If you have never tried boxing, you have never had a complete workout. Kickboxing doesn't count, I'm talking a full, Million Dollar Baby style, boxing workout; and if you have, you know exactly what I'm talking about!

My friend and I decided to check out Trinity Boxing Club in New York City's financial district, and oh, my, gosh, I truly underestimated what my trial session was going to entail. I thought I'd learn some punching moves…maybe hit a bag or two…and call it a day...wrong.

So we start with an intense jump-rope "warm up" that had both my friend and I winded - to say the least. Then we moved on to learn the proper form for jabbing and punching (which had all of the trainers laughing until we started to look like fierce professionals). Next we put on our boxing gloves, and headed over to a series of bags where we applied our fighting skills in a series of drills that required much concentration, fancy footwork, and far more endurance than I anticipated. At this point I figured the work out would wind down...wrong again...I was then told to get into the ring.

Now for the safety of everyone, I would not be hitting anyone in the face, or being hit during my first session in the ring; rather, I'd be following instructions to jab, hit, or cross punch one of the trainers who had punching mits on each of his hands and would move towards and away from me. I cannot figure out a way to write this that would truly articulate how intense and difficult this was. I honestly could not feel my hands from my knuckles to the tips of my fingers by the end of it; but as much as I wanted to stop, I was more motivated to keep going than I ever have been before this in a workout. (I'm pretty sure the Rocky music started playing in my head or something). Ok, so I was finally done! WRONG AGAIN!

Now it was time for conditioning. My friend and I could not even speak at this point, we just looked at each other in disbelief, climbed into another ring, and started doing intense ab workouts to the point of no return.

So when it was complete, as we lay in the center of the ring, we immediately decided that we have to do this again! Best one hour workout of my life. And honestly, for anyone who is trying to get in quick shape, this is the perfect solution. Try it! You'll be a knockout...or be knocked out...either way its fun!

~Ashley Johncola