A little over a year ago, a friend suggested I try out boxing at Reign City Athletics. Just like most people, I was very hesitant and terrified about getting punched in the face! When I told my family and friends about boxing, most told me not to do it because I'm a girl, so I shouldn’t be doing a combat sport. That doubt lit a fire within me because I wanted to prove them wrong. That didn’t mean I was a natural when it came to learning the ropes of the sport, but the difficulty and challenge was what made it really fun! I honestly looked forward to being frustrated with a new drill because it made me want to go through the drill over and over again until I got it right.
At first, I was intimidated by the folks at RCA because I felt like a complete outsider. It was nerve wracking since I had no idea what I was doing and everyone was already in the flow of things and looked like actual boxers. However, that feeling quickly dissipated as I realized everyone at RCA didn’t care about how good I was. It was all about helping each other become a better, smarter boxer in a challenging and safe environment. There were definitely days where I wanted to give up and cry from frustration. But knowing that I was training with a supportive group that works so hard, it reminded me to stop feeling sorry for myself and to keep punching.
I have had many coaches in my life and Coach Troy is without a doubt one of the best. Not only did he help me grow as a boxer, but as a person. I came into RCA with a very little confidence in my abilities – not just in boxing, but many other things in life. But Coach Troy really made me see what I am capable of and how far my mind can really push itself. He made me see that not everyone is perfect and putting effort into things is what really brings success. He treats us like family and makes it so much easier to act like yourself and feel comfortable – like there is a sense of belonging. His style of teaching was also what really made me enjoy boxing at RCA.
With it being over a year of boxing, I have set a goal for myself to fit in some more time to spar. Yes, you can go through drills all day, every day, but you won’t really be able to see who you are and how you are as a boxer until you are in the ring with another person who is also proving themselves. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the beauty in boxing if all you think about is hitting a target. In reference to what a famous boxer once said, I, too, want to look like a butterfly and sting like a bee.