How (Title) Boxing changed our lives- Bobby Whitacre

Bobby Whitacre Written by Alfredo B.

“Boxing has become a daily routine in my life.”

My name is Bobby Whitacre and I’m 26 years old. I am a grad student at Mason and I also work at Mason.

I started boxing at title a year ago after my birthday. My first time boxing, I liked how friendly and welcoming everyone was there. I 2

didn’t feel pressured into joining right away and I saw they had good relationships with the members. I did try another gym with a friend that was boxing, but it wasn’t the same. They just tried to sell you the gym membership. With Title it was cheaper and you could take another free class before you joined.

The environment is welcoming and community oriented. On a scale 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest I would say a 7 or an 8 for the first time boxing. The warm-up was good and it was intense for the first time and it wasn’t conditioned for it. I did have to push myself a significant amount and I was slower for the first time. I did take my time and I don’t think I accomplished everything during the earlier rounds of the class. I definitely had a lot of pauses during my first class.

Boxing is definitely harder compared to going to the gym because you can set your own

pace and you don’t have to follow anyone. I think when you punch you put 100% effort into every punch no matter how good or bad you are, so it’s always gonna be a pretty hard workout regardless of the shape you’re in. Luckley I haven’t thrown up after a class yet, but one of my friends joined and he threw up in the bathroom in one of the classes. He did come back and kept going to finish the class. The thing I learned about myself is that I’m a lot more capable physically because I never thought I would get as in-shape and you don’t realize how it impacts other activities you do. I’ve always hated running and now I just want to run every now and then. It’s so much easier and I ran 11 miles one day and I thought to myself “how the hell did I just do that!” I don’t practice running but boxing put me into such good shape, so that’s pretty cool. I used to do martial arts in high school and

it was always one of my favorite activities when I started ninth grade, so ever since then I knew this was one of the activities I always enjoyed doing.

When I went to college I gave it up because I was doing other things and I wasn’t as active as I should have been. After graduating and getting a real job I wanted to get back into it. I started boxing to get back in shape and to have an activity to be involved in. Before boxing I was not as active, not productive, I was not efficient with my time. I would sleep in a lot more and I would eat unhealthy foods.

Boxing changed the way I used my time and changed how motivated I felt. The things that keep me going back to Title is because I enjoy it so much, great workout, and seeing all the great people at Title! When I tell people that I box they think it’s pretty cool and a pretty interesting hobby. Boxing has become a daily 3

routine in my life. I try to go almost everyday except for Fridays.

After being a member for about 5 months I wanted to get more involved and started holding mitts for some of the classes. I don’t really have a favorite combination in mind but I do like throwing hooks and the feeling when I make contact with the bag. Boxing definitely had a big impact for my self-confidence and makes you more capable of the things you couldn’t do before and builds your self-esteem. It also helps in making you feel better and the way you look. I always try to do the best I can each class and a lot of the times I’ll try to do the combination as many times as I can within the 3 minute rounds. I think the classes get 4

easier but I still always try to push myself harder each class.There are some classes where I surprise myself, if it’s a burnout round near the end of the class and you just keep going until the class is finished. I have thought about getting in the ring with someone, but I have sparred with someone. Sparring is a lot harder than the classes cause you really have to pay attention and you’re running on adrenaline.

If you’re not paying attention you will get hit cause when you do get hit it gets your attention real quick.

The other person I was sparring with got me in the head and the ribs and you start breathing faster and

Mitt work with Trainer Eddie. before you know it your energy is gone after a minute.

Before boxing I was in a different job and wasn’t happy with my job back then. I think if I didn’t have boxing then I would probably still be at the same job or doing something similar and not happy. I wouldn’t have made the choice to

get out and work for mason, so it has made an improvement on the choices I made. The virus has not stopped me from boxing because I bought a boxing bag. Since it was my birthday around that time I figured I would give myself a birthday present. Around the time businesses like Title were shutting 5

Ugly sweater workout with Trainer Troy. down I ordered my boxing bag so I don’t go crazy. I put the boxing bag at my mom’s house and I’ve been going there almost everyday to punch it. Boxing has impacted my life in a positive way. It’s changed the way I eat and I picked up more healthier habits like sleeping better.

I used to drink, not a lot though, but I don’t drink anymore cause I 6

wanted to be healthier. I had a lot of positive changes from boxing.

I would recommend boxing to everybody I meet. I tell them to give it a shot or at least come out to one class to see if you like it.

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