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Feb 18

Why a Houston lawyer traded in his suit and tie for boxing gloves and his own studio – Houston Chronicle

Exercise Programs Comments Off on Why a Houston lawyer traded in his suit and tie for boxing gloves and his own studio – Houston Chronicle

Even as a busy corporate lawyer, Kevin Blodgett remained a fitness junkie.

I did Cross Fit, bootcamps, hot yoga, Orangetheory, personal training, he said. Everything you could do, I did it.

Last fall, he decided to merge his career with his passion taking a leap of faith and trading in his office for a gym. He opened Legends Boxing Memorial at 9414 Gaylord.

He settled on the franchise after traveling to its home base in Utah, where he first tried a workout for himself.

Blodgett had already made a name in law, serving as general counsel at Rockwater Energy Solutions and Dynegy, after a stint as an associate with Baker Botts. He then worked as a consultant.

But he always had an entrepreneurial itch. By 2018, he started to explore his options.

I thought, You know, theres never a perfect time to go out on your own. So why not now? he recalled.

Blodgett transitioned out of consulting work and met a franchise matchmaker who could connect him with a dream business.

I looked at a bunch of franchises, but Legends checked all of the boxes for me, Blodgett said. Its the one thing I knew was going to make me fired up to go to work and give me the opportunity to help people.

The franchise matchmaker explained the concept to him. In 2012, Legends Boxing was created by brothers and former Golden Glove boxing champions Andrew and Rob Scott. They incorporated what they learned from years of professional training and made it more accessible. The result is a boxing gym, where all of the sports basics, from footwork and punching techniques to self-defense, are part of the program. The focus is on a total-body workout, complete with conditioning, core and cardio exercise.

Its basically a mesh between an old-school boxing gym and a new boutique fitness facility, Blodgett said. My interest was piqued immediately.

When he tried the workout for himself, he was hooked.

Its easy to get so caught up in learning boxing that you forget youre working out, he said. And the way boxers condition is fantastic. Its the ultimate workout.

He found a location in his neighborhood; when his renovation was complete, Blodgetts franchise became the first to open outside Utah. Legends Boxing has since opened centers in Austin and North Carolina.

Already, Blodgett said the gym is building a community: We have people tell us, This is the first gym where I ever felt at home.

Christine Mikulich has been a member at Legends Boxing for a month. Its a full-body workout, she said. The first time, its going to be tough. Give it time, and youll see that you want to be a part of it.

Not only do the routines provide the desired results, but Mikulich has found camaraderie at the gym. Everybody is supportive, she said. We call it our workout family. Ive never been in a place before that has that feeling, like youre part of a group. Its a tribe.

Mikulich is also an attorney and was impressed with Blodgetts story. I admire him so much for taking that risk, breaking out and doing something he really wanted to do, she said.

She often sees him at the gym. Hes very engaged, and he knows everyone by name, she said.

Blodgett loves growing his community. Anyone can join, he said; members range in age from 12 to 65. There are modifications for each exercise.

Legends also hosts twice-weekly Rock Steady Boxing, a noncontact fitness program for individuals with Parkinsons disease.

I look forward to those days most of all, said Blodgett, who coaches that class.

Take your preconceived notions of boxing and toss them out, Blodgett said.

Most of the people who come in our door have no boxing experience, he said. What they want is a workout that they dont have to come up with on their own and thats what we provide.

Its a high-intensity workout tailored to their needs, Blodgett added.

We have a state-of-the art facility, he said. Weve got all the benefits of a class. I know I get the most out of myself when I work out with a group. Combining boxing with working out means we get the best of both worlds.

Boxing helps members with stress relief as well. You can leave it all on the bag, Blodgett said. Its very empowering, too. Youre learning a skill.

Whenever Blodgett has time for his own workout at Legends, he takes it. He has given up looking around at other fitness programs and settled on the one he likes best. And he has no regrets about his transformation from corporate lawyer to gym owner.

I cant tell you the last time I put on a suit and tie, he said.

There are no bad days here, he said. I wanted to do something I was passionate about, something that impacts people. If you can find a way to make a living doing something you love, thats about as good as it gets.

For more information, visit legendsboxing.com/gym/memorial.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based writer.

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Why a Houston lawyer traded in his suit and tie for boxing gloves and his own studio - Houston Chronicle

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