Boxer Lydia Walczak has come full circle since her days as a kid in her basement swinging at a heavy, homemade punching bag and kicking a foam-wrapped metal pipe her dad made to help her train.
Walczak, 29, is now the instructor of Boxing Bad, a non-contact, fitness boxing program at New Westminster’s newest gym, Zhoosh Fitness Garage, a fitness club that prides itself on its back-to-basics look and approach to fitness.
Walczak said boxing has mesmerized her since she saw her first local boxing match as a little girl.
“I find it absolutely beautiful,” she said. “In terms of footwork, the combinations, the speed…everything about boxing is just really pleasant to do.”
Though Walczak doesn’t like to “brag,” she has a long list of boxing accomplishments to her name.
She was Best Senior Female Boxer in B.C. from 2005-2007, won silver in the Canadian Championships in both 2005 and 2006; and won gold in 2007.
She was ranked 10th best female boxer in the world in 2007 and was awarded the Boxing B.C. Award of Excellence that same year, for which she was presented with a certificate of excellence for boxing by New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright.
Walczak no longer boxes competitively but didn’t want to give up her sport, so training others is the perfect outlet for her, she said.
The 75-minute classes are open to anyone.
Participants will, among other sweat- inducing activities, do rounds of jump rope, learn to shadow box, and use punching and speed bags – old school basics that toned Walczak, back in the day.
“You are definitely going to learn a lot,” said Robyn Murrell, owner of the Zhoosh Garage, adding that the class is hard work, but fun.
Murrell said participants, women in particular, will get a lot more than a toned body from Walczak’s training.
“Knowing they can probably take care of themselves if, God forbid, there was ever any incident,” she said. “It is sticking up for yourself and taking control of yourself and knowing that no one can control you.”
Zhoosh Fitness Garages’ grand opening (and fundraiser for Parkinson Society B.C.) is on Oct. 5 from noon to 4 p.m. at 110-113 11th St. (between Queens and Auckland avenues).
For more information, check out their website at www.zhooshfitness.com or call the gym at 778-323-1465.
