archive
Archive for the ‘Voices of LA Boxing’ Category
Press Release: LA Boxing Hires World Champion Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, “Razor” Rob McCullough
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
LA Boxing is pleased to announce the addition of world champion mixed martial arts fighter “Razor” Rob McCullough as the new director of instructor training. McCullough will be sourcing, training and certifying professional fighters across the nation to teach the benefits of The LA Boxing Workout™ – the gym’s signature cardio boxing, kickboxing and MMA workouts. He will be based out of the Santa Ana, California corporate office and will work directly with the vast network of LA Boxing franchise owners, general managers and trainers across the country.
Knowing what it takes to be the best, McCullough said, “I’m ready to make a difference at LA Boxing. I’d like to bring a new level of training, techniques and fun to the workouts that LA Boxing developed over the years.”
McCullough is no stranger to LA Boxing or its intense workouts. “Rob’s journey with LA Boxing has come full circle,” said Anthony Geisler, president of LA Boxing Franchise Corporation. “Long before his first fight in the ring and cage, Rob started as a member at our original gym in Costa Mesa back in 1995.” He said.
McCullough was only 17 years old at the time he joined the club. Sean McCully taught his first class and immediately noticed something special about Rob. Quickly, he transitioned into a trainer, teaching LA Boxing’s signature workouts to everyday folks. By age 19, he was ready for his first professional fight. Skill, tenacity, respect and victory soon earned McCullough shots at televised fights, career changing opportunities and world-class opponents. His professional record is impressive with 19 wins and seven losses. He holds titles in International Muay Thai Council (IMTC), World Extreme Cage Fighting (WEC) and in numerous other international fight organizations. More recently, McCullough starred as an assistant coach on season 11 and 14 of the popular reality MMA television show, “The Ultimate Fighter.”
LA Boxing is the world’s largest franchisor of boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts gyms. Gym members of both sexes – from pre-teens to senior citizens – experience unique methods of getting and staying in shape. Integrating mixed martial arts and various related physical activities and exercises, the trademark LA Boxing Workout is a one-hour, heart–thumping, calorie-burning workout that relieves stress, burns up to 1000 calories and builds self-confidence. Members also can benefit from personal training sessions as well as the latest cardio and strength equipment and LA Boxing fashion apparel.
For additional information or interview opportunities with Anthony Geisler or Rob McCullough, please contact Keith Williams at 714-668-0911 or email keith@laboxing.com.
Voices of LA Boxing: Abel
Friday, July 29th, 2011
The 10-Count with LA Boxing’s Steffan Lugo
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
This 10-count interview is a special feature on an up and coming fighter who trains LA Boxing Costa Mesa in Orange County, CA. He’ll take the ring tonight for his second professional fight after a knockout debut last month.
LA Boxing's Steffan Lugo after knocking out his opponent in his professional debut on March 18, 2011. Courtesy of Fight Club OC.
1. How long have you been fighting?
I did my first LA Boxing “smoker fight” when I was 18…so eight years.
2. Our members have been sharing their Day 1 moments at LABoxingDay1.com. What was the moment that got you to take that step through the doors at LA Boxing?
I played Water Polo in high school and wanted to maintain a discipline that kept me physically active. I was always a combative kid growing up, my friend told me about LA Boxing so I decided to give it a try…from the first class I was hooked.
3. You’re also a college grad from SDSU. What was your training regimen like during school?
I trained at more then a few different gyms in San Diego; I was hard to find one that I really liked. I swam a lot at the school pool; I also ran the beach and the hills around campus. Most of my workouts consisted on sparring with all sorts of different partners, pro and amateur. It was hard to find consistency in my workouts without a real coach to help me out.
4. When did you begin working with Jason Parillo at LA Boxing Orange?
It wasn’t until I returned to Orange County in 2010 that I started to work with Jason Parillo again, after a 3 ½ year layoff without him.
5. You just had your first professional fight on March 18, kicking off your career by knocking out J.J. Ambrose in the 3rd round. What was that like?
It felt real good…I couldn’t have asked for a better turn out as a pro debut. I had a huge group there to support me and I felt like I put on a pretty good show for them. [see video below at 8:42]
6. What was with that double-leg takedown at the end?
Instinct. I think he woke up about half-way to the floor and just reacted…he has 20 pro MMA fights.
7. What do you know about your opponent this week – Robert Lopez?
Not really anything, just his height, his record, and that he is from Stockton.
8. Have you made any big adjustments for the fight this week?
Not really, I’ll make adjustments as I fight. I just work on what goes on inside my head because that is what is the most important.
9. You went into the fight against Ambrose as an unknown fighter. Are you anticipating a more challenging fight now that your opponent will have the chance to study up on you?
I think each fight will be more of a challenge then the previous. With each fight I will learn something new that will contribute to my arsenal. There are no easy fights…in the end we are both there to inflict as much damage as possible on the other. The best will walk away victorious.
10. Any last words for Lopez?
Good Night
If you’re going to be near Orange County tonight, make sure to get your tickets to see Steffan’s fight at Fight Club OC.
The 10-Count with Benji Radach
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Castle Rock, WA; a little logging town of 2,000 people. As a kid, I bucked hay bails and started wresting in elementary school. That was my thing from then on, and I went to state competitions every year in high school. That’s when I got into club wrestling at the National level, mixing in greco and freestyle.
2. How did you get your start in MMA?
My first fight was in 1999 at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon. It was right when Randy Couture and Matt Lindland started fighting. There was one 15-minute round with a 5-minute overtime. So you fought 15 minutes straight, and if they still didn’t think there was another winner, we’d go another five minutes. I had a really tough fight. It was one of those things where you were supposed to fight a kickboxer, but they say “oh, by the way, you’re fighting this guy now. He’s a a huge college wrestler from South Africa.†So whereas I’d planned on just taking a kickboxer down and beating him up, now I’m in the ring with this jacked-up, big dude going to war. [It] happens all the time in the amateurs. Anyway, I ended up choking him out in seven minutes. Having a really tough first fight like that and coming out with the win is what got me hooked into the sport. I went on to win 10 or 11 straight after that.
3. Wow. Is that when you started fighting in the UFC?
Two years after the day I started training MMA, I got my first contract for three fights in the UFC. I won the first two and then I got cut over the eye by an elbow from Sean Sherk at UFC 39.
4. You’ve had you fair share of injuries, right?
Yeah, I was out of competition for almost three years. I had a neck surgery; it was a bad herniation in my neck. I couldn’t flex or move my pecs at all. It was scary, and it was one of the worst things that’s happened to me. But I healed, and then I took on Chris Leben in my next fight. I was winning the whole fight. At the end he broke my jaw, and I was bleeding, but I still managed to win despite there being blood everywhere.
After that I went to coach American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, ended up tearing an ACL. They hired me to work with the American Top Team wrestlers. I coached Thiago Alvez, Wilson Gouveia, George Santiago, Jeff Monson, Mike Thomas Brown, JZ Calvacante and Big Foot Silva. My knee was always really loose before that, and it was kinda amazing that I had ever competed. I ended up getting that done and had a bad staph infection after that that put me down for 5 months. After that I went off to fight in the IFL.
5. What made you want to come back after all of that?
The love for the sport. Drive and determination. Fights I’ve lost to gave me motivation to do better. And, of course, I had good friends and family around to keep my head straight. It was really tough times for me, but it made me a much stronger person.
6. Tell us about the time you took down an armed robber.
That was crazy. In 2005 or 2006 a buddy of mine had just won his fight and we were out celebrating. The next day my girlfriend and I went for a late brunch with another couple at Elmer’s Restaurant in Portland. We were eating breakfast and talking about the crazy time we had the night before when all of a sudden this little girl comes up to our table. She was balling and screaming “this guy has a gun, this guy has a gun!” It hit me in a weird way. This girl had come to us instead of her family. To me, it was a sign to do something. I looked and, sure enough, this guy had a gun stuffed in a girl’s face yelling “give me the [expletive] money.” He had a hankerchief on his face and goggles over his eyes. All these things are going through your mind. The best way I can describe it is like The Matrix because your mind is thinking so much faster than time is moving once the adrenaline kicks in. I’m thinking I don’t want to run at him in case he hears me. I gotta stay out of his peripheral vision. I made a decision. I took one quick look. The gun was in his right hand and I was on his right side, about 40 yards away. I had to get to him. As I was getting up my girlfriend was telling me “don’t do it,†but I had already made the decision. I walked up to him out of his peripheral vision. I grabbed his wrist, took the gun out of the girls face, got him on his back and hit him as hard as I could with my right hand. It broke his jaw and knocked him unconscious. My friend and I checked him for weapons, and he was lying there bleeding until the cops came and took him away.
The few things I can compare it to would be the moment right before you wipe out on a bike or riding a bull. Such intense adrenaline the whole time. Everybody thinks about what they would do in that situation, but I can assure you, you never really know.
7. What do you do at LA Boxing?
Here at LA Boxing I source and hire qualified candidates across the nation for all gyms that need instructors. I interview the guys to make sure they’re legitimate fighters. Once we get a group together of 6-10 guys I’ll fly out and train them for three days straight. I’m basically getting them to teach our group classes properly. The wrong fighter can make these classes miserable for the average person so I make sure they understand the LA Boxing Workout and follow the format.
8. And you still maintain a career in the ring. What happened in your last fight?
My last fight, I took a fight on 10 days notice and fought like crap. My nightmare fight. I pushed and trained morning and night every day. By the time I fought I was overtrained and my body gave out. But you learn from your mistakes, and you try again.
9. When is your next fight, and how are you going to prepare for it?
I just finished a three-fight contract with Strikeforce. They renewed my contract for another 3 fights, I’m just waiting to see when the first fight is. I’m hoping to fight on March 5th. Going into March I’m going to stay consistent; in the gym and on the road. Stay in good shape and if the fight happens, I’ll be ready. I won’t be sick this time.
10. Any advice for LA Boxing members before we finish?
If you’re new to LA Boxing, the programs are awesome for anyone. It doesn’t matter who you are. When entering your first LA Boxing Bag Class don’t kill yourself the whole time. Just go through the motions until you understand what the class is all about. Then as you get in better and better shape, start to push yourself harder each day. Don’t worry about punching hard, just get your form down and then just try to be faster and faster with proper form.
The 10-Count: Holly Mosier Talks Stress and Boxing in Lake Forest
Friday, January 21st, 2011
1. So.. who is Holly Mosier?
(With ease) I’m an Author, Healthy Lifestyle Expert, Boxing Gym Owner, Lawyer, Wife and Mother.
Holly Mosier is an owner of LA Boxing Lake Forest and author of the upcoming book, Stress Less, Weigh Less
2. How did you come to own your own LA Boxing gym?
It started when I hit my 40s. I had been a lifetime fitness enthusiast, but all of a sudden nothing I was doing was keeping me from gaining an additional two pounds every year. I was determined to find a more effective means. As a medical malpractice attorney, I was well equipped to research the countless fitness methodologies available. In doing so, all signs pointed to interval training as the king. It consistently provided better results. Furthermore, boxing emerged as the premier form of interval training. My husband and I then put that research to the test at a local gym near our house. We were convinced after a noticeable difference in definition after just six weeks. Sadly, that gym ended its boxing program after three months, and we needed a new place to train. We explored a number of programs and found LA Boxing to be the best by far. We immediately signed ourselves up, along with our 19 year-old son and 22 year-old daughter. Boxing class quickly became a fitness lifestyle for the whole family. We saw such great results and wanted to be able to share our experience with our local community. That’s how we came to purchase our own LA Boxing franchise in Lake Forest. I was 48 at the time.
3. Do you want us to publish that?
(Laughing) Of course. It’s important to me that middle-age women feel comfortable training like I do. I’ll be 50 in March.
4. Is it hard to get women in the gym?
For women especially, boxing gyms can seem scary. I don’t think there is any way to avoid that trepidation. We just aren’t programmed to punch. It isn’t in our DNA as it seems to be for guys. What surprises people about LA Boxing are how amenable it is for a woman of any age. The environment is welcoming, comfortable and inviting. We have a strong membership of women at our club in Lake Forest because we make it clear that we want you here, we’re ready for you and there are plenty of others in the exact same position.
5. What if you don’t know how to box?
Well, man or woman, LA Boxing knows you probably don’t have a clue when you first walk through the door. Our trainers are all professional and amateur fighters who know how to work with inexperience. They are expecting to have to train you on correct punching form and combinations. As a new member, they do a remarkable job of giving you the personal attention you need without making you feel like you’re being singled out.
6. How does boxing fit into your weekly regimen?
I box two to three days every week, cardio on the other days and practice yoga twice a week. I always wear my heart rate monitor during workouts so I know that I burn an average of 320 calories during a boxing workout. I burn only 130 calories during a pretty intense exercise class at a traditional gym. That’s a big difference. The boxing provides an unparalleled workout but it is important to engage in a variety of activities, especially in your 30s, 40s, and beyond to prevent repetitive stress injuries.
7. That’s less than 200 calories a day.
Between my boxing workouts, yoga and days I just do cardio; I burn about 300 calories during exercise each day. That may sound like a small number, but you have to take into account my small size. Plus, if you eat 100 calories a day more than you burn, you’ll gain 10 pounds over the course of a year. So the increase in the number of calories I burn in the LA Boxing classes has made a big impact. It keeps my weight down and fitness level high.
8. In my face. Well let’s get into your new book before we run out of questions. What is Stress Less, Weigh Less all about?
Stress Less, Weigh Less is about the forgotten, and possibly the most important factor in healthy living – how stress impacts the body and what can we do to ameliorate it. We generally speak of fitness as a function of exercise and nutrition, but for either to be truly effective, we need to control stress. Excess stress hormones trigger a physiological need for high-sugar, high-fat and high-sodium foods. Submitting to these cravings offers a quick dump of “feel good” hormones that spike blood sugar. This pattern repeats itself until it perpetually reoccurs. My book walks you through 12 tools for reducing stress and reaching your goals.
9. What kind of tools?
It all starts with this foundational step: Opt out as a lifestyle. You can’t do everything so make conscious decisions to focus on the things that bring you to your goals. Ask yourself: What is most meaningful to me? Then, pick and choose accordingly. Build time buffers into your day. Your life becomes so much more joyful when you eliminate over-scheduling and you have more energy. Now it’s easy to show up for a boxing class. Address the stress first. We have crazy, busy lives, and that’s okay, but we need a calm foundation to function effectively.
10. Will you share your personal favorite?
Focused breathing. It is the most effective tool I’ve found.
Here’s how it works: Breathe in through the nose to a count of four. Draw the breath all the way down to the belly. Exhale through the nose to a count of four. Just observe the breath. Within six or seven breaths you’ll begin to calm. Remember, the quality of your thoughts match the quality of your breaths. I’m sure you’ve heard someone say “it took my breath away” and it is absolutely true.
Start by implementing three sets of six focused breaths in your daily life. Build them into your normal habits like brushing your teeth or waiting at a stoplight. Let the phone ring until you’ve completed at least one four-count breath and then answer it. I’ve even done a couple during this interview.
Well that’s it for this week’s 10-Count. Make sure to check out Holly Mosier’s upcoming release of Stress Less, Weigh Less, out in bookstores June 1st, 2011.
The new HollyMosier.com will be launching mid-February with more tips from the book. In the meantime, hit up Holly in the comments section below, she’ll be checking in regularly to answer your questions.
THE 10-COUNT WITH LA BOXING HOBOKEN OWNER AND TRIATHLETE MARCO DE OLIVEIRA
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
Welcome to another installment of the 10-Count. Today we’re sitting down with Marco De Oliveira of LA Boxing Hoboken. Marco is an endurance athlete who recently completed his first Ironman. He shared with us what it took it took to prepare for the mental and physical demands of such a taxing competition.
Why did you decide to undertake such a test of fitness?
To test my body in different ways. Push my limits, see what I can do.
Can you explain the mindset it takes to attempt a full ironman as opposed to the half-ironman?
Its double the training. It’s really a matter of dedication and putting in the time to get your body ready for a 15 hour race. You take it one day at time. You’re pushin’ through one day at a time getting better day by day.
Of the three legs of the race, which is your favorite and which one are you best at? Least favorite?
Cycling is definitely my favorite, and swimming is certainly my least favorite. I grew up running and cycling so swimming is a bit new to me; therefore, I just don’t like it as much.
There’s no boxing leg of a triathlon…why train in boxing?
I like to cross-train. I like to throw a couple boxing workouts in to shock the body a little bit from what its been doing a while. I’ve always liked [boxing]. I never competed in it, but I liked the whole concept and training methods I knew were tough. I was always attracted to it. I like the dedication you need to put toward that sport; like any other.
What’s your best advice to someone interested in undertaking a fitness challenge, large or small?
It’s a matter of not quitting. Some days you are going to really hate, especially when it’s cold and you are getting up before the sun rises. You have to just push through. I’m fortunate to work at a place where I can train all day. I know people that have to train before and after a 9-5 day job and I can’t imagine having to figure out how to schedule that in the day because it’s so time consuming to train. It can be frustrating but you can’t quit, just push forward.
How do you mentally prepare for such a daunting and physically taxing event?
It’s more adrenaline than anything. You want to get on that road or jump into that water. I don’t really worry too much. I’m more anxious than anything.
What goes through your head at the starting line?
“This is gonna suck!†[laugh] You know you’re body’s going to suffer for hours on end, so its just a matter of pulling that trigger and getting going. I mean, you know what’s coming so lets do it.
Is that what you think about the whole time?
No. [Laughs] My last half ironman all I could think about were the sandwiches during the whole run. All I was thinking about was the sandwiches waiting for me at the end cause I was so hungry.
Do you ever let your mind go to feeling how tired you are?
Well you feel it, but that’s part of it. Its pushing through that pain. My knees were bothering me big time through the run but you just push through it. One stroke at a time, one foot in front of the other – just keep pushing. You pace yourself so you finish.
What is your training schedule like when you’re prepping for a race? In between races?
I start my new 20-week training in the middle of [this month]. I’ve been doing some light runs, light cycling and getting in the ring a bit before I start my hardcore training. When training comes, I have a pretty detailed training regimen. Some days its pretty tough brick workouts, which can be a long swim and a long run or a long run and a long bike in one day. Weekends are miserable; those are the days that you put in the most amount of work. But, when you cross that finish line all that pain and adrenaline through your body is worth it in the end. Usually its 6 days on, 1 day off. Mondays are off.
Do you compete for time or just for the satisfaction?
Just for the satisfaction of getting it done and knowing I can do it.
How do you deal with burnout during training?
The training program I get online is pretty good. It has coaches that help you through it. You just have to feed your body what it needs. I had a nutritionist put something together for me at the time. I gave him my training schedule so he knew what I was doing every day and he put together a nutrition plan for me, so [my body] gets what it needs to perform.
Bye Bye, Backfat! Hello Boxing Gloves, The Tale of the Tape
Thursday, August 5th, 2010
Final recap video “Bye, Bye, Backfat! Hello Boxing Gloves”
Hear what E. Payne has to say at Makes Me Wanna Holler.
Heaven on a Pita
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
I just have to share – heaven on a pita:
Mmmmmm. My mom just came into town and treated me to lunch at one of my favorite Lebanese places in Virginia – Aladdin’s Eatery!
I had the Ali Baba Pita Pitza – which is pureed eggplant, sliced tomatoes, feta cheese, char-grilled slices of eggplant, calmata olives, and oregano, all on top of a pita. SO GOOD!
I also got a fun juice – carrot, celery, spinach, parsley, and apple. Sounds gross but was actually AWESOME!
Hope you’re all having a nice Friday! I started my day early this morning the best way I know how – with some exercise!
I hit up an early morning cardio kickboxing class at LA Boxing. Awesome workout, as always! Group classes are the best because all you have to do is show up and do whatever they say – no thinking involved, which is key for the early morning
And now, this is awaiting:
But I have something to look forward to – later tonight I’m going to the Dave Matthews concert with a bunch of friends! We may sweat to death, but it should still be a blast He’s great live and we’ve gone a bunch of summers in a row.
Have a wonderful day!
I’d rather eat carbs at LA Boxing
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
Here’s a tip: LA Boxing is really freaking hard when you aren’t eating carbohydrates.
I had a personal training session on Tuesday – which just happened to be the second day of my low-carb diet. I was doing fine, for the most part. I didn’t feel too slow, didn’t feel to overworked. Then, the suicides came. Those lovely drills where you run back and forth, going farther each time, touching the floor before you run back to the start to run again.
I hate suicides.
Seriously. More than my dislike for crunches, push-ups, and running all put together. They wear me out. They make me feel like, at best, a clumsy old turtle. I slowly run back and forth, just hoping that I won’t fall down and roll over onto my imaginary shell, left with nothing but to sound like that old lady in those “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up” commercials. It’s that bad.
So on Tuesday, Donte says, “Okay, we’re gonna do suicides, and you’ll do a punching combination at the end.” I looked at him (like I do 75% of the time) with that “Whachoo talkin’ bout Willis” face. He laughed, and said he was going easy on me. Instead of sprinting to every heavy bag, he was letting me sprint to every other bag and instead of doing a punching combo after each sprint, I was going to do a combo at the end of a set of sprints.
That made me feel a little bit better.
(No, I lie, it didn’t. But, I told myself it should. And I knew that Donte doesn’t give me stuff that I can’t physically do. Pushes me, yes, but not so hard that I die. So there was that: I wasn’t going to die.)
So, I sprint (very loose use of the word “sprint” here) the first leg, then back to the start. Everything is fine and slow dandy.
Then I sprint the second leg, feel really unsteady when I touch the ground, but still sprint back to start.
In the next leg, things get a little hazy. After this last sprint I was supposed to do the combo. I’m pretty sure I did. Pretty sure. Then I was supposed to run back to the start.
Yeah, that definitely did not happen.
I hit a wall. A big, brick, immovable wall. And I hit it hard.
When you are working hard, sometimes this happens. Frequently, because I am not the fittest boxer in the bunch, I have to take a breather for a few seconds before I start working again. During this session I’m sure I had to do this. We were doing a lot of weights and ab exercises. Sure I was pushing myself — after all, my ab’s still hurt, 4 days later, when ever I sneeze — but it wasn’t like I was running up and down the steps for the whole hour.
The problem? No carbs. I usually have to eat a full breakfast – whole wheat bread, fruit, and some protein – before I go to boxing. But with this diet, I couldn’t do that.
Not. Smart.
I gave this low (no) carb thing one more try for my Friday boxing class, and the same thing happened. Worse, in fact. I barely had enough energy to finish the class, and I even came in late! No more. Lesson learned.
Boxing = hard work = need fuel = need good, healthy carbs.
I’ve never been so excited to eat a slice of toast in my whole life. Mmmm, toast.
The fANNEtastic LA Boxing Meet Up!
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
We had so much fun today at my LA Boxing meet up!!
Before:
After: officially hard core (and very sweaty) ;)
As ya’ll know, LA Boxing has been sponsoring me for the past few months, and they offered to let me host a fun fANNEtastic food readers and friends only free demo class. Cool!
It was really fun getting to meet some of my local readers! Everyone was very cool and we got an AWESOME workout.
We punched:
We kicked:
We squatted:
We did mountain climbers and pushups:
We lunged:
We did ab work:
And then we did the obvious: we got frozen yogurt :)
Thanks again to Katie, Kaoru, Sarah, Megan, Evelyn, Kaitlyn, Anne, Mary, Adriane, Ashley, Heidi, Maggie, Janice, Olivia, and Chase for coming out for the class! It was awesome working out with all of you and I hope you’re not TOO sore tomorrow ;)
