How (Title) Boxing changed our lives- Ed Wallace

Ed Wallace Written by Alfredo B.

“No matter the age or anything I tell them to go for it!”

My name is Ed Wallace, I’m 70 years old and I’m a private consultant for the US Navy. I started boxing when the Title of Fairfax opened in August of 2012.

2

Although I did box for a couple of months about 50 years ago that doesn’t count because it was so long ago and I don’t remember anything.

My first time at Title almost killed me! It was the hardest workout I had ever had! The warm-ups now are a lot easier than they used to be when they first opened up. They used to be brutal, we first would run around all the bags carrying the 15 or 12 pound medicine ball over our heads. Then we would do lunges, duck walking, bear crawling around the heavy bags, oh it was hard! That was just the warm-up, then we would box and I would be soaking wet before we got to the boxing part. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. In my first classes I woud give out in about 57 minutes and it pure torture to finish the 60 minute class. One good thing about Title is that you can work at your own pace, but of course the instructors always try to push you.

Holding a plank for 20 mintues.

When I started boxing in Title at 63 years old I didn’t know what to expect and I noticed I was about 40 years older than everybody else in the class. It motivated me to be able to hang with the young guys and gals. I try to do a little bit more each class. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I really

liked the workout. Boxing gives me a great cardio workout and I really like it because I don’t like running. The ab workout is my favorite because I believe a strong core means a healthy body. I think everybody needs a strong core. The title workout just works everything I want to work without running.

3

When I first started I only went on weekends for maybe a month. Then I started doing 3 times a week, then I went to 4 times a week, and I ended up doing 9 workouts a week up until March 16th! I was trying to get 2,000 workouts by my birthday on May 12th and this virus thing killed it. I made it to 1,950 before Title was forced to close. But I’ll reach my 2,000 workout goal when I get back!

The reason I started boxing was because of the woman I was hanging out with at the time wanted to box and she talked me into going. Before boxing I wasn’t into the health thing that much.

I was eating all the wrong foods, didn’t exercise, and drank too much beer. Boxing is addicting, there’s no doubt about it. My mindset now is that I love boxing just as much as when I first started out over seven years ago. The one thing that changed a lot is the more you 4

go the more people you know so it’s like a social thing cause I know many of the people who goes there now. Troy is my favorite trainer and he’s been there for seven years and he and I have been buddies for seven years now. The thing that keeps me coming back is to stay healthy. I see so many people my

age who can hardly walk and take all kinds of medications and stuff. I don’t wanna go that route. This is one more motivation factor in my life because I really don’t want to be like them!

I talk to everybody about boxing! I tell them how I box and how many times a week I do it and I try to get them to go. The reaction when I talk to people about boxing and try to get them to try it out is the same old excuses.

I don’t have time, I’m too tired after work, I got kids, I have homework,” you know stuff like that. I am not saying that other people need to do 9 workouts a week, all I am saying is that

I think everybody can squeeze in 3 workouts a week. If not every week then every other week. Boxing has become a daily part of my life.

7 days a week, twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday. My favorite combination would have to be the 1,2,5,6 combination. (jab, cross to the head and left upper-cut and right upper-cut to the body) Two to the head and two to the gut. Every time I go boxing I push myself as hard as I can and over time I keep getting stronger with more stamina and my boxing form has greatly improved. These classes are not easy, I never found an easy class yet and I’ve done nearly 2000 of them!

The hardest part for me is the first 15 minutes 5

Ed and Bobby doing the Planksgiving event and challeging each other to a plank off that ended in a 27 minute plank of cardio warm-up. I always feel accomplished every time I finish a class because I’m giving it my best and that’s all I can do. I feel good after it’s over with! I did have some days when I first started when I didn’t think I would be able to 6

finish the class, but I haven’t had those days in a long time. It’s been years since I’ve felt that. In class I always tell everyone they’re doing great and I try to show people how to keep the bag from swinging around all over the place. I haven’t

been in the ring with anyone since I was 19,and that doesn’t count since it was so long ago. I would probably get in the ring to spar with somebody but I am in no rush to do that.

I think the Title workout is what gives me energy and keeps me from feeling sluggish or anything like that. I think about how far I’ve come from my first class and it’s kind of amazing really.

I see people come in there for the first few times and I see that they’re really struggling and yea I remember those days! If I didn’t have boxing I’d probably go back to yoga because there wasn’t any running involved in that! I would recommend boxing to anyone, I do it all the time. No matter the age or anything I tell them to go for it! I sometimes tell them about this one guy in Springfield in a wheelchair doing it so you don’t have any excuses! Boxing has made

me stronger physically and mentally and it’s gotten rid of a lot of daily stress related to work. When I am not stressed I can think a lot clearer!

Boxing 7 days a week keeps me out of trouble and gives me something to keep my mind and body in tune with each other. Now, it sucks not being able to box because of this virus. I have a yoga mat, some dumbbells and an ab roller but it’s not like going to Title!

7