How (Title) Boxing changed our lives

My Boxing Story Written by Alfredo B.

“Boxing changed my life for the better” My name is Alfredo Basurto, I’m 27 years old and I currently am attending George Mason University as a senior. I work part time as a Front desk agent at the Hampton Inn in Fairfax. Oh I’ve been boxing a little over two years now and I definitely don’t regret that decision.

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My first time boxing was definitely a little nerve wracking because I didn’t know what I was walking into. I just didn’t know if I would like it. When I walked through those doors at title I was greeted by one of the front desk workers by the name of Maggie. And yes I do remember almost everything that day when I walked through those doors. She was and still is very friendly and she got me setup for my first boxing class. She wrapped my hands and told me to “go to any bag you want!”

When I walked over to the bag got ready and did some stretching and Ricky, the trainer, started the class. By the way, Ricky is a fantastic trainer so check him out!

Now, for the class, it was by far the hardest physical activity I’ve ever done. I did play sports awhile back like soccer, but for the first class I was definitely out-shape. Not only was this the most physically

demanding activity I’ve done, but also it was very mentally taxing.

The warm-up caught me by surprise. I remember the feeling of wanting to give up because the warm-up was so intense. But I pushed myself to finish the warmup and then the trainer said put on the gloves. Now at this point I’m already exhausted and I was thinking to myself “there is no way I’m finishing this class.” That day I pushed my body to the absolute limit and I definitely surprised myself that I made it out of my first boxing class.

I’ve never had the feeling of my hands feeling so heavy during class, but I also felt very accomplished after I finished the class. That’s when I got addicted to boxing.

The fact that I didn’t know my body could be pushed that hard was amazing to me. Comparing this to other sports like soccer, boxing feels a lot harder than soccer. I

This picture is what I felt inside most of the times everyday. definitely learned something about myself that day. The feeling of knowing that if I can get through this, then I feel like I can push myself in life. The main reason why I started boxing was because I was a very angry person at the time. It was very unhealthy for me to be 3

This was the fight I was watching that made me want start boxing.

Trevor Berbick on the left and Mike Tyson on the right. constantly angry everyday. Some of the reasons why I was so angry was because of life, family related problems, sometimes work, school, and life just not going my way. All of that constantly building over time and just keeping it to myself and putting the anger deep inside myself. It did get to the point where I was scared that I might lash out at someone who didn’t deserve it.

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So I needed to find something to get rid of this pent up anger somehow. So one day while at work I was watching some boxing videos and the video I was watching was a compilation of knockouts and I was watching a Mike Tyson clip. I saw the way he fought and to me it just looked like he fought in anger. Then a light bulb turned on, “boxing!” This would be the

Title Boxing Club, Fairfax location. way I would get rid of my anger.

So I quickly searched for boxing gyms in the area and the first one that pops up, Title Boxing! I think this was one of the best decisions I ever made. I definitely overcame the anger I had inside me. Well thinking about my mindset before it was not in a good place at all, like I said it was too much anger inside.

It was very unhealthy mentally.

But now that I box my mindset has changed for the better. During the first month of boxing it was to just get rid of anger. That felt like the main goal at the time but over time it was so much more than just getting rid of anger. The feeling of accomplishment and the feeling of me changing as a person is the best thing that happened to me.

My routine changed when I started 5

boxing and at the time I could only go Mondays and Wednesdays in the morning because of classes. Those two days I would look forward to all thetime. Before boxing I would either sleep-in or not do anything.

I felt this motivation to go boxing those days I was free. My motivation went through the roof after boxing, 6

I wanted to get better at boxing, I wanted to lose weight, and look fit.

I was also thinking in a different way because of boxing. During classes sometimes the urge to give up always creeps up behind you but you fight back and overcome those urges. I applied that same mentality to my everyday life. The urge to

fightback and never give up, ever. My confidence has gone up but in a secret way. I feel like I can properly defend myself if I have to. Now that is not a reason why I started boxing, I don’t want to fight anyone. But if I’m put in a situation where it’s my last option then I’ll know how to defend myself.

I always talk about boxing to almost anyone I meet. I’m always trying to convince someone to come with me. The reason why I try to convince someone to go boxing with me is because I want them to feel what I felt when I was boxing for the first time. The feeling of your body and mind telling you that you pushed yourself far enough, but realize you can push yourself so much more farther. The feeling of not giving up and making it out of an intense boxing class is the feeling I want everyone to experience. Of course there are some days where I get

the feeling of not wanting to go to a class, but I end up dragging myself to Title Boxing and my mood completely changes and I feel good about going.

I do surprise myself sometimes in classes I didn’t think I would make it out of.

Each trainer has a different style when it comes to their classes. Some are more boxing focus and some are about intensity. The trainers that are focused on intensity in their classes is where I often surprise myself because I feel like the hardest part is the warm-up. After finishing that warmup I’m usually pretty exhausted and the way I like to describe this is “having a second gas tank for the rest of the class.” I feel like everyone

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Ugly sweater workout with Trainer Troy. has a second gas tank they just don’t know they have one until they push themselves. Now there are times during classes where I get a little bit competitive with the person next to me. If I hear someone hitting the bag harder than me, then I try to match them or pick up the intensity. Of course they probably are just focused on themselves and their workout and 8

I’m just trying to push myself during the classes. I just get these urges because of someone I hear hitting the bag hard then in my head I tell myself to hit harder. When you go as often as I do you notice the first timers and you see the way they throw punches, their form, and the way they struggle through the class.

Seeing them reminds me of myself

because I was in their position. When I see someone struggle to get by a round in the class and I see there face and looks like they may quit. I have definitely had the urge to tell them to not give up and to push themselves.

I think I told at least two people to not give up during class. Like I said before I want everyone to experience what I felt when I finished my first class. After two years of boxing I have thought about getting in the ring with someone, for sparring, not so much for competition. I do want to have that experience of getting punched and punching someone back. Looking back at my first time boxing is something I don’t do often but I do think about it every now and then.

I gotta say, I have come a long way from that first class. I developed some habits along the way like shadow boxing anywhere. I will shadow box at school, work, home, outside, or just about anywhere.

I remember a few times where I was dreaming about boxing. I don’t

think I was fighting anyone, but I remember punching and while I punched in my dream I actually punched the wall and I woke myself up with a smile and my fist on the wall. I always wonder where I would be if I didn’t have boxing in my life.

I probably would have gone crazy or maybe lashed out at someone that did deserve it. I’m just grateful that boxing came into my life. I do feel like a new person because of boxing, it definitely helped me physically and mentally. It changed the way I look at life situations in a different way.

Now because if this stupid virus I am itching to go back to boxing. I try to shadow box everyday to keep that muscle memory. This virus definitely messed up everything I wanted to do for this project, but it is what it is. I gotta work with what I have. I hope whoever is reading this gets inspired to push themselves in any physical activity and to never give in life.

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