Youth boxing program a hit
The St. Catharines Boxing Club is a busy place Saturdays from noon to 1 p.m.
Throughout the club, kids ages nine and older are taking part in the club’s free, non-contact boxing program for youth.
Anyone interested can just show up at the club. The club will take down contact information and you are ready to go.
“It’s show up and train,” boxing club coach Joe Corrigan said.
Kids should wear shorts, T-shirt and running shoes and bring a water bottle for hydration. Skipping ropes and gloves are provided.
Twelve-year-old Sofia Coppola is a big fan of the program.
“It always feels like a community here and that is what I like the most about it. When I come in it feels like a family. And Joe runs it. He gets you hyped up and excited about it.”
The program starts with four rounds of skipping followed by four rounds of shadow boxing and then four rounds on the bags.
Sofia has made several new friends at the club.
“At first, a few of the boys were hesitant to talk to me and stuff but it becomes a mutual respect and everyone talks to each other and gives each other advice.”
She has made improvements week by week.
“On the bag, I have a lot more stability and I used to get out of breathe more than I do now.”
The Grade 7 student at Oakridge Public School is the daughter of Vince Coppola, a past Canadian senior light heavyweight champion. Vince’s nickname was Pitbull and Sofia is known around the club as Little Pitbull. She loves the nickname.
“It gets me excited in the morning to box.”
Her father got her involved in the sport.
“I started when I was six and then I took a break due to COVID. I came back at the start of this year.”
She became interested in the sport watching her dad box at home.
“The one day I asked him if he could teach me a little but about it and he said yes. I started, fell in love with it and kept doing it. I get angry a lot and boxing helps me take out my anger and I feel relieved after boxing.”
Sofia plays a number of sports for her elementary school and the boxing is excellent cross training.
“It helps for basketball and soccer because there is a lot of running. It builds up your endurance.”
She is not sure where boxing will take her.
“I talked to my parents about fighting but for now I am just going to do it for exercise.”
Youth boxing is one of a number of programs offered by the club. Another popular one is the boxercise classes offered on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“We have three different instructors, Tanya (Peterson), Sherri (Kuzyk) and Candace (MacNeill), and all boxed before,” Corrigan said. “That also is non-contact and is a great workout. The girls can punch the bag and get their frustrations out, I guess.”
Again anyone interested should show up a little early and the club will get contact information.
“They can try a workout and see if they like it or not. The first one is free.”
Cost for the boxercise classes is $100 for 10 lessons.
The main program at the club is regular boxing and it is open to everyone.
“It is kids who hope to get in the ring and they come in and they’ll train. We will make sure they are ready before we put them in sparring.”
The club is also home to high-performance training with past and present club members having gone on to win provincial and national medals.
But the regular boxing isn’t just for those wanting to test their mettle in the ring.
“We have lots of kids who come during regular boxing hours that don’t want to compete. They just want to get in shape. Everyone is different,” Corrigan said.
Regular boxing hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from noon until 2 p.m.
For more information about the club’s programs and activities call 905-988-1244, email stcatharinesboxingclub@yahoo.ca or visit the club’s website at http://stcatharinesboxingclub.com/.
