It’s official

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Ivan, head coach of DC Boxing and Justin, a long running senior boxer and coach, both had words of encouragement at the start of the trip, which Phill and Heley took with them, along with their 20kg bags. Now at the premature end of their journey, we asked them again for their thoughts.

1) Now that Phill and Heley have officially announced that they will not be able to complete the trip, what are your thoughts?

Ivan: Disappointed for them. But if you’ve given your all, you can’t ask for more. Logic has to take sense.

Justin: They’ve done amazing.

2) How do you feel about what they have managed to achieve for the club, in terms of both raising the profile of the club and the money they have raised?

Ivan: Whether they raised £2 or £2000, it’s not about the finance. They’ve given their time for the club, and put something back in. It’s generated a lot of interest. It’s a shame people just don’t have the money to sponsor more.

Justin: Brilliant. They’ve gone out and done it, and it shows what the club means to people.

3) Despite Phill and Heley’s clear achievement, if they were to feel disappointed or a sense of failure in anyway, what would you say to them?

Ivan: They haven’t failed at all. We can only imagine how hard it was out there from reading the stories. They didn’t fail, they just didn’t reach the goal they set out to. If failure is raising money for the club and raising awareness for the club, then call it failure. It has got a lot of people talking and money for the club towards the much-needed new ring.

Justin: Injury takes over the braveness. You’ve got to be realistic. Your mind is trying to work over your injury, but sometimes you can’t carry on.

4) How else do you plan to raise money for the new ring? 

Ivan: Last year we had a shave night. ‘It’s a knockout’ is coming up to raise awareness, but not a lot of money. Dunno – ask Justin!

Justin: ‘It’s a knockout’ is on this week. There’ll be a stall and scaffolding with bags. 30 seconds. £1 a go. So hopefully we can raise a bit of money there.

On the site alone, Phill and Heley have raised £862.70 so far. They’re still planning to reach £1000, with a welcome-home-empty-your-pockets bucket bash. With Ivan’s wisdom and experience, and Justin’s duracell-positivity, I’m pretty sure we’ll reach the target £1500, because it’s not about the money. It’s about the club. 

‘Emergency support co-ordinator’ cum internet dogsbody

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Phill has kindly (!) asked me to be his and Heley’s ’emergency support co-ordinator’ and internet dogsbody – roughly translated, to be on standby if anything goes wrong in them hills, and to keep everyone updated on how they’re getting along when they’re unable to update the site themselves. Sounds simple enough, yet my panic-stricken face betrays the knowledge that he has picked entirely the wrong person for the job. Anyhow, the votes have been cast – one, Phill’s. And I’m it. So this is a brief introduction; mainly my first experiences of the club they’re trekking 380 miles for, and are leaving me in the proverbial shit for.

I went to DC Boxing for the first time last week. Followed by a second time. If first impressions are anything to go by, I was and am impressed. I attended as a complete beginner, and as one of only three females that night (one being the other girl I’d dragged along). I was understandably intimidated. Surprisingly however, and much to DC’s credit, somehow the club manages to absorb you. The atmosphere, due primarily to the coaches, and as a result the people, is strangely friendly, despite a lack of much chat. The two giddy beginners were taken aside after the warm up to be taught the basics by a smiling and reassuring David, and instructions not to call him Dave (although it seems that everyone does..?) We rejoined the group later, a little better informed of how to punch properly, even if we were a long way off delivering anything resembling a jab. Not to mention my stubbornly static feet. Sweated out the end on ropes and bags, and attempts to develop guts of steel. Left that night feeling excited about returning.

The second session arrives, but I left my balls at home, fearing all the same things as before, despite my good impressions. Turn up at Phill’s in the rain, thinking that the weather will mean people don’t turn up, and I’ll have less to fear. Wrong. I think the numbers may have been double! Maybe that’s more telling than anything else I’ve said. People love the club, and I can see why. I fell out of a tree last night, twisted my ankle running through bushes in a failed attempt to miss the sprinkler, but it’s kind of like the rain.. not enough to keep me away.. :)

So this is who Phill has left everything to in his absence. I wish him and Heley a safe and successful trip, and may my services need not be required! I wish them even more luck if they are. Trying to locate somewhere suitable for them to spend the night by way of coordinates and googlemaps as daylight fades and panic sets in, when Phill’s dodgy knee can’t hobble any further and Heley’s all but throttling him anyway, is something of a responsibility. Shame they left it to someone who can’t tell a mountain from a swamp, ‘cos they all look like squiggles on a map to me! :s

In the gym with Boris: Why I’m supporting DC Academy

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DC Boxing Club LogoThis week we’ve invited Boris from DC Boxing to give us a few words from the gym floor. Boris may be relatively new to the club, but he is already proving to be a great asset to the club. His commitment and constant enthusiasm serve to remind us why we are putting ourselves through 380 miles of Scottish weather for DC Boxing, so without further ado…

My name is Boris and I’m one of the boxers at DC Academy. With 35 years I’m too old and probably not even talented enough for competitive boxing, nevertheless and though I only started four months ago, I feel very much at home and accepted in the club. There is a really strong sense of togetherness in the gym, probably because everyone feels equally pushed to the limit after a hard training session, regardless how different we may be outside the club.

The challenges are always changing. Right at my first night I thought the coach would be joking when towards the end of the session he asked for 12, then 11, then 10, etc… press-ups and I could hardly do 10. It’s still not my favourite, but now I can do it. And while I just started the training to complement my fitness programme as a runner, I soon realised there is so much more to boxing than hitting a bag. It’s the precise orchestration of technique, speed and power combined with an incredible need for stamina that makes boxing such a varied sport. I think this is where DC Academy has a great advantage: Ivan and the other coaches want to make sure that we understand how to put it all together and practice until it works; they make it clear that just sparring alone doesn’t cut the mustard if you want to be a good boxer.

Boxing and boxing training can teach you a lot, also about yourself. Your limits but also possibilities. In that respect it is probably no different to martial arts. Talent and physical ability aside, some key ingredients are discipline, dedication, and commitment. Hard work. Self-control. Sounds familiar? Of course. Good old values we should try to teach children. It always makes me happy when I arrive at the gym and the Juniors are still pounding the bags. They might not want to see it that way (hey, we’re talking about a bunch of teenagers), but this is where I feel DC Academy makes a difference at a time when the councils close down youth centres and other facilities. The club gives these youngsters something to do, provides them with an opportunity to identify and overcome their limits, to become confident. And I rather have that happening in a bout than bullying others in the streets.

Boris' Shed (Boris not included)

Boris' Shed (Boris not included)

The club’s current location is best described as a shed, and although that has its own charm to it, there is a lot of room for improvement. We’re not talking about luxury. We’re talking about necessities; a new ring, a few more bags, even gloves or skipping ropes. The membership fees are small to allow everyone to enter the club, and I think this is an important and positive difference to more exclusive venues. It is thanks to the great engagement of people like Phill and Heley that we can now plan ahead and save towards a new ring. I’m happy to do my bit, and I hope I could convince some of you to click on that yellow little ‘Donate’ button on the right and make a small contribution towards DC Academy.

Interview with a DC Boxing Coach

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Ivan from DC Boxing has kindly answered a few questions about the club for us. Ivan is the head coach at DC Boxing, and has a wealth of experience as both a former boxer and a coach.

DC Boxing Club Logo1) What is your role at DC Boxing Club?

My role is as a coach, along with being the clubs competition secretary. As well as whatever needs to be done.

2) How did you get involved in boxing?

I remember watching Joe Bugner box Henry Cooper back in about 1970 – at the same time my brother had just started training at the Howard Mallett – so it was not long before I started as well.

3) Why train at DC boxing?

I think the club is a good club – over the past year we have had over 26 lads box for the club as well as nearly every session is all but full. I think you are best to ask that question to all the members, we must be doing something right and I do think the club is on the up.

4) Describe a typical training session

As you know, a lot of the session is based around skill, developing technique and tatical awareness. Cardio work is always a part of the sessions.

5) What makes DC Boxing a special club?

The boxers – every single one makes this club special

6) How could donations be used to benefit the club?

Every club relies on donations and DC is no different. At this moment we are looking to expand the training area so we can have a second sparring ring and another training area.

7) Is it safe? The club trains a lot of youngsters, aren’t parents worried about their children being hit in the head?

Amateur Boxing has a good saftey record, along with a very good medical system. Yes boxers do get hit in the face , but they are trained to defend the punches and headguards are worn in sparring and competitions.

8) Do you have to be a fighter to train at a boxing gym?

No, anyone from 7 to 100 can train at DC

9) What do you think about the sponsored trek to raise money for DC Boxing Club?

I think the trek is a good idea, it will be a hard effort needed to complete and it will test your personal character, I wish you both a good and safe trip and I hope the Scottish weather is kind to you. It would be nice if you are able to raise enough money to purchase our second sparring ring – instead of a red and blue corner we will have the corner pads labelled with PHILL & HELEY.
Good Luck to you both

Interview with a DC Boxer

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Justin from DC Boxing has kindly answered a few questions about the club for us. Justin is one of the clubs senior boxers and recently won DC Boxing’s Dedication and Achievement award. He’s always the first person to offer advice and encouragement to other boxers, so we thought we’d ask him to answer a few questions for us.

Justin won DC Boxing's Dedication and Achievement award

Justin won DC Boxing's Dedication and Achievement award

1) What is your role at DC boxing club?

Boxer/Coach. I like to help others as my boxing career is nearing its end at 35.

2) How did you get involved/interested in boxing?

I got involved in boxing watching mike Tyson with my brother in those days it was on terrestrial TV. And of course, there were the Rocky movies.

I’m interested in boxing because it’s a great way to keep fit and it brings all sorts of different people together.

3) Describe a typical training session…

A typical session is cardio, coupled with technique; we go over certain things we need to improve on. Sometimes sparring is involved and hopefully what we learn outside the ropes helps us when in them.

4) Why should people raise money for DC Boxing?

Raising money for the club will benefit everyone associated with the club.

The club needs more equipment as it is growing each week. The club is expanding into the adjacent building and renovation work needs to be done for it to be a fit for people to train in. Once repairs and renovations have been completed the club could do with another boxing ring, but the priority is completing the extension in order to provide enough space for new members to train.

5) Boxing has been getting a lot of media attention in the UK recently, for example Amir Khan, David Haye, do you think that British Boxing is on the up?

British boxing is very much on the up, Amir Khan recently winning another world title and Carl Froch to come. Very exciting times and I think this encourages the youngsters to the gym.

6) What sort of people train at DC Boxing?

We have a wide variety of  people who train in our gym, ranging from the young to the old, from men to women. All circles of life where each individual has a story to tell.

7) What sort of person would you recommend boxing to?

I would recommend boxing to absolutely anyone. Give it a go and see where it can take you. It’s certainly changed my life.

8) What do you think about the sponsored trek to raise money for DC Boxing Club?

The sponsored trek for the club just shows how much our club means to the boxers, they care about the club and don’t think they should just turn up for a session and forget it until the next one. Everyone wants to get involved personally. And physically. A great club that means so much to them. The donated trek just goes to show the boxers what it means to the others.

On a personal note well done to both the walkers from DC and we appreciate your efforts.