Chessboxing at Boxing London

Chessboxing at Boxing London

23 September, 2008
by: SpoonfedMeg

It's noon on a Saturday and all I can think about is hitting someone. I'm ready to go three brutal minutes in the ring and at the end of those three minutes, I'm going to challenge them to a game of chess.

Wait... what?

Confused? Ladies and gentleman, the perfect combination of physical and mental strength and ingenuity can now be found in chessboxing.

As I wander nervously into Boxing London, an Islington training facility where chessboxing classes are hosted every Saturday, it is clear that this sport has yet to take off. There are only a few guys, wrapping their hands with boxing tape and mulling over a chessboard. The sight is incongruous but undaunted, I wrap my hands, run a mental checklist of how each chess piece moves, and jump in with the warm up.

Chessboxing, which was inspired by a graphic novel and developed into a competitive sport in Berlin, requires competitors to alternate between four minutes of chess and three minutes in the ring. A full bout can last eleven rounds however a winner can be declared early with either a checkmate or a KO.

The London chessboxing classes prepare beginners in either discipline with the skills they need to compete in a real chessboxing match but does so in such a relaxed, informative and fun way. By ten minutes in, I'm astounded more people haven't discovered this well-kept secret.

Despite being one of only two females in the room (the other being fellow Spooner Chloe who I convinced to come along) I feel quite welcome. By the end of the first round of fitness training and boxing skills I begin to wish I could find a personal trainer like these coaches. After they help me perfect my stance, my punch and my footwork as I practice against a punching bag, they lead the group through a series of fitness rotations to strengthen our arms, abs and core.

While in any other fitness lesson I would be gasping for breath and crawling towards the changing rooms, with chessboxing I am spared such embarrassment as every three minutes I get to catch a breather physically and exert myself mentally by playing chess. My coach jokes at my unconventional (read: inexperienced) first move but in four minutes gives me a textbook's worth of useful chess tips.

By the end of the ninety minute class I am sweaty, sore and feel the beginnings of a headache coming on. But without a doubt this has been the best workout both physically and mentally that I've had in weeks. Promising to return, I unwrap my hands, replace my fallen chess pieces and again marvel at how few people have picked up on the joys of chessboxing. I certainly receive some odd looks as I explain the class to others but I'll be the one laughing when I reach the pinnacle of mind and matter with London chessboxing.

Ready to try chessboxing for yourself? Check out the schedule of upcoming lessons at Boxing London or visit the Chessboxing London official website.

Click here for all London sports
Click here for all London beery fun
Click here for things to do in Islington

SpoonfedMeg