damagen Willis from the Philippines.
Physically, they should also be prepared, said the 25-year-old veteran fighter. It is best if they can exercise before they come as the training, which involves push-ups, sit-ups and weightlifting, can be very demanding and may wear them out, he explained.
Almost the same as professional training, the one-hour class at different clubs usually starts with 15 minutes of warming up, then five minutes of stretches. Following that is 45 minutes of routine training of the basic skills of stance, footwork, punch, and gradually more complicated combinations.
"It is similar to the training of professionals," said Jason Hu, head coach at Glee. "With boxing we focus more on the coordination and flexibility of the body. A beginner will be able to throw punches in a professional way after two to three months of training," he added.
Like a lot of sports, there are potential risks involved in practicing boxing and injuries are unavoidable, warned Willis. "You might suffer injuries in your wrist, back or sprain your ankle during training. That is very normal for boxing."
However, in general all the instructors promised that the rewards far outweigh the risks.
Over at Gen's, while members vary widely in age, the training courses are designed to take the individual's body conditions into consideration.
"I usually teach young children to be more responsive and flexible. Therefore there is training involving shoulder patting, foot lifting and rope jumping," explained Li.
But for the elderly who just want to exercise to improve their blood circulation, the training can also be mild.
"It depends on your body condition and you are not required to follow the one-hour course if it is beyond your physical capacities," said Zhao at Hero.
Clearly sold on the sport, Sara Li, 24, who has a desk job at a trade company, enjoys her visits to Hero in her spare time.
"I used to do a lot of exercise, like swimming and yoga, but they are boring after a while. It is different with the boxing class. We train and practice in groups, which makes it very interactive and helps you continue with the sport," she said.
"The dynamic nature of the sport also makes me feel uplifted after the workout. It is a good way to release pressure and help improve work efficiency after a long day's work," added the girl.