An account of a weights-lifter at our gym

The following is a reflection & findings of a weight lifter at Golden Gloves Fitness:

I have been lifting weights since 2016 for about 5-6 times per week. In other words, barely missing a day. Usually doing the bench-press and lifting heavy dumbbells. The other day I went to Golden Gloves Fitness in Vaughan to hit the bag and was shocked that I did not have as much as power as I expected. The results really did fall far from my expectations.

What I found was that during the last couple years I accumulated a lot of muscle but not enough stamina. A lot of curves but not enough strength. And most of all, I really did not feel like I was dense enough. Why is that? It only took me until the next day to find out. The answer is: impact. There was not enough of  'impact' being sent back to my muscles & bones when I lift weights. I pumped them, sure. But, I did not use them as a skill or technique.

Boxing really did made me realize that density is super important for power. You don't want to be only bloated with muscles but you also want them to be stronger and resistant rather than just having a 'cotton-candy' body. Thankfully; hitting bags, pads and practicing punches with a partner allowed me to become stronger. The next day, my bones felt denser, my muscles felt more compact and, yes, I had that good muscle 'ache' feel that really do send the signal of progress to yourself and your body.

I also found my respiratory system improved substantially just from a single day at this boxing gym! Now, I did not do much treadmill or running before. I strictly stretched and did weights. When I first came to Golden Gloves, I was out of breath after a couple rounds! I don't smoke but at the same time my running was left to a minimum throughout the years. I was left out of breath after the first round and after the second round I was really starting to feel winded. This has led me to think that lifting weights does not have that much impact on breathing. Luckily, boxing really does get your breathing going and afterwards you feel great! It is a shock how fast boxing makes respiratory system work. No wonder those boxers are so fast with their hands & feet and can last so long in the ring! 

Finally, I am that guy who needs a lot of work before breaking a sweat. At the gym when I was lifting weights, it sometimes took me 20 minutes to be drenched in sweat and sometimes I barely broke a sweat at all. However, when I was boxing, I broke a sweat within 10 minutes! And, I mean that real sweat. That potent , fully drenched from head to toe sweat. I couldn't of been happier because once you break that first sweat the time flies and you know you are going to benefit from your workout the next day.

This is my take and experience when comparing boxing to weight lifting and I hope this insight will benefit you too. I really do recommend to mix lifting and boxing together just to see how hard you can punch that bag. However, doing weights alone felt like it was a cause without an effect. After this experience, I am definitely going to mix the two up from now on and I will surely follow up on my progress later. As always stay fit and looking for ways to better yourself! Until next time, I wish you all the best in your body building progress.

How do I know when my workout is done?

How do I know when my workout is done? This is a huge question at Golden Gloves Fitness and is very common. Shortly put, your work out is done when you're covered in that thin layer of sweat over the majority of your body. You don't exactly have to be soaked but pretty much wet; this is when you know you have made progress in your workout. Before that it is just a stretch or even worse: nothing.

So how do you avoid an unproductive workout? There two factors that come into play in order to make your workout complete. The first, it is time. Anything under 20 minutes simply won't work. After 20 minutes, you have invested enough time for you to be at least covered in sweat. If you are not, you are being too slow or you are doing something wrong. By the 20 minute mark, you should be well into your workout.

We recommend having at least 40 minute to 1 hour workouts, so just add another 20 minutes to that 20 minute mark and your workout all of the sudden feels more complete. The other factor that makes you sweat inside a gym is friction. The more you repeat a movement, the more friction there is between your muscles that lead to sweat. So if you find yourself not sweating enough, you might be simply moving too slow. Speed up your movement with your hands and feet, move your whole body, just don't stop! Remember: it is than thin layer of sweat that send the signal to your body to start forming!

Finally, you just know when your workout is done within your body's intuition or how we like to put it at our gym in Vaughan; behind the science of your body. You don't feel stiff like 'wood' anymore. A common complaint at our gym is my legs feel "stiff" like "wood". The reason for this being is not enough blood flow going to your legs or the stuff/ numb part of your body. Work that part out and warm up, this feeling should go away and when it does & you feel flexible; this is when you know you have progressed well into your workout.

At Golden Gloves Fitness, we understand that everybody is different and how important it is to work with people based on their body's needs. You cannot have the same approach to everyone because we all are different. We make sure that we work your way up based on your capabilities so that you make progress and there is never a dull day. We also put a positive, fun twist into our workout sessions so that you step out of the gym feeling that you have truly progressed. If you want to improve your body and enjoy it at the same time, please do not hesitate to contact us today to hear how we can workout a better you so that you can have a better body.

Why work hard at the gym

I have been going to the gym for a long time and realized that I haven't mentioned why to others while benefiting from a fit body. Perhaps one of the reasons is the time dedication that is involved when it comes to working out. Now that I found some time, I would like to discuss why everybody should not just go to the gym but work hard once they get there.

The main reason why you should work hard at the gym is to make the time go by faster. Let's face it, the time at first goes by slow and it makes one wonder why it goes by so slow and the reason for is because you are not working hard enough. If you step into the gym thinking I am going to work hard; the time will simply fly by! Just like if you are working hard at work. Forget about everything else, it is you and achieving the fitness levels you have been always looking for.

Indeed, it is hard to workout hard at the gym. But, what a lot of people do not realize is the fact that

they need to have the right mentality and tools for them to get into the mode to exercise. From having bad sneakers to not being motivated, there can be obstructions in you way to workout fluidly. The best advice is to per-meditate your workouts before hand. Have comfortable sports clothes, your favorite music on and a good clean conscience when you begin your session.

But....it is so hard to get to the gym! This is a common line we get at our gym but once you get here it all goes by quickly and you realize it is not so bad after all. Certainly, getting here is the hardest part. Leaving your home or work just to workout sometimes sounds like a drag. Or does it? The reason why it feels like a drag is because you are not used to it. Once it becomes routine, the time goes by faster and your body feels more prepped for even more workouts! Don't over do it though but rather listen to your body.

Additionally, working hard at the gym means using your time wisely and getting better results. Sweating and making your body denser are only some of the benefits that you get when you are actually, meaningfully working out. As you may observe, there a lot of tricks that you can do to make sports & fitness part of your life. Your body literally receives the massages that yes, this is for me but as soon as you stop, you will go back to square one.

Boxing is not only physical but also mental

This discussion has been waiting at our Boxing & Fitness gym in Vaughan for a long time: boxing is not only physical, it is mental. What do we mean by that? Today we will get into the details in the mental components in the sport of Boxing. Indeed, focus is very important in this sport. You want to land your punches on target. How do you perfect that? The answer is concentration. Use your mind to direct your arm at the bag. Strength isn't everything. Feel out your bag and use your mind to spot the good points to punch.

Indeed, at first this is rather challenging to comprehend. What does the mind have to do with physical strength? It does not have so much with strength but rather spotting weak points that you gotta punch. Strategy is key in boxing. Hitting the chin is much more effective than lending a bunch on the forehead. If you are mentally exhausted, these techniques are easily forgotten. This is when you train your mind to direct the punches accurately & effectively.

You don't want to over-exhaust yourself. You can avoid that by using your mind to plan out a strategy to defeat your opponent. Your mind needs to run a thousand thoughts a second in order to spot that weak spot and that is where you play it. Remember, every opponent is different and has different capabilities so do not ever underestimate your challenger but rather out smart him or her. It is never a good idea to dive into a spar without any plan at hand.

So, let's just simplify it a little bit, shall we? Use your mind to direct your punches at the target you want to hit. Hit the weak spots of your opponent to the achieve your goals. This is all great but now you can transfer this knowledge in other areas in life! As your mind gets sharpened in ring, it remains tuned on the street! The trick is to keep on practicing because just like the body, your mind will decline if you don't 'feed' it. So keep focused, my friends and always have a list of achievements you want to accomplish.

Thank for reading our more passive blog, we may find our main blogs on our official website www.goldenglovesfitness.com . On this platform we discuss more daily, casual encounters we have here at our gym as for the main site we tend to get more technical. If you do have any questions or if you would like to get in touch; please feel free to contact us at any time as we are always looking forward to be hearing from YOU. We would like to wish you all the best this holiday season and please stay tuned for more boxing & fitness tips, news and much, much more! See you HERE.

Quickness and Boxing

One of the most primary concerns when athletes come to our gym is quickness. They want to be quick on their feet and with their punches. And, they have come to the right place! But, boxing can help you with quickness in other spheres of life. Like what you may ask? Boxing will increase your quickness of thinking, healing, and over all reaction speed. In today's post we will discuss exactly how quickness overall is shown in the sport of Boxing.

First and foremost, indeed, boxing does make your punches and feet faster. Thus, increasing your

agility. After months of training you will be able to move quicker, respond faster and dodge punches more effectively. These skills can be applied to other disciplines, not just boxing. Quick movement allows you to dodge whatever life hurls at you and remain vigilante. At our gym in Vaughan we will show you how to be light on your feet and fast with your hands.

But how does boxing make me quicker?
Boxing makes you quicker by you wanting to be more competitive! By showing you how to align and balance your body. It allows flushes your body out through sweat and gets your lungs pumping air. Indeed, a lot of our gym goers do get out of breath. But, they get better by each and every day! As the saying goes: "sore today, stronger tomorrow".

Now let's get into the more mental side of things. Boxing literally allows you to move every muscle in your body and make every muscle sweat. This is still physical, but wait for it...the sweat takes out unwanted substances like fat, bad food, nicotine, etc out of your body that in turn will increase your circulation. This circulation streams into your brain. Since it is clean and fresh, your mind accepts it effectively and clearly. With better circulation, you will think better and then you can apply your newly fresh thoughts at work, at home and just in overall life in order to benefit you and achieve your goals.

Reaction time is crucial in boxing and in life. What slows you down? Bad substances such as poorly prepared food, sugar, pop, salt, and other extra substances that you do not need and that slow you down. At Golden Gloves Fitness, we are all about reducing reaction time and all about acting in time. We make sure that you know how to block without any extra arm extensions, move your feet quicker without any extra steps and how to move with agility. Our head coach Alex examines your reaction to punches and movements and adjusts you as you go along.

Healing. We haven't forgot about this important aspect when it comes to boxing. But, doesn't boxing mean that you get hurt? If you do it to train and you are being training professionally, the answer is no and if you do get hurt then something is wrong. Our coach Alex makes sure that you are training correctly with your partner. As for the healing, well, your body creates new, fresh tissue on top of the sweated out pours so that you can have in turn a new layer of muscle, skin and tone. If you have a scab, it will heal quicker due to the fitness you have acquired.

We definitely give advice in health, fitness and how to improve your overall self. Please, feel free to inquire our head coach about them at any time. Golden Gloves Fitness is more than a gym, it is a health and wellness center. We are here for you and we always keep it %100 at our sports gym located just north of Toronto. If you would like to get in touch or if you have any questions, please feel free by contact us today by clicking here for more information. We are always looking forward to be hearing from YOU and increasing your boxing & fitness abilities,

Golden Gloves Fitness- not your regular boxing gym

The following is an experience of one of our gym members:

I just worked out and I already feel better! The beginning was really tough. I missed about a week because I was sick earlier but today I felt like I could step into the gym. What I did not know is how much of a drag it is to simply begin exercising. But today when I stepped inside Golden Gloves Fitness, a boxing gym in Vaughan, I felt re-energized as soon as I entered. How come? This is the question that I will answer to you today.

I already felt better because of the positive atmosphere the head coach Alex maintains and the fun but

yet serious attitude everybody else has. People here are great. They will hear you out and they will practice with you. Before I knew it, it was easier for me to work out because this gym made it possible for me to forget my stiff muscles. All of the sudden I was drenched in sweat and wanting more!

And I got more. This gym has all the equipment, tools and energy that I need to workout, and not only to workout but to train. Each and every time I come here I get this feeling that I want to push my body above and beyond. When I am doing something wrong, luckily I have Alex to adjust me. He has a curious, attentive attitude and sometimes he might get strict but that is because he wants you to learn and benefit from your training.

A combination of the right equipment, people and coach is the recipe that any anybody, not just me, needs to get back into it! Now the trick is to make your attendance and workouts habitual. You cannot do 1 workout and think you will have a body or skills transformation. There is a strict routine to follow. Luckily, Alex, knows that doing the same thing each and every time also slows down results. That's why he likes to switch things up. Surely, I tell you, there is never a dull workout at this place! With the help from the coach, I am always improving onto whole new levels.

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That is how our boxing & fitness goers feel after working-out at our gym in Vaughan. We always strive to provide the best workouts, training, and fitness instruction in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). If you have any questions or if you would like to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking here, calling us 416-569-9381 or emailing us at goldenglovesfitness@gmail.com . We are always looking forward to be seeing you here and we are always keeping it 100%. All the best from the Golden Gloves Fitness team and see you HERE.

When to Sweat it Out?

At Golden Gloves Fitness, we like to sweat it out. But, lately, a new question has come about at our gym in Vaughan: if you're sick, should you sweat it out? Today's article is exactly about this question: when and where you should you workout if happen to be 'sick'. Being sick is a broad term, you can have a stomachache or the flu. In both cases you should take precautions. If you have a light stomachache because you might of ate something that your stomach did not like: working out lightly to sweat out the unwanted substances in your body is OK. Matter of fact once you get into your workout, you might even find yourself forgetting that you had a stomach ache in the first place.

But, if you have the flu, you should NOT work out. You should take it easy and let your body take on the flu for itself as it will need the energy to do so. However, stretching lightly will not do any harm. Stretching for about 15-20 mins might even make you feel better and allow your body to sweat out the flu out of your pores. Now, let's go back to the main question: if you're sick should you workout? In most cases, the answer is no and it depends on what is making you sick.

If you are feeling crappy because of bad nutrition, an effective workout will burn out all the unwanted substances in your body and clear your stomach for you to eat something better or healthier later, after your workout. Just a quick reminder: never workout after eating. If you happen to eat, wait at least 30 minutes before your workout. Generally speaking, it is better to eat something after your workout. If you are looking to increase your weight: smoothies are a great source to do that!

So, if you happen to be really sick don't workout but rather to a light stretch. If it is nothing serious, a workout might just distract you and your body for the sickness and make you feel better. It all depends, you know your body best. Some unwanted feelings suck anxiety, stress, and depression that can make you feel dizzy or 'sick' can also be treated with a good, well-balanced workout. If you have any questions or if you would like to get in touch, feel free to contact us today for more information.

At Golden Gloves Fitness, we are ALWAYS looking forward to make you feel better and making you look better. We would like to wish you all the best in 2017 and see YOU HERE.

Boxing and Fitness is great for your posture!

There are many ways you can improve your posture! But, boxing is one of the most effective ways. That is, if you do it properly. At Golden Gloves Fitness we help you have a nice stance and place that back right in the correct position that you have been looking for all this time!  Don’t rush to the bags just yet! You got to make sure you have that right orthodox stance first and be well balanced on your feet. Don’t curve your back or lean forward but rather slightly lean back and keep your back straight and round your shoulder blades around your head. First and foremost, you must do the proper stretching and warming up before hand. And only then you may proceed to hitting the bag.

Once you are ready, do not start with the heavy bag. Proceed to the light one first. Do easy jabs and focus on your balance. At our gym we have something called a double-end which is a bag that is stretched by 2 ropes at both ends and bounces back and forth each time you hit it. It is perfect for introducing your body to some resistance to your punches. Make sure you do each and every punch properly. Our coach Alex can definitely help you with that. Keeping your upper body up and hands close to your chin, you are ready to move on the heavy bag once you have finished with the light one.

At the heavy bag, try to do a mix of close and distance punches. Never repeat the same move over and over again because your muscles get used to the same movement very quickly. Try to do hooks, uppercuts and moving around the bag with agility while practicing. Always remember to keep a good posture and stance at the bag. Once you are done with the bags, do not finish your workout without calming down exercise. A light jog, some skipping rope or doing some abdominal work is always a good idea. As you can tell Boxing and fitness is a great source for your physique and posture. 

So, do not hesitate to come by our gym in Vaughan, 1^st major intersection north of Toronto (Hwy7 & Jane) to give it a try and see how we are doing. 

All the best and we hope to see you soon- the Golden Gloves team.

What kind of Workout and Exercise Gym in Vaughan is Golden Gloves Fitness?

A lot of people have asked us this question: what kind of workout or exercise gym is Golden Gloves Fitness? And our response has been straight forward: an intense boot-camp/ boxing style type of setting that is designed to improve your fitness, wellness, health, agility, self-confidence and much more. At our gym north of Toronto, we are here to make it easier for you to become fit. We customize workouts for you that are based on your body’s requests. At our location, each and every member is treated individually. 

Who are our members? At our gym, there are no sign-ups, contracts, or membership fees. Our members are those who want to come in and see results fast. They vary from athletes to entrepreneurs. We have members of all ages from children to adults and we have the right program for you. Our main goal is to get things done right at our gym. Our coaches are professional and they are here for you and your health. If you have any dieting concerns or stress relief questions, feel free to ask us. We also have a weight loss clinic on the 2^nd floor that uses Ideal Protein for your weight control needs. 

We have been in the Vaughan area since 2006, providing an effective service that is designed for you to   Located near Jane & Hwy 7 at a great location that is easily accessible. By 2017, there is going to be a subway station built nearby called Vaughan Corporate Center for even easier access. This area is great location and our gym has plenty of parking spaces.  We are open from Monday to Friday, 7 am to 9 pm and Sundays 8 am to 2 pm. You can always call us at 416-569-9381 or email us at goldenglovesfitness@gmail.com.
boost your health, strength and confidence.

We are looking forward to fulfill your fitness and wellness requests.

Let's take it all the way and get fit in the last month of 2015!

Who are we?

We are your #1 stop for boxing and fitness in the Vaughan- Toronto area. We make it easier for you to workout and get into that fit shape you have been aspiring of. Free parking in front, your own locker, customized classes, and with no membership fees, we went you to feel comfortable and confident.
At Golden Gloves Boxing & Fitness, we have been making clients feel great since 2006 with no hassle of sign-ups, membership fees and contracts. We want you to feel free and great for the new year coming up!

What do we do?

At our gym near Jane and Highway 7, we take boxing and fitness very seriously. We want you to reap the results from an effective workout and become a pro. Our classes are never the same and there is always a new technique for us to teach you at our health and wellness center. Aside from boxing and fitness, we also provide: karate classes, MMA sessions, and regular martial arts like Qi-Gong and Tai-Chi lessons. Ideal Protein. Please do not hesitate to inquire us about our services today.
Additionally, we take weight and health control to a higher level. At our location, on the 2nd floor there is a weight-loss clinic that utilizes

Who is here?

Our members are adults, children, students, people of all backgrounds, ages, genders and orientations. At our gym, we have an open minded policy in which everybody is welcome to come in and improve their vitality and health. Come in and check out our gym, walk-ins are always welcome. However, you will have to let us know when is a good time for you to come in if you would like a class with one of our trainers. Once again, individuals of all levels, shapes, sizes and capabilities are welcome at our club. Classes are 1-on-1 or in small groups, it is always up to you!

Who are our trainers?

Our boxing and fitness coach is Alex. He has over 26 years of experience in training students boxing and instructing fitness. He is always here to help your fitness requests. Our Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) instructor is Slava, who has decades of experience in one-on-one combat, counter-attacking and defense. He works on our 2nd floor with his students of all ages and orientations. Finally, our Martial Arts specialist is black-belt Master Terry, who is an expert in Karate, Qi-Gong, & Tai-Chi. During the day he goes from high school to high school in York region conducting exercises with his students and at night he comes to Golden Gloves for nightly classes.

 At Our Gym Everybody is Welcome

 

  

Fitness, Boxing and a Weight Loss Clinic

Greetings fellow sports, fitness and boxing enthusiasts! 

A lot has changed in the past few years at my gym Golden Gloves! Like what? I just finished reconstructing and revamping my new ring at my gym! Check it out, it looks great doesn't it? The feedback has been great. With new steal support poles, this is the ring to be used for the best boxing experience! Installed just last October, come by and check out this beauty or for a work out. Everybody is always welcome to come by at my gym in Vaughan, just north of Toronto.


What else is new at the Golden Gloves Fitness gym? New Ideal Protein products! Want to control your weight? No problem! We have the right product just for your weight control requests. Ideal  Protein is not just a product but it is also a weight loss program that helps you loose weight and not get it back after dieting. So, inquire us about our fabulous new products today! Our clinic is located on the 2nd floor in Vaughan, ON.

Call (416) 569-9381 for more info today!

And we are still doing what we do best: fitness, boxing, and (mixed) martial arts. Why wait for the new year to be in great shape when you can start now? There is a lot happening at our gym and we are looking to fulfill your fitness desires and just a friendly reminder: there are no membership fees, contracts, sign-ups and it is always pay-as-you-go or how desire it to be. At Golden Gloves Fitness, we believe that you have the freedom for a custom made workout, to improve your body and attend the way you feel best! 

• The coaches that we got at our gym:

Alex- Fitness and Boxing

Slava- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Terry- Karate and Martial Arts

Sarah- Women's training and weigh loss coach

We will be blogging more about what is happening at our gym to keep you updated or come by anytime between 7 am - 9 pm. You are always welcome in our fitness club. 

Golden Gloves is Pleased to Announce MMA and SAMBO

The passion for MMA, SAMBO, and hands on Martial Arts has always been present at Golden Gloves Fitness. Alexander Berman is the head coach at Golden Gloves Fitness and he is pleased to announce that MMA classes have been taken place in Woodbridge, Ontario since the beginning of 2011. These classes include his combat boot camp program that involves: Mixed Martial Arts, boxing, self-defence manoeuvrings, and hand-to-hand combat exercises.  

His SAMBO program is based on Russian Martial Arts that involves hand-to-hand combat, grappling techniques, and self-defense. This type of martial arts program is unique because it taught by a professional Russian trainer that has come to Toronto, Ontario to share his expertise with people who desire to push their bodies beyond the limit. Classes are taken 2-3 groups and programs for children are available. These training sessions are destined for anybody who wishes to receive the effective instructions, workouts, and MMA classes in the Greater Toronto Area.

Additionally, these programs grantee that you will have an intensive workout that will leave you drenched in sweat and with new self defense techniques after each class. SAMBO is a Russian acronym for defense without weapons. This Martial Art is the definition of combat fitness to the most extreme extent. All practices are supervised and corrected by a professional with more than 25 years of experience.

Alex and his trainers practice SAMBO on a habitual basis and would like to share their passion with you. They want you to benefit from this program by using every muscle of your body. Through this discipline they assure you that you will be able to achieve complete control of your surroundings.  You will be taught how to break free from firm grasps, how to counterattack, and subdue your opponent at the most optimal level.

If you are interested in any of the programs at Golden Gloves Fitness, please contact Alex for more information at www.goldenglovesfitness.ca , we look forward to be hearing from you and to satisfy your body’s urge to exercise and your need for practical self-defense.