Fighting for love: Couples boxing class teaches togetherness, self defense

CINCINNATI - Sometimes we take jabs at the ones we love.

But now you can actually take jabs at the one you love — all while getting in shape.

Couples boxing is a new non-credit exercise class offered at the University of Cincinnati’s Campus Recreation Center .

Robert “Boom Boom” James is the teacher, and the man who came up with the idea for the class.

“We just wanted to pique the interest of more people. The young ladies, they might think. ‘Boxing? I'm not about to do that,’” he said. “Then they get in there with their significant other and the feel more secure, and are more inclined to do it.”

The former Ohio Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves champion is taking his years of experience in boxing away from the gym – and into UC’s rec center weekly to train regular couples.

Some of his students are dating, some are married, but all agree the class is quality time unlike anything else they’ve done.

Keith Lackey and Lauren Jackson have been dating for six months. During a sparring session, overseen and instigated by James, the couple followed their flurry of punches with a brief kiss.

"I think with whatever we do, we try to keep it nice,” Jackson said. “Even though we're getting a little aggressive, you still got to keep the love for each other.”

Some of the couples point out that finding an exercise class that both men and women enjoy is tough. Kelly Flynn and Chris Shough have been dating for two years, and have done many activities as a couple, including spinning. But boxing puts a new spin on an old workout.

Flynn’s favorite part of the class?

“Hitting Chris,” she said. “Just kidding. No, I just like learning.”

During the class, it’s boyfriend vs. girlfriend, husband vs. wife. They each lace up their gloves and throw punches at their significant other. But through the jabs and the bobbing and weaving, they’re smiling — all while burning up to 461 calories per hour.

“You think boxing, throwing punches at people — and you think it's about to be serious,” said James. “But not at all. They have a fun time.”

So this isn't a “how-to” class about fighting with your significant other; it’s about fitness, togetherness and finding new ways to keep their relationship off the ropes.

“I've told my co-workers that we've done this class and they think we're crazy,” said newlywed Pamela Coleman. She and her husband Jim have been married 10 months.

Before they start sparring, James makes it a little more interesting.

“Whoever looses is cooking dinner,” James said.

And it’s those kinds of jokes that make the competition in this class lighthearted, even fun. James and his students agree: taking aggressions from home into the boxing ring isn’t the real goal.

James said he hopes his students come away with more than just fancy footwork and learning the right way to throw punches. An underlying theme in the training is self-defense, and instilling confidence in both men and women.

“That's one of the reasons why I wanted my girlfriend to do it with me,” said UC grad student T.J. Kelly. He was so interested in taking the class that he recruited friends to fill the roster. “When you're comfortable with yourself and you've thought about how to defend yourself, how to diffuse certain situations, it's something you're a lot more comfortable with.”

Jim Anderson points out that even the most fierce competitor has to know when to pull punches – if he knows what’s good for him.

“My bed's more comfortable than the couch," he said.