Are you originally from Austin? I’ve lived in Austin for 11 years now. Before that it’s been Houston, California, Ohio, Canada, Germany, India, etc.

Do you play other sports? Mostly for fun: kickball, swimming, hiking, running, dodgeball, flag football, biking, volleyball, rock climbing and surfing.

What got you interested in boxing? A good friend of mine was training at a boxing gym and proselytized constantly. I tried it out and I love it.

Describe your first class at 12 Rounds: I was very excited and nervous. I remember bouncing on my feet constantly to keep pace with my excitement. I was slightly conscious of my poor form and not being able to keep up. I was so sore I don’t think I walked right for 4 days. The instructors made me feel comfortable and made me feel welcome.

What is your favorite class at 12 Rounds and why? My favorite class is the boot camp class. I hope to get to a level where I can start sparring soon.

What is your advice to someone who is just starting out with boxing training? First off, boxing will ruin your drinking life. You will wake up sore for the first few months and your muscles will feel like bricks. Once your body gets used to it, you will gradually build your endurance and push yourself in each class so you can feel sore the next morning again. You will start believing that you can tackle any physical activity or sport. You will learn to push yourself mentally and expect excellence and perfection in any physical or non-physical endeavor. Most importantly, you will have fun and you will crave the next class. Drink plenty of water!!

Any shout outs? Rey Blasa for bringing me out to the gym and introducing me to 12 Rounds of Boxing.