Walking into a gym can feel intimidating -- immense metallic machines stacked to the brim with weights so massive it becomes a safety hazard. However, seniors Mohamed Sami and Youssef Abdelaziz have introduced two new fitness classes at AUC that require minimal equipment and are accessible for all fitness levels: jump rope and calisthenics. We sat down with them to learn how it started and how it's going.
Mohamed Sami - Accounting Senior
How It Started
Sami began jumping rope at age 13. "It was really good cardio without the need for any expensive equipment or a gym. It's so accessible and very convenient," he says. At AUC, he was inspired by coursework in his Entrepreneurship and Innovation class to create an informal team on campus in coordination with the Office of Athletics. Now, every Wednesday the AUC Sports Center is abuzz with the staccato stomps of students improving their skills on the rope -- and inventing their own.
Why We Love It
Despite its intensity, the sport lends itself to the flexibility and range of the human body. Sami stresses the ease of learning the ropes -- literally -- in his jumper-see, jumper-do attitude, teaching a wide variety of students, from novices to experts. "Some beginners feel uncomfortable or insecure because they don't know where to start. I focus on making them feel comfortable with baby steps."
Looking Ahead
Although the group has yet to become an official team, jump rope takes much of Sami's time. "Balancing academics and teaching is so hard," he says. "But I love what I'm doing, and I hope to start my own academy after graduation."
Youssef Abdelaziz, Psychology Senior
How It Started
Abdelaziz started learning calisthenics during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the lockdown was lifted, he went back to the gym but soon realized he'd have to adapt his regimen: "I went with the aim of building the muscles specifically for calisthenics."
He began teaching calisthenics at AUC after impressing his peers at a pushup competition on campus. Amassing the interest of around 50 students, the calisthenics team solidified itself as a force to be reckoned with at the AUC Sports Center. The feedback from students has been positive.
Why We Love It
Calisthenics is a form of strength training where the body acts as the main source of resistance to challenge muscles.
"While powerlifters and bodybuilders lift weights and dumbbells, calisthenic athletes leverage different positions of their bodies like handstands and pullups," Abdelaziz explains.
Looking Ahead
Abdelaziz prioritizes the social aspect of calisthenics, noting how participants benefit from connections. "They are in a circle that encourages training and working out. When you get to know more people who have the same mindset and goals as you, I think that's a win." Eventually, he intends to use his background in psychology and aptitude for physical activity to launch a sports psychology course at AUC.
By Ammar Abdelwahab Mathematics Senior