You Can Do This... Boxing

Veteran boxer Noni Tenge walks you through all the reasons boxing will give you a knock-out figure – and so much more

- Michelle October

Shay Mitchell. Gigi Hadid. Adriana Lima. Karlie Kloss. We could keep going, but you get the idea: models are big into boxing. And almost all of them cite not only the body benefits, but the incomparable high from feeling totally kick-ass afterwards. Don’t believe us? Take it from five time world title holder Noni Tenge

BOXING FOR DUMMIES

At your first-ever boxing sesh, your trainer will give you a breakdown of moves. But you’ll look way cooler if you read this first

JAB

The first punch you’ll deliver when sparring. It’s a straight punch from your leading arm – typically the left. Not fighting anyone? Aim to move your punching bag (it’s easier said than done).

CROSS

A more powerful punch given by your other arm. It’s called a cross because your arm crosses your body and requires you to pivot your torso.

HOOK

A semi-circular punch meant to hit someone around their head. You’ll know it’s worked if your opponent is knocked out.

UPPER CUT

A punch upwards, aiming for your opponent’s chin, meant to throw them off-balance.

YOU’LL HAVE TOP GUNS

Boxing uses your arms (okay, duh), but the extent to which those extremities are honed into finely tuned weapons is where the magic lies. Each kind of punch (see Boxing For Dummies) not only weakens your opponent in a different way, but also strengthens different muscles in your arms. “You need to be fast on your feet, but strong in your upper body,” says Noni. Flabby chicken wings? Be gone. Saggy biceps? Vanished. Soft shoulders? A distant memory!

YOU’LL BE SHARP