Ready Steady Boxing

Does this work? Any personal experiences that anyone would like to share?

Thanks in advance.

[katherinecompton22]

I attended one Rock Steady intro class right after my diagnosis. The boxing aspect intrigued me, and their emphasis on other cardio was appreciated, but the gym was 65 miles away. I signed up for boxing classes much nearer, and the mixture of boxing/cardio was fun and very challenging. I probably overdid it - the Osteoarthritis in my hands got much worse - but there was no greater feeling than landing a right hook on that heavy bag! Once I quit, went downhill fast, but am working on that

[laglag in reply to katherinecompton22]

Get back ASAP!!

[Sherry1960]

I have been attending Rocky Steady Boxing for a year now. I have definitely gotten stronger! It can be a grueling work out but I look forward to it.

[GymBag]

talk to Lag Lag she has been doing it for years, ask to see the before and after group pictures.

I would do it also if there was one within 50 miles

[laglag in reply to GymBag]

These are the affiliates that are just opening:

Norristown, PA

Royal Palm Beach, FL

Phillipsburg, NJ

Export, PA

Minneola, FL

Brantford, Ontario Canada

Airway Heights, WA

Cambridge, Ontario Canada

Oakville, Ontario Canada

Candler, NC

Caldwell, ID

Windsor, Ontario Canada

Getzville, NY

Chestertown, MD

St. Cloud, MN

San Tan Valley, AZ

Greenwood, MS

Oxford, NC

[laglag]

Thanks Gymbag!

Hi I'm laglag or aka Boom Boom

As Gymbag said, just ask me about Rock Steady Boxing. You can go to my profile & read a few of my posts &/or replies & you'll quickly see how much I love it,. I've been doing RSB (non-contact boxing) since January, 2007. RSB started in October 2006 so I was among the first dozen or so. I was diagnosed in 2003 at the age of 46. I'm not sure what Gymbag was talking about when he said "before & after group pictures" but I have seen so many people throughout the years either stay the same or improve, probably at least 90% or more. Some may have declined a tad but not much after 10 years. We have several different levels of classes based on what level your Parkinson's is when you begin the program. I have actually seen people give up their walkers & some have gone from a wheelchair to a walker. We do a variety of exercises besides boxing. Some are for range of motion, some for your voice, endurance, find motor skills, etc. And..... we have fun! It takes most weeks of the year doing classes 3 days a week. I have found very few quit. Comradre is part of it too, you can go there & others will lift you up and not stare at you because they know how you feel.

You can go to the website: rocksteadyboxing.org. There are testimonials (mine is Debbie - purple shirt). You can go to YouTube or Facebook or Google for videos & info. Feel free to ask me anything.

Keep fighting!!

"Boom Boom"

[taurusgirl64 in reply to laglag]

I wish we had a RSB in the Albany NY area. We have nothing here

[5037 in reply to taurusgirl64]

You can go to any gym and start a nonprofit organisation

[GymBag]

Nothing in Canada yet. Looks like maybe only USA

EDIT : This statement is incorrect look for a Rock steady boxing near you.

[ACAC in reply to GymBag]

Calgary has "Parkinson's Fights Back Boxing" through the Parkinson Association.

Scroll down to page 6:

parkinsonassociation.ca/upl...

and Pool, too! (page 4)

[laglag in reply to GymBag]

GymBag: Try this link to see if you can find an RSB within 25 miles of where you live. We have RSB's in about 17 countries. There are 881 affiliates around the world.

rocksteadyboxing.org/find-a...

[GymBag in reply to laglag]

This looks like the website I used but it is not. There are several locations in Southern Ontario with potential . checking them out now. Thanks

[GymBag in reply to GymBag]

The closest one is about an hour away, maybe 1.5 hrs in winter . Is that do-able do you think LagLag . How often should I go and for how long a duration. Great website it has a store with rock steady t shirts and sweats . I like the one that says

"We put the PARTY in Parkinsons"

of course there is no party in Parknsons but that is irrelevant .

[laglag in reply to GymBag]

I used to travel 40 minutes to RSB but a closer one opened so now I only have a 13 minute drive. I miss the people but a met a whole bunch more of wonderful PwP's.

You wouldn't believe all the T-shirts I have collected since 2007. Parkinson's is definitely not a party but RSB makes having PD a little more tolerable.

Keep fighting GymBag!

[laglag in reply to GymBag]

I forgot your other question. You need to go at least 2 days a week but I think 3 is much better. I think an hour is doable. There are a handful of people I know that drive about an hour.

[GymBag in reply to laglag]

image.spreadshirtmedia.com/...

[laglag in reply to GymBag]

Is that a t-shirt you can order? I love it! When I click on it the image is the only thing bc that comes up.

[GymBag in reply to laglag]

Its the web sit you gave me , click STORE

[7AnneMac7 in reply to GymBag]

One recently opened in Victoria...check it out!

[Oceanwind in reply to GymBag]

There is rocksteady boxing in Vancouver BC. I guess you are out East?

[Hidden]

It doesn’t have to be exactly like Ready Steady Boxing to be successful. I live in Salmon Arm, BC Canada, population 20,000. Our local boxing club owned and run by a female started a program kinda based on RSB but built to suit just 4 ladies PWP. I went for 2 sessions weekly for 3 years. It was great! Men were welcome but often they started 'too late' due to other complications like low BP,, sight restrictions, etc.

I had to quit due to a change in the time of the sessions. I don’t do well in the mornings and getting to a 10 am class became very difficult.

However I would recommend it to anyone. The cardio workout plus the sequential boxing movements really helped keep the brain active.

[1rocketman]

We are so fortunate to have a trainer who is not with RSB, but works with PWP and is 10 minutes from our house. My husband has been doing it twice a week for just over a year, and it has made a tremendous difference, not just from a physical standpoint, but also from the supportive boost he gets from the camaraderie. Bottom line is that it is exercise and that’s always a good thing. It is most definitely worth it.

[rebtar]

Here's a good recent video about a study looking at the effectiveness of RSB.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Lj6...(Not working as expected?)

[Hidden in reply to rebtar]

Thanks

[laglag in reply to rebtar]

Thanks for posting.

[1953bullard]

I’ve been doing it for 2 years. I don’t think my Parkinsons has progressed at all. I seem better than when I was diagnosed

[Buckwheat64]

I' ve been doing RSB for 2 weeks and I already see an improvement in my walking!!

[11_dentist]

In the UK Greater Manchester area P D Kinetics exercise class includes boxing and other excersises

[5037]

I'm being RSB for about 3 years and i have being stronger since then it helps for your stiffness and much more with your mud i have a support group of Parkis which helps also that you are not alone we know that it will not disappear but you will be in shape of course i'm not stopping my meds and my diate for the last 10 years.

My best regards

Serg.

[laglag in reply to 5037]

Good points!

[sparkyparky]

Yes, I really believe it does. Here in Bristol UK, we have been doing non-contact boxing since November 2016. Non-contact just means you face a coach with pads or another Person with Parkinson's holding his/her gloves in a defensive position. You hit, but not the person, only the pads or the gloves. It isn't only exercise. It's interactive, as you face an opponent who moves in an unpredictable way so you have to be alert. The smiles on the faces of the participants show it is more engaging than doing exercise in a group, where you often do your bit on your own even though you occupy the same space.

Phil Bungay has set up a boxing group in Kent and they have done research at the University of Kent at Canterbury into how and why it works.

Dennis Stinchcombe MBE has been coaching us here in Bristol since 2016. You can look them up.

Sky news liked what they saw too.

file:///Users/dawn/Library/Mobile%20Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/Desktop/boxing%20info/Fighting%20the%20symptoms%20of%20Parkinson's%20in%20the%20boxing%20ring.webarchive

[laglag in reply to sparkyparky]

Did you know Bob Raeburn? He was a PwP that possibly one of the first ones to go to that gym. He passed away from cancer in the last couple of years.

[lmtwa]

I was originally diagnosed with ET in 1982 - (I was an airline pilot and was able to keep working until I turned 60 (2002). About 4 or 5 years ago I began noticing some changes and ultimately in the next 2 years I was dx with PD. For 2 years I tried almost every med I could find - (including CDP) - I was declining steadily. Then about 1 year ago I found RSB and began taking classes 2 or 3 times a week. We have a wonderful instructor (Cynthia) - I live in Orlando and through a providential set of circumstances, I found a new neurologist but had to go to Washington DC to see him. He changed my meds to Rytary and Rasagline. The changes were amazing and after 7 months, I have made some incredible progress. (according to my wife and friends). The boxing has helped me improve my balance, and coordination among other things. When I started the class last year, I was unable to do even 1 jumping jack (lack of coordination) now I can do 25 with no difficulty - I wasn't able to jump rope - now I do about 4 different styles with 10 or 15 reps - Both RSB and the change in meds have made a huge difference. IS RSB worth the effort? You bet! I have seen some amazing changes in some people -

[laglag in reply to lmtwa]

Give yourself a big pat on the back! 25 jumping jacks, that's great!

[TheLordsWeapon in reply to laglag]

hi,, ur up early 8)

[laglag in reply to TheLordsWeapon]

It's 5:15 am here. I used to get up early like this & then for a few months I started sleeping in until 7:00, now I'm starting to wake up early again????

[Hidden in reply to lmtwa]

Thanks

[beang]

I joined just after laglag What she said! I asked for years, “Why am I blessed to have PD in Indianapolis, where there is Rock Steady Boxing? “ The program changed my life. The RSB Road Team just finished a marathon relay. Two boxers, a cornerman, a volunteer, and a coach. RSB isn’t the only way, but the value has been demonstrated.

[laglag in reply to beang]

Bean,

Exactly...... well said. You are the man!

To HU members:. This man is amazing! He knocks out PD like you wouldn't believe & it's due to RSB. He's done marathons (1/2 and full), climbed mountains, etc etc .....,.he's amazing!

[PDFighter13]

After all these comments, you probably don't need another positive review but I can't help myself. I started at RSB shortly after my diagnosis 3 years ago. A year later I became a certified RSB coach. It helped me so much that I wanted to be able to help others. I am healthier than I have been in years. It is not always easy. I work hard and push myself but it is worth every drop of sweat.

[laglag in reply to PDFighter13]

Positive comments are always welcome!!!

[Cons10s]

Is there anyone who had or has negative effects from exercise including RSB. I end up with bad tremors for up to a day and a half after assertive exercise. I usually have minor intermittent tremors, or no tremor. Exercise seems to bring on symptoms I don’t usually have.

[laglag in reply to Cons10s]

There are some people who experience more tremors after exercising, but I believe most of them said they get better after awhile.

[beang in reply to Cons10s]

My symptoms are a little worse when I am fatigued. Like after a workout! But to me, it is worth it. It’s extra challenging to try to sign a greeting card after a workout.

[PDFighter13 in reply to Cons10s]

Some people's symptoms do get a little worse after a hard workout for a short time. For me, if I work too hard or if it is very warm/hot weather, my tremors will becworse for an hour or so. I have to find the balance between exercising intensely and exhausting myself. Also need to hydrate throughout the workout even if you don't feel thirsty.

[bjmettler]

I have been boxing 3 xs a week for a year now. I am 66 years old and 125 pounds of pure muscle. The workouts can be grueling, but I love how strong I've gotten.

[Hidden in reply to bjmettler]

WOW!

[CapSage]

For those who have difficulty getting to a gym, I simply purchased a "big bag" and a pair of boxing work-out gloves, hung up the bag on a beam over our patio cover, and voila! I can work out on the big bag at my discretion. Like other workouts though, if one needs a coach to give orders and suggestions, like how to strike the bag and footwork, that becomes YOU.

[jimmydook]

I attend a class in wirral uk, so lucky, only 3 in tge whole UK, its fantastic, helps doing something to fight back, and being part of a group is great for wellbeing