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Community Corner

Boring Workout? Try Adding Some Punch

Local fitness lovers describe how to add a little punch to your workout.

St. Louis has long loved boxing, hosting large professional fights, and events such as the upcoming 25th annual Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses.  All the hype got me excited to see how Ballwin and Ellisville residents could add a little punch to their workouts, boxing-style.

I contacted David Ingamells, owner of and a trainer at The Boxing Gym. The West County location is here in Ballwin, and offers both classes and personal training. Both 30 and 60 minute classes are offered, and the 30 minute lunch class, Cardio Boxing Blitz, fit well for my schedule.

I’ve never been in a physical fight, so I was a little hesitant to make a fool of myself with my poor form and wild hands. When I arrived for the class, I found the space intimate but also wide enough that I wasn’t running into the person next to me. Anyone who has attended a popular gym class knows that an overcrowded room can ruin a workout. Ingamells greeted me and the other attendees warmly.

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The other class participants definitely were regulars and knew what they were doing, but it was not an intimidating atmosphere.  There were a lot of smiles, and different levels of fitness.  

I love lifting weights but boring cardio can definitely derail my enthusiasm for my workout. For someone with a short attention span like me, the 30 minute workout was not only challenging, but kept my attention the whole time. We switched between a variety of explosive moves, boxing moves and whole-body strength exercises.

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“We find that the majority of our members are those who really don’t care for the traditional cardio equipment such as treadmills and who like the group fitness approach to their cardio,” Ingamells said.

Boxers are often known for their intensity, and I can see why. When you are freely told to channel your energy into something with such a satisfying release, I can imagine looking forward to it.

“When boxing, the focus is just you and the bag,” Desiree Tanori, 21, of Ballwin said. I admired Tanori’s form and quickness.  “The impact of each punch allows you to release a tremendous amount of energy. It’s an amazing sport.”

The Boxing Gym is a smaller gym, and Ingamells highlights that this works well for their clients. The trainers work hard to make creative new programs, and the family-like atmosphere keeps people coming back.

“Everyone gets to know each other and finds motivation from other members in their classes,” he said.

If you are looking to learn techniques for boxing, taekwondo, and kung fu, there are also after school and evening programs available.

If you’re an elliptical bunny or only want to hit the heavy weights, The Boxing Gym may not be for you. I found the workout effective (sore shoulders and legs today!), quick and full of attention-grabbing variety. 

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