In partnership with NiQuitin.
Gonna fly now!
It’s week one of our Quit to Fit challenge. This is it, the ground floor. Each week we’ll be giving you an activity that’s designed to keep you motivated to stay away from cigarettes.
We have our five JOE teams who will be fronting the challenge. Follow our teams’ progress on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #QuitToFit.
This week we will be challenging our teams to fight the urge to light up by taking a boxercise class. If you want to take part, check out your local gym for classes or why not try this workout at home. Let us follow your progress on social media using the hashtag #QuitToFit.
To get you in the mood for the challenge ahead, we’ve taken the time to list some of our favourite moments from a particular well-known sports movie franchise.
Joe Frazier is the greatest boxer ever to come from Philadelphia. A heavyweight champion and the first man to defeat Muhammad Ali. His city gave him a statue just over two years ago. Meanwhile, a fictional pugilist by the name of Rocky Balboa has had his own bronze likeness somewhere in the city (it’s been moved around) for over 30 years. It’s a testament to the enduring strength of the character, that when you think boxing and Philly, you think Rocky.
It would’ve been to easy to compile a list consisting solely of the training montages. To make things more interesting, we thought we’d steer clear of those and bring you some less obvious examples.
1. There’s no easy way out (Rocky IV)
Clip Via: You Are Made Of Stardust
Apollo Creed has just been killed in the ring. Rocky blames himself after failing to throw in the towel before Drago beat his opponent turned friend, to death. When you’re angry and upset there’s really only one thing that can soothe the pain, a spin in your Lambo.
Set to the dulcet tones of Robert Tepper’s No Easy Way Out, this sequence is the ultimate depiction of grief and angst, eighties style.
2. One step at a time (Creed)
Clip Via: Movieclips
We’ve seen Rocky bound up the steps to the Philadelphia Museum of art in almost every instalment (he runs up a mountain in Russia in IV instead). But the most recent time packs a punch like no other. Training Adonis Creed throughout the film while battling his own illness, it’s time for the protege to help Rocky this time around.
Watching the weakened legend ascend the steps might have been upsetting if it wasn’t so bloody inspiring. Watch it and try not to weep.
3. Win! (Rocky II)
Clip Via: Marcus T
Having gone through most of Rocky II trying to discourage her husband from jumping back into the ring, Adrian wakes up from a childbirth induced coma with a change of heart. Rocky tells her they can find another way to get by, instead, she whispers in his ear that what she wants him to do is “Win!”. Cue Micky jumping out of his chair and shouting “What are we waiting for?”, cue a training montage, cue the goosebumps.
4. Yo Adrian (Rocky II)
Clip Via: Movieclips
Probably the most iconic line from the series and easily the most crowd-pleasing. After a dramatic second bout with Apollo, Rocky goes one better this time around and clinches the heavyweight title.
Staying at home with their newborn baby, Adrian watches her husband on TV as he hoists the belt above his head and calls out to her “Yo Adrian, I did it!” Movie magic.
5. Where’s your hat? (Rocky)
Clip Via: Movieclips
It’s easy to forget how unassuming the original film is compared with its greased-up sequels. The first time around, going the distance with the Heavyweight Champion is all that matters for the unknown Rocky. He achieves his goal, he’s the first ever to do it. Reporters rush the ring, Adrian makes her way in too.
Instead of jumping for joy or beating his chest, his first words are of concern for his girlfriend. “Where’s your hat?” he asks. She lost it in the crowd. Everything else falls away. It’s just Rocky and Adrian. He’s won.
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In partnership with NiQuitin.
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