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In this issue, Marc J. Kahn, MD, MBA, gives us a
blow-by-blow account of his love of boxing. Dr. Kahn
is Peterman-Prosser Professor of Medicine and
Senior Associate Dean at Tulane University School of
Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Now Entering the Ring:
Marc J. Kahn, MD, MBA
When did your interest in boxing start?
I have followed the sport since I was a kid. I would watch
the Gillette Friday Night Fights on a small black-andwhite TV with my dad. I started boxing in a gym about
three years ago.
How often do you train?
I go to the gym to box about three or four times a week.
I took a few lessons to get started, but I mainly learned
from the folks at the gym. The gym where I box is really
a “down-and-dirty” place with no running water, heating, or air conditioning. All types of men and women
work out in the gym, so it represents a nice cross section
of the people of New Orleans. When I first started, a
rather intimidating man with obvious prison tattoos
approached me. Turns out, he wanted to help me throw
my right, telling me that my right “was looking pretty
ridiculous!”
Dr. Kahn working the heavy bag.
What drew you to boxing? Do you participate in any
other sports?
Boxing is one of the original “blood sports,” and there is
no greater show of human strength and vitality. Boxing
is pure in strength and human form and represents
mankind’s oldest forms of competition. I don’t like
kickboxing and ultimate fighting because they lack the
finesse and style of the classic sport.
I do participate in other sports. About 14 years ago,
I was morbidly obese and made the decision to start
running. After losing 80 pounds and completing six
marathons, I switched to cycling because of hip pain. I
now ride about 100 miles a week and try to get on a bike
every day.
I’ve learned many lessons from boxing – besides the
obvious! For one, in boxing, you are your most vulnerable when you are on the offensive. When you throw a
punch, you are no longer protecting yourself – making
you vulnerable. The same is true in life, and I think,
as a result of my time boxing, I’ve since become more
restrained in my interactions with others.
Another lesson is that, although boxing looks easy, it
is actually quite complicated. Throwing a good uppercut
involves body movement akin to ballet. Timing, dexterity, quickness, and precision are all part of the sport.
Also, boxing is an amazingly efficient exercise. Eight
rounds with a heavy bag burns more than 300 calories!
Three minutes (the standard time for a round of boxing)
is a long time in the ring. Of course, boxing is also a
great stress-reliever; there is nothing like hitting something to relieve stress.
Any plans to go pro?
Only as a hematologist! My motto is: “Never hit something that hits back.” ●
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40
ASH Clinical News
June 2015