Chih-Wei – June 2024

We welcomed Chih-Wei into our classes in January of this year, and since then he has remained consistent and regularly frequents 2 classes a day.

Q: What was your skill level in fitness and boxing prior to Contenders? And where is it now?

A: Zero experience in gyms or boxing before this. Now, I’ve got the basics down, but I’m still a newbie, especially compared to the pros at Contenders.

Q: As a student in the classes, how do you learn best, and how does Contenders meet your learning needs?

A: Demonstrations work great for me. I also learn a lot by watching others when it’s my turn to hold the heavy bag. The mirrors help me fix my form too.

Q: W ho is your biggest influence from those that have helped define the sport of boxing and continued the longevity of the sport?

A: Hard to say since I’m pretty new. Maybe Deron Williams? He’s an ex-NBA star who digs boxing and MMA, and you can sometimes see him pulling some slick moves on the court that look a lot like boxing.

Q: How do you see yourself playing a part in the continuation of the sport. Do you box for fitness purposes, have aspirations to spar, support competitors at their matches?

A: Mainly for fitness, try to lose weight.

Q: What challenges do you face in boxing, and how do you work through them?

A: I’ve got an old shoulder injury that acts up sometimes, limiting how hard I can punch. I tweaked it again in class once, which taught me to pay more attention to my posture and focus on strengthening that area.

Q: What has been your biggest take away from this sport?

A: Awesome coaches, significant weight loss, and a solid fitness routine are my big wins.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just beginning their boxing journey?

A: Twist your body when you punch and keep your eyes on the target.

Q: …And lastly, tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you?

A: I lost 15 kg after I joined the club, I’m still over 92 kg, aiming for 75 kg!