Corey Rodriguez enjoys interacting with his boxing students.

“You box a fighter, and you fight a boxer,” he said, while talking strategy after a recent adult class at Next Level Combat. Rodriquez, a Minneapolis native, is boxing instructor at the Woodbury training center. He currently offers both adult and youth classes three days per week.

Joe Mullenbach (left) listens during class as Corey Rodriguez (right) teaches at Next Level Combat Photo by Adam Haan

Students may take classes for $65 per month (youth) and $75 per month (adults). During the first half of the classes, they learn strengthening, cardiac and calisthenics, he said. The second part of the classes are spent on learning things like punching techniques, form, combinations and proper sequencing.

“I think that what I like the most is the fact that I get to work out with my people,” he said. I get in there and I do the same things they are doing. As a trainer, when you teach other people, you are learning, yourself.”

Photo Courtesy of Jesse Kelley/MinnesotaBoxing.com

Besides his teaching, Rodriquez is also a professional boxer, fighting as a welter weight/light middle weight.
Rodriguez said many adults in his classes struggle at first with things such as positioning, footwork and combination’s. However, he likes to see his students improve.
“It is rewarding to see people learn,” he said. “They are learning the art of boxing.”

Corey Rodriguez (left) instructs student Cody Askvig at Next Level Combat Photo by Adam Haan

Next Level Combat is owned by Nate Kleinfield and has been open since July 5. The facility also offers instruction in Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, and MMA.
For further information, visit www.nextlevelcombat.com, or call 651-890-9782.