Fitness boxing (6)

Fitness boxing is a workout borrowed from boxing, without sparring or taking hits. You work in gloves on a bag or with a coach on pads, combining punches, footwork and cardio drills. The coach teaches punching technique so that power comes from the legs and rotation, not only from the shoulder.

Fitness boxing suits both women and men who want an intense workout and stress relief but have no interest in a combat sport. You first learn the basic punches and guard, then put them together into combinations. Wrists and shoulders need time to adapt, so punching power is added gradually.

Before you start, ask whether the fitness boxing session is a group class or personal training, whether gloves and hand wraps are available on site and how much of the class is bag work. Also find out whether the coach holds pads for you, as that gives the most direct feedback on technique.