Have you ever thought about boxing for a physical workout?

The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District now has a boxing studio at the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club where for the past 10 months Luis Unzueta has been leading the sessions. He says boxing provides “a good physical workout and also a confidence builder.”

In your mind’s eye, boxing is champion boxer Mohammad Ali in a ring. While Unzueta is teaching the same fundamentals that the champ used, there’s no boxing ring at the Homewood facility. The closest thing to a boxing match is hearing the bell that mimics the bell at a boxing match ding for the end of an instruction period. 

The H-F boxing studio, down the hall from the club’s main entrance, has seven boxing bags. Each participant works alone on a boxing bag, although Unzueta will spar with individual students about 30 minutes into the class.

But before boxing begins, Unzueta has the students wrap their hands to protect fingers and wrists. Then he puts his pupils through a series of exercises to help them limber up. He gives instructions on what the first moves will be. Then Unzueta starts his music, loud and funky for a good beat. He walks around the room encouraging and, when necessary, correcting a stance or a position.

During the hour-long session, Unzueta teaches different hits — for example the cross, the jab, right hook — and how to best position your feet, shoulders and head. His instructions are easy to follow: “Let’s do an upper jab, cross, jab.” “When I make my jab, like I should, it’s opposite my other shoulder.” “Double jab like I’m knocking on the door. Step every time I throw my jab.”

“I teach the fundamentals class, basic punches like your jab and your cross and your stance is the most important thing, being able to distribute your weight appropriately,” Unzueta said. “That’s one of the biggest parts of boxing, techniques where your hands are supposed to be after you throw a punch, where your elbows are supposed to be, sweet spot of your knuckles should be landing on the bag first, all the way to the impacts of where you want your shoulders to feel tension.”  

Hopping on your toes and taking swings is very physical and participants began to sweat about 20 minutes into the session.

“I love it! It’s a good outlet and it gets you going mentally and physically,” said Tanisha Cannon of Homewood who started in the boxing program with her daughter, Nyla Bishop, a senior at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

Robert Lane of Flossmoor said he’d done martial arts for six years and “always wanted to try something different.” When he saw boxing in the park district catalog, he decided to give it a try “and I really enjoyed it. The workout is different, it’s more intense than martial arts. You get a whole body workout, your arms and your shoulders. This is a really good experience.”

Unzueta, a graduate of Marian Catholic High School, played team sports for years. About eight years ago, he discovered ju jitsu classes and then boxing classes, wrestling, judo, kick boxing. He had a successful amateur career and “next thing you know, I’m a professional fighter” in mixed martial arts.

Unzueta’s boxing program runs four weeks. With the fundamentals down, students and club members can use the boxing studio any time classes aren’t in session. Unzueta offers two sessions — one for adults and another for teens. Registration is open for classes starting Oct. 18 and 19. Students must have their own boxing gloves which are available in the club’s Pro Shop.

For additional information on the program, contact the staff at the club at 708-799-1323.