It’s not just boxing, it’s human development

While paying a visit to the gym at Collyhurst Boxing Academy I saw the process of taking youngsters into the sport. The trainer, Kenny Webber, a fine boxer himself, takes the lads through their paces, skipping, vaulting and all other activities that you expect in a gymnasium. But there’s more to it than this. After a few minutes physical activity, Kenny noticed one youngster was wearing jeans. He told the lad, wearing jeans during training isn’t allowed and he couldn’t continue training with his mates. I was feeling a little sorry for the lad but I realised the trainer was quite right in what he did. Rules are there to be kept. I watched the lad as he left the training area. He didn’t go away to sulk, but sat looking on as his peers went through their paces. I watched his body-language as he obviously skipped every skip, jumped every jump and vaulted every vault along with his mates. I couldn’t help but think, self-discipline was in progress here, and what a fine way to build character!

During the session, a chap came in with three youngsters to enrol them in the gym. I listened while Kenny told them what to expect. I heard him coin a great phrase. “I don’t call this initial training stage boxing, it’s human development.” Thanks for the experience Kenny and keep up the good work!

While at the gym I watched a young lad called Matthew Hall. He was in the ring with Robbie Reid who was responding to instructions to bring out reactions from Matthew, from Brian Hughes, the chief coach. Brian pointed out little mistakes he was making. He also pointed out the fact that in boxing, little mistakes can mean the difference in winning or losing a fight. Matthew, Robbie and Michael Gomez alternated bouts in the ring, and went through strenuous punching and speed-ball training between bouts. Brian suggested Matthew is a boxer to look out for in the future. Good luck to the academy and youngsters, keep it up! Tom Connor