Over the last nine weeks youB次元官网网址檝e let me complain about how sore I am, harass you to join boxing, and babble on about what kind of food I eat.
So before you get sick of me, I thought I would put the spotlight on someone else for a change: two of my coaches, Ellen Connor (the woman who dragged me in to this) and Tammy Johnson.
These two lovely ladies inspire me in a lot of ways, and are the reason I have made it this far with training.
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The dynamic duo met around two years ago while Connor was coaching at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Langford.
Johnson came to class and became captivated by the sport. Now, she helps Connor out with classes almost every day at the Sooke Boxing Club.
B次元官网网址淏oxing has shown me that I can come back from bumps in the road,B次元官网网址� said Johnson. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 empowering, and thereB次元官网网址檚 always something to learn or something that you can do better, so it keeps you wanting more.B次元官网网址�
Johnson said that boxing has showed her that itB次元官网网址檚 never too late to change your path.
B次元官网网址淚 want boxing to do the same thing for girls younger than me. ItB次元官网网址檚 such a validating sport,B次元官网网址� said Johnson. B次元官网网址淚t makes me feel alive.B次元官网网址�
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Connor agreed, saying that her main goal with coaching is to help empower women and young girls.
B次元官网网址淚 was that 16-year-old girl that was chubby, had no self-esteem and no sense of belonging. I just struggled to fit in and find a place. So for me, boxing sparked that voice in me that made me think, B次元官网网址榊ou know what? I am worthy,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Connor.
Connor said boxing changed her life forever, which is why she wanted to open up her own club in Sooke.
B次元官网网址淚 knew during my first class that this was the sport for me, it spoke to me in a different way that no other sport has,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 infectious and I want to share with people what boxing has done for me.B次元官网网址�
Along with being some of the most physically fit women I know, Connor and Johnson are both extremely mentally strong as well.
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Johnson has taught me to use a little trick called RBF, (acronym for Resting B次元官网网址渇emale dogB次元官网网址� Face) while struggling in a workout. Essentially, the trick is to pretend like nothing is happening to you, to detach your emotions from the pain and just continue to work through it.
ItB次元官网网址檚 definitely hard to ignore when your arms feel like they are being ripped off at the shoulder by a pack of wolves during a punching drill, and then Connor shouts B次元官网网址淥ne more minute to go!B次元官网网址�, but IB次元官网网址檝e learned to just use my RBF, let my arms go numb, and can usually survive the drill.
If I look like IB次元官网网址檓 about to go unconscious, Connor will scream, B次元官网网址淕O WITHIN DAWN!B次元官网网址� and that almost always boosts me enough to close out the exercise.
B次元官网网址淢ental strength is the key component,B次元官网网址� said Connor. B次元官网网址淵ou could be the worst boxer on the planet, but when itB次元官网网址檚 time to get in the ring and you actually believe in yourself, you will get through it.B次元官网网址�
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Connor has us focusing just as much on our mental strength as our physical strength throughout training by having us keep journals.
This is so we can write about how weB次元官网网址檝e felt after each class, and try to improve by looking back on our experiences.
B次元官网网址淏oxing is going to knock you down, but itB次元官网网址檚 about those who have the ability to get back up. And if you can do that in boxing, it will transfer over in to your life,B次元官网网址� said Connor. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had some bad times in my life, and boxing has taught me to be that much stronger and to pick myself up when I get knocked down and keep moving forward.B次元官网网址�
Connor started this all-female challenge hoping to give women an opportunity to do something that they might not otherwise do.
B次元官网网址淲hen the girls step in to that ring at the all-female card, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter if they win or lose. ItB次元官网网址檚 the fact that they got in the ring, because not everyone can do that,B次元官网网址� said Connor. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not about beating each other down, itB次元官网网址檚 about building each other up, and showing women that they belong here, that they can do anything, and that they are good enough.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址⑩赌⑩赌�
Dawn (Killer) Gibson writes every other week about her exploits at the Sooke Boxing Club, as part of an All-Female Boxing Challenge.
