I know not every kid is into boxing, nor should they all be. But every kid needs a boxing coach.
Okay, I admit that I’m speaking partly out of my own personal regret, because I never had a coach of any kind as a child. I had teachers. I had adults in my life who cared. But I was in my late 30’s before I found out that a boxing coach is what I never knew I was missing as a kid.
I’ve always been more of an introvert. Some might call me a reclusive writer type, and there’s some truth in that. Growing up, I tended to have only one or two friends at a time, and I’ve always preferred one-on-one interactions over group settings. Team sports were out of the question. Dance classes made me a nervous wreck, but I got through them. My preferred physical activity was walking alone outside, away from the world. Small and rather soft spoken, I was often mistaken for being shy, or fragile. I was neither of those, I just didn’t like most people or activities. Boxing for girls was not a thing when I was young, especially not in the south. So I was already too old to enter amateur boxing by the time I discovered the one sport I actually love. What I wasn’t too old for, though, was discovering just how valuable a great boxing coach truly is, and how much the right one could have changed my young adulthood. And maybe yours, too, or that of someone you know.
Good boxing coaches don’t just teach you how to fight. That’s the bare minimum. A good coach teaches you how to get and stay in fighting shape, how to study your opponent, how to move your entire body the right way, how to stay limber, how to defend as much as offend, how to physically and mentally prepare for a fight, when to rest, when to push harder, when to pull back. He (or she) will show you how to harness the power of self control, and to respect your body, while also testing its limits. He will teach you how to develop good habits, to learn self-discipline, and to become an early riser if you aren’t one already.
He will mold you into a stronger, more mentally tough, fearless human being who doesn’t put up with other people’s shit.
A great boxing coach will do all of the above, and more. He will mold you into a stronger, more mentally tough, fearless human being who doesn’t put up with other people’s shit. He won’t pat you on the back and say, “oh well, you tried your best,” when you lose (and sometimes, you will). Nah. He will remind you of who you are, show you where you went wrong, and then show you the path back to victory. He will teach you that motivation is meaningless, but discipline is essential. That you’re accountable for your own actions, choices, and feelings. That adversity is the father of invention and of strength. When you’re feeling weak, he won’t be there to support you in your weakness, but he will show you that weakness is only a state of mind, and that you are in control of your own mind. Because you’re a fighter, after all.
He will show you that weakness is only a state of mind, and that you are in control of your own mind. Because you’re a fighter, after all.
It’s never too late to find a great boxing coach, even if you don’t plan to compete in the sport. But just imagine if every young person had a guy (or gal) like this in their lives early on, and learned to live their lives with the physical and mental conditioning of a fighter in training? I’ll tell you what it would do. It would change the world. Society would become more productive, healthier in mind, body, and spirit, able to take on any challenge and persevere. No more feckless youth, no wasted years thrown down the toilet due to too much partying, no identity crises, no more “safe” spaces, no whining.
I know, it’s a big ask, and I make a lot of claims here. And don’t misunderstand me – I don’t mean to proclaim that a lifelong boxing coach is all anyone needs in this world. Obviously, we need God first, we need family, we need purpose, we need friends, we need community. And I’m not saying that even the best boxing coach is going to solve every problem, or that boxing itself is always the answer. But it’s a damn good place to start.
If you are one of the great boxing coaches out there who trains and/or mentors young fighters, oh how I wish I’d known you when I was young. But at least I have the chance to know you now. Thank you for doing your part, in your unique and much-needed way, in shaping the next generation (at least some of them) into healthier, tougher, more resilient members of society. You are a God send.