Fashion is stepping into the ring this fall. First, Louis Vuitton announced a collaboration to commemorate their 160th anniversary called “The Icon and the Iconoclasts” which includes the most expensive punching bag ever, designed by Karl Lagerfeld.  Shortly after that Alexander Wang released a much more affordable collab with H&M featuring active wear and one sleek set of  boxing gloves that sold out within hours of being released. Now just days ago Vogue released images from Chanel’s Fall ad campaign shot by Lagerfeld which features fashion darling Cara Delevingne posted up in a boxing ring clad in Chanel from head to toe. According to The Guardian boxing has become fashions latest ‘it’ sport, but is there more to this phenomenon than cool gloves and a right hook? I stepped into the ring to find out.

One of my biggest concerns when I relocated to San Diego was that I wouldn’t find a gym that gives me the intense yet satisfying workouts that I crave. As fate would have it, I moved a block away from the Art of Eight Training and Fitness Center, a boxing and kickboxing gym founded by former Muay Thai world champion, Melchor Menor. I first noticed Art of Eight one night on my drive home from work because there was a big group of people running around the building with boxing gloves on. That night I looked the gym up online and they offer a free trial class so I signed up for kickboxing the following weekend.

No wonder Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, Cara Delevingne and a gaggle of other Victoria Secret angels all swear by boxing to stay toned and lean! These workouts are no joke! The first day I showed up to class I hadn’t done a hardcore workout in several weeks so after 5 minutes of solid jump rope, more burpees than I care to remember and 2 laps around the gym I was about ready to tap out…and that was just the warm up. Miraculously, something kept me going (probably a healthy fear of embarrassment) and by the end of class I was shocked at how amazing I felt even though my mascara looked like eyeshadow and I was drenched in sweat.

By day 8 of my training I was getting to the gym early to run an extra 30 minutes before my workout and felt super encouraged by the results I was already beginning to see. Three weeks in and I’m hooked! Not only do I love the instructors and the workouts, but the members at Art of Eight are super encouraging and friendly. I have been a member at several gyms where no one talks to eachother, people just listen to their own music and do their own thing. Boooring! It is so fun to workout with such a diverse mix of competitive level fighters, stay at home mom’s and business professionals where everyone focuses on their own bag and the only thing people want to beat is their best. Follow my journey as I transform from a self proclaimed fitness junkie to a full fledged fighter or better yet, come box with me! Click here to get your first class free and get a kick start on your fitness goals for the New Year!