Do you ever have those days where you just feel a bit flat? I can’t help but feel that way every year as the heater comes on; my motivation shuts off and I’m left feeling lethargic and a bit down. Today was most certainly one of those days. I felt it all day, right up until I stepped out of the chilly wind and into the warmth of Elements Fitness on Moore Street in the city.

I’d been invited to try my hand at Crazy Monkey Defence, a modern style of self defence with a focus on fun and functional fitness. Leave your preconceptions of martial arts with your bag and your shoes by the door – this is not like Muay Thai or kickboxing. It’s not mega aggressive nor excessively competitive.

In fact, what I loved about the class was the group of people that I was lucky enough to train with.

Although I was initially paired up with the extremely patient instructor Ben to get a hold on the basics, I had the opportunity to partner up with each of the other seven participants. Even though I was a bit (cough) slow and uncoordinated, they all adjusted to my pace and gave me helpful pointers—everything from “hands up by your face” to “just stop bouncing around for a second”—(I may have got slightly carried away). Getting guidance from fellow participants helps to get rid of the intimidation or embarrassment factor, as everyone is understanding and friendly. There’s a huge range of ages and fitness levels too, so anyone and everyone is sure to be welcomed into the group.

The class also has a really effective format, with a warm up routine followed by progressively more complex and high energy drills. After three minutes of skipping, we were given a brief rundown on stance and balance, and worked individually on our footwork. Next we were paired off and practiced the same activity, but working reactively with a partner, gradually incorporating some jabs into the drill. We also did some “wall” exercises where we were lined up on a mat and ran through how to throw a straight punch. By the end of the class I felt reasonably confident in a (slow) drill with my partner incorporating jabs, straights and shoulder charges. There’s an equally strong focus on defence as well, as each partner takes turns to lead.

I personally find boxing quite overwhelming at times as there are so many things to think about at once. Ben was really helpful in giving simple, straightforward but specific instructions. He guides you on everything from balance, posture and technique through to where to look and precisely what to focus on.

One standout piece of advice he gave for beginners—focus on posture, with your shoulders up and hunched forward in what he refers to as the “hunchback” stance.

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“Master this”, he says, “And the rest will follow.”

Because you’re constantly moving around and performing different activities, there’s a really strong emphasis on focus. When you’re trying to remember to keep your shoulders up, hands by your face and weight evenly distributed, you have to be able to concentrate. This is most definitely one of the benefits to be gained by starting Crazy Monkey Defence—you’re not only focusing on your body and your fitness, but also your discipline and ability to focus.

The class was tonnes of fun and I genuinely enjoyed myself from start to finish. However, that’s not to say it isn’t a tough workout. All through the class my heart was pounding and I was sweating. But because you’re constantly trying new movements and concentrating on your technique, you hardly notice. I left the class feeling like I’d completed a solid work out, with tight calves and—importantly—a big smile on my face, feeling every bit a Crazy Monkey.

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the essentials

What: Elements Fitness
Where: 15 Moore Street, Canberra City
When: View the timetable online
Phone: 0402 581 977
Email: info@elementsfitnessact.com.au
Web: www.elementsfitnessact.com.au