Sport Spotlight: Boxing

Photos: Ruth Gibson

MEGAN GRAHAM : I will be honest with you, Sport readers; I am not a sporty-type person. When I volunteered for Spotlight, I did so with the naive and foolish hope that I’d be assigned something fun, easy and involving minimal effort. Instead, I was ordered to hop into the ring and go boxing. When I first arrived at the self-proclaimed “friendliest sports club on campus” I was made to feel very welcome, although it was more than a little intimidating to see that I’d be going up against people who are obviously incredibly dedicated to what they do. There were wifebeaters and ‘those cloth things they wrap around their hands’ galore.

ALEX FINNIS: By contrast, I have been a part of the boxing club since joining York in October. The idea of the glamour of flashy ring entrances and heroic last-round knockouts drew me into the sport, but it is the way the club caters so well for people of all abilities and its tight (although increasingly incestuous) family unit kept me coming back week after week. Despite our photographer Ruth’s digs at my attire, I was not intending on beating up any women, but instead wanted to help teach Megan the basics of boxing.

MG: First was the warm-up. This went quite well I felt, until the moment that push-ups were mentioned. While the rest of the room threw themselves on the ground and eagerly began, I managed to lift myself up twice, then had to resort to crouching awkwardly on the floor in an attempt to disguise my shameful lack of upper-body strength. It was then, lying on a cold gymnasium floor, singled out as the under-exercised arts student I am, that I began to grow concerned.

AF: After the warm up we split the group into beginners, intermediate and advanced, meaning Megan and I were forced to briefly part ways as she went off with the beginners to learn technique whilst I joined the advanced group for one of Jamie Lyons’ ‘Nazi fitness sessions’ which we don’t allow him to subject on our fledgling boxers for fear that they never return. After about 20 minutes of squatting, press-upping, sprinting and the like, I looked far more like I had been for a quick swim than been at a boxing session and a shower was certainly required before my planned night out later that evening.

MG: At the technique session, I began to feel more confident as I was paired with another boxing virgin to practice throwing punches. After learning some basic stances and the different ways to block an opponent I started to feel a little bit more like the star of a Hollywood training montage; I had high hopes that by the end of the class I’d be a new Rocky in the making.

AF: After fitness, I swapped groups in order to join Miss Balboa for some pad work, in order that she could practice her newfound skills by thumping my padded hands. At this point, Ruth got jealous due to her lack of action and decided to land a few cheap shots right in my not-so-padded face. Charming.

MG: Any dreams of stardom were rejected faster than a sweaty boxing glove when I had to fight with somebody who actually knew what they were doing. I flailed helplessly as Alex instructed me to shift my weight and use my shoulders more; at one point I very nearly overbalanced, although I don’t think anybody noticed. Up against an actual boxer it became painfully obvious that my fighting style resembled a sleepy baby more than anything else.

AF: It wasn’t long, however, before I was already beginning to notice improvements in Megan’s boxing. She managed to get some good power into her left hook and I threw a few light jabs at her which she blocked with the swagger of a female Floyd Mayweather. I began to have real hopes of the club finding a new member. Well, I did until she plodded off somewhat hesitantly to the final part of the beginners training: the fitness session.

MG: I did have a lot of fun learning to throw different types of punches, and how to block any that people might be throwing at me. After an hour however came the moment I’d been dreading; the fitness class. I had hoped that a beginner class would go easy on me, and in hindsight I suppose it is a little hard to go easy on somebody whose idea of exercise is a night in Ziggy’s. Whatever that thing where you’re supposed to touch your toes and then jump into a push-up is though, it was seriously terrifying to have sprung upon me without at least a few months notice. Two faceplants later, to the great amusement of our photographer, I scraped my bruised and battered dignity up off the floor, and decided to keep a low profile for the rest of the session.

AF: Whilst Megan’s face was turning an increasingly bright shade of red over at fitness, I rejoined the advanced group to finish with some sparring. This is when I get to put all the year’s hard work into practice, and however unappealing being repeatedly punched in the face sounds, I genuinely love getting the chance to spar. Since I was fighting a taller opponent I had to slip inside his punches and get close to him to counter his longer reach with my speed. The great thing about the boxing club is that, at the end of a round of sparring, we will always be best of friends again straight afterwards, and I really do believe we are the ‘friendliest club on campus.’ So, if you fancy learning to box, getting fit or simply joining a club full of love and quality socials, come along to a boxing session and see what it’s all about. We will welcome you with open arms.