EXECUTIVE BOXING
I had a meeting with a Virginia based boxing owner who stated that he was going to end his executive boxing program because it was receiving a few old guys that usually stay no more than a couple of months and then they drop out.
I asked him if could I come by and evaluate his program, maybe I can help. He agreed.
When I looked at his program, there were 5 males and 2 females all over 40 and they were training the same as the other boxing programs. The training was rough but they were toughing it out. I knew he could do better.
This boxing club owner explained to me that he was thinking about ending his executive program because it was not making much money. I told him it would be a very bad mistake. He just needs to adjust his program and emphasize fitness instead of fighting in his marketing.
Most individuals who enter an executive program main purpose is to get in shape. Most already realize they will not be in the same shape as they were 10, 20 and 30 years ago and they try to be the best 40, 50 or 60-year-old boxers that they could be.
When we define Executive Boxing, we define it as boxing for people well past their prime. The executive boxer is the busy dad who has little time for recreation, the business owner who has no time, the retiree who wants that sense of belonging and that lady who wants to defend herself and get in shape too. The list goes on.
In the United States at this time in our history, over half of the population is over 40. Boxing clubs will lose BIG DOLLARS not to include this demographic. You have to look at this group differently. They are a fitness group, not a fighting stable.
The curriculum for an executive crowd should be laden with a blend of low, medium and high impact exercises. You can combine your boxing exercises with calisthenics, isometrics, Pilates and Yoga to warm up, stretch and strengthen the older muscles, joints and bones. This group will take longer to get into boxing shape, so this fact should be explained to them. Conditioning is the focal point of this training. Try the training in the form of a class than individual training, so the patrons can see they all share the same thing in common.
Sparring should not even be an issue. Try to avoid mentioning sparring because executive boxers usually sign up for conditioning only. Those who want to spar, let it be on a voluntary basis and set a different time for it.
An executive curriculum should look like this:
Warm up-Stretching, Yoga, Pilates, Calistenics
Warm up second stage-Low impact cardio boxing (6 minutes).
Shadow boxing-Three rounds.
Ghost Sparring-Three rounds of two men sparring without touching. Shadow boxing with an opponent in front of you.
Pad Training-Three rounds of boxing techniques. Different techniques daily.
Heavybag Training-Two to three rounds.
Abdominal Conditioning-A blend of crunches and Pilates abdominal training. No more than six minutes.
Cool down stretches and deep breathing exercises.
In the past, I found this program to be very enjoyable for my elder boxers. My Virginia boxing club owner now has 99 clients in his executive program. More than half of his clients is female. He charges $99.00 monthly.
