Fitboxing is an interesting sport offered at the Main Campus Sports Center to improve physical and mental health. Although the first impression of fitboxing might be a lıttle violent, it is not designed to harm people. There are no punches to the head. Basically, fitboxing involves "Olympic Boxing" work-outs that focuse on fitness training and strategic thinking. The work-outs are accompanied by music to maintain a rhythm. The rhythm is to provide speed and technique simultaneously while coordinating both the body and mind.
Fitboxing depends on speed and quick decision making rather than power. The trainer, Feyzullah Aydaş, who has been teaching fitboxing at the university for the last four years, performed in over 200 boxing matches between 1982-1994. He received four international gold medals, six Turkish championships and many more awards.
Fitboxing classes receive a lot of interest at Bilkent. It ranks third after aerobics and step classes in attendance. "After three hours of work-out in fitboxing, one may lose about two kgs," says Feyzullah Aydaş.
Even though most people might think that boxers have to be strong only, Aydaş says that the sports requires intelligence. He also adds that boxers are clever and sensitive opposite to public opinion. "Injury wise among all other sports, boxing is ranked 17th whereas football and basketball are ranked in the first ten," Aydaş says.
It is interesting to see what a complex and an active sport fitboxing is and how it improves decision making. After all, remember: "A healthy mind starts with a healthy body."
