FIGHTING FIT

THE NAME SAYS IT ALL REALLY. A ONE-ON-ONE BOXING GYM WHERE YOU CAN GET FIT AND LEARN TO BOX AT THE SAME TIME. I SHOULD KNOW, AS I HAVE BEEN A STUDENT FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS!.

Story: Andy Martin Photography: Carlos Rojas L.

TO MANY FOLK, when they hear of someone who is a ‘boxer’, their immediate thought is: ‘must be a bit of a rough diamond, and a scrapper’. This perception may have been true going back some years, but today there is a whole new breed turning to boxing to get in shape, or stay in shape. Business people, labourers, housewives - you name it, they are boxing.

One of the best local coaches is Fighting Fit gym owner Jeff Stutt. A good friend of mine, Greg Francis, joined forces with Jeff to provide a private, simple gym, where people could come to get a good work-out. Greg suggested I give it a go, then write about it! I did - here’s the report.

Boxing is one of those sports that doesn’t look too difficult, and when you see a fighter hugging his opponent after a few rounds you think he or she should harden up. That initial impression is so wrong.

The first thing you learn is that the strength of a punch comes from your body and legs. This means the positioning of the feet is crucial, as is twisting your body as you throw a punch. The right technique is quite difficult to master, especially when you have just turned 40 and are not quite as nimble as you were playing rugby in your teens!

I have been getting one-on-one training from Jeff now for four months. I can honestly say it is one of the best forms of fitness I have ever done. It is up there with off-road mountain biking as far as enjoyable and rewarding exercises go. It’s damn hard work, but afterwards there’s that satisfying feeling of invigoration. I must admit I was pretty nervous at the start but once you get going, it is a real adrenaline rush and I’ll certainly be hanging in there. The thing about one-on-one attention is that Jeff teaches you how to box properly and improved fitness comes with that.

THE REAL THING

Jeff teaches about 30 clients, including ten women. Many of his clients are mature business people and include some local identities and dignatories. He also trains four professional fighters. He said that some people really get the bug, even at a later stage in their lives, and they actually want to have a proper boxing match. This can be arranged, as there is a strong corporate boxing circuit in Auckland which stages regular bouts and pits like-level people against each other.

“We had one client who had his first bout at 50 years of age! Another is Mark Grover who has been training for two years and has had four corporate bouts. He said for him, a corporate bout was the next progression from just training for fitness”, said Jeff.

Another currently in preparation for a match is Lisa Lewis who has been training for only a month and is fighting an exhibition bout at the end of October at a Youthline charity event. I asked her why boxing? She said she was approached for a radio station promotion to select the ‘Ringcard Girl’ for the Tua vs Cameron fight in Hamilton soon but missed out. However this led to an invite for a boxing match for the Youthline Charity Event - and she thought it would be fun!

SENSE OF PURPOSE

As well as personal training, Jeff also runs a boxing school three nights a week where 20 mainly teenage boys are trained.

“I really enjoy this”, he said. “Some of these boys may not be going too well at school, or are proving a handful for their parents at home. Boxing can give them a real sense of purpose. They learn discipline, how to handle themselves, and gain a much greater level of confidence. As a result, other areas of their lives improve - their attitude picks up and this can see a massive turn-round in their school work and home life. It is great for me to be able to make a difference to the lives of these young people - it’s very satisfying. I get a lot of calls from parents telling me how boxing has changed the lives of these teenagers”.

Jeff himself was a relatively late starter. He was introduced to boxing as a young farmer and was schooled by locally renowned trainer Bill Miles who handled many New Zealand junior champions.

“For me boxing was really life-changing. I was addicted to it immediately and this led to a new direction in my career when I handed in the gumboots for sneakers and gained a Diploma in Sport Science from Wintec”, he said.
“I have had 17 amateur and 12 pro fights in my career, but found I really enjoyed training others. This led to getting his Level 2 Boxing Coachs Licence. The buzz for me these days is seeing people of all ages using boxing as a way to get or stay fit, shed weight, and gain self confidence. It is great to be able to combine my hobby and passion as a business”.

Jeff Stutt certainly has a great way about him as a teacher. He is quietly spoken, has immense patience, and challenges you every step of the way.

In closing, if you are serious about getting or staying fit, I can thoroughly recommend boxing. It is the perfect way to stay fit and forget about all the worries of the world - at least during that one hour when nothing else matters but finding your next breath!

FIGHTING FIT
90B Commerce Street,Hamilton.
p. 021 737 597