Wild kids enter the gym and learn extremely fast that without self control you cannot hope to accomplish much in the ring. Those who are shy and introverted gain confidence and develop the language for trust. The boxing gym becomes a place where more than just training occurs, as people with different views and beliefs come together and forge a common ground from which they learn to respect one another. Students translate confidence and respect into the real world, because everything learned through the sport is applicable to life. You learn to solve problems with focus of the mind and a calm demeanor, not with your fists. In boxing, we don’t teach kids how to hurt others, we teach them a gentlemen’s sport, one in which they learn to take care of their health and respect others as much they respect themselves. We teach them that appearance is not important, but attitude is.

 As coaches, do we dream about medals and belts and champions? Of course we do, but it all pales in comparison to the best moments one can have as a coach — the moments in which students with a bloody nose come to you after their first bout with a crazy smile on their face, a smile of unbelievable achievement. “I did it!”, written all over their face. These kids learned in just six minutes perhaps the most important lesson boxing bestows for life: that they  can do anything. And it is moments like these that are worth everything to me. This why we do what we do — why I do what I do. That unshakable, happy smile. And If we are lucky, we get to see it often.