Hey Team,

Welcome to another Sunday!

The Summer Slam challenge is over, and with December creeping closer, we’re on the verge of that unique year-end craziness. A huge thank you to everyone who took part—whether you hit 100 points or clawed your way to 50, you all showed up, pushed through, and held yourselves accountable. And that, in itself, is worth celebrating.  As for me, I finished on 74-points…so a single point short of the ‘Laird Hamilton’ level (and a free challenge…$30 bill coming my way!)…what can I tell you, life gets in the way!  The plans I had, well, they fell apart and here I sit, one solitary point short!

Seeing the gym so busy over the past month has really had me reflecting on the Round 1 journey.  Starting Round 1 Fitness was a dream fuelled by a mix of frustration and inspiration. Back in my IT days, whenever I traveled (to exotic locales like Houston, Leeds and Canberra where I saw sights such as the inside of a conference room and the inside of a hotel room – work travel is definitely not as glamorous as it sounds), I found myself searching for a workout that would feel like my footy training days—intense, purposeful, and with a touch of camaraderie. All I ever found was another treadmill or a Body Pump class.  No disrespect to all the Body Pump people out there…it is a pretty good workout if lacking in a bit of soul!

That’s where the idea for Round 1 came from: a place that didn’t need much equipment but delivered real, honest training. Just like those early days, our BoxPlus sessions today are built on the same principles: functional, challenging, and just a bit unpredictable.

Training Like a Boxer—With or Without Equipment

One of the things I love about boxing training is that you don’t need a ton of gear to make it work. Boxing is more about the intensity, the full-body commitment, and, of course, the mental grit. It’s about feeling strong, agile, and grounded—qualities we aim to build through every class. With the right mix of strength moves, core work, and explosive exercises, you get fit from the inside out.

And you don’t need a bag, gloves, or even weights to do it. Shadowboxing, plyometric drills, core moves—these create that unique boxer’s strength, coordination, and mindset. That’s how we build classes at Round 1: bursts of high-intensity work mixed with mobility and core moves. Whether it’s simple combos (or complicated ones to get your mental game going – that old mind-muscle connection), squats, pushups, cardio challenges or core work, the workout stays both intense and effective, while also being accessible anywhere.

The Essence of Boxing Training

Boxing without equipment works because it focuses on:

• Strength and Conditioning: It’s full-body engagement that makes you strong, not just “fit.”
• Core Power: Boxing is core-intensive, which is why exercises like Russian twists and walkouts are so key.
• Stamina and Agility: Short bursts of hard work, with active rest, mimic real fight training, keeping the energy and intensity up.

Beyond the physical, boxing training teaches you to visualize and stay in the moment. You’re not just throwing punches—you’re thinking through your movement, keeping focus, and developing a rhythm that pushes both body and mind.

Bringing the Fun Back to Training

Round 1 isn’t about just going through the motions; it’s about enjoying the experience. From the start, the goal was to recreate that camaraderie of group training, just like those team sport days from our youth.  We all come together, the coach presents the workout and outlines the expectations…then we work together – and are challenged to hit our targets/do things right by one another AND by the coaches. In those early Round 1 days, we mixed up each class, blending boxing with bodyweight and cardio, pushing each other and having a laugh in between. I know it seems crazy these days, but sometimes I wouldn’t ‘plan’ the session till I was in the car driving to the gym…all these formal session plans and whiteboards?  They were a couple of years into the future!  I like to think that there’s still a hint of that unpredictability in every class, and I like to think our BoxPlus sessions (all of our sessions) are all about training with effort and energy!

Some of my favorite memories are of those raw, sometimes brutal sessions with our old coaches—getting pushed to the point where I’d wonder how I’d even get home! Sure, today’s training is a bit more structured (and, let’s be honest, probably a bit more effective!), but sometimes, I miss those days of spontaneous, tough-as-nails workouts.  I do think back to one Saturday morning session when Jason was in charge – I was running a marathon the next day but HAD to get a class in to complete one of the old-school style challenges…I received not one OUNCE of sympathy about the event the next morning and left the gym shattered…my goal of coming in to ‘tick a box’ was 100% not acceptable!  Ultimately it turned out OK – I still hit my marathon target time despite the less than ideal prep…times have certainly changed though in terms of sessions with ‘extras’ – pushups every bell, rotating team challenges etc…I mean, we do SOME of it but…what can I say, it’s 2024 and times HAVE changed.  And there is no doubt that having a clear and structured plan for each session designed to ‘fit in’ with what was done the day before and what WILL be done the next day is the most effective way to go about things.

Is it OK to lament that it might not always be the most FUN though and to miss elements of those ‘grind it out’ style sessions?

Finding the Heart of Training

For me, Sunday sessions after the gym closes are the ultimate reset—just me, a bag, and a skipping rope. It reminds me why I started Round 1 in the first place. No fancy gear, no crowds, just the basics. It’s simple, satisfying, and effective, bringing back that feeling of pure joy in moving, pushing myself, and breaking a sweat.

So, as we head into December, I want to leave you with this thought: training isn’t just about the equipment or the points or the perfect program. It’s about showing up, having fun, and challenging yourself. That’s why I’ve created a fresh ‘BLOCK’ of boxing sessions for you guys for December. These sessions are built to be fun, effective, and true to the spirit of Round 1.

Let’s end the year strong, focused, and maybe even a little bit inspired. Can’t wait to see you in the gym!

Michael.