New Folks, Fall 2007

There were five newcomers to the gym last night, and I met all of them except for one guy who came in later. He talked with Steve, then left about 15 minutes later. The other four -- Andy, Mary, Amy, and Erin -- didn't all stay for the full time, either. After giving them a brief introduction to the program, Steve explained that he had to work with the guys who have matches coming up Friday at the boxing show. I told the four that I would start them off with learning how to stand, how to hold their hands, and how to throw the left jab. Andy and Amy decided they would come in next Wednesday, while Mary and Erin warmed up for the lesson.

Erin seemed very interested in learning. She kept expressing how "cool" everything was. Mary admitted that she had been in fights as a kid. Mary's husband hovered outside of the door of the gym, holding their very cute four-month-old daughter. Interpersed between the lessons, was me talking at length about amateur boxing licenses, equipment, sparring and competing.

The main bad thing about the fall session is that is always starts right before the field house's boxing show, or "Boxing Explosion", as it is called. The new people get only one day that week, and then the gym is closed for business due to the show. It always serves as a test, however, of who will stick with it. Some are thrown off by the boxing show, and then they don't return again.