Girls Can Too!

Realizing that boxing is a male dominated sport in the US, I understand that some resistance may be coming my way as I faire du boxe in Congo. Girls, I am paving the way for you. I officially started with Coach Alain yesterday. The short story is that after 1 hour he indicated that I needed to get my sorry bumpkin into his gym today, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! Oh my lord that man has had me running and jumping and punching and...whooaaa... man push ups -- I had to put the kabosh on that pronto. (Not just man push ups but man push ups with kicking)

Today was a repeat...with gloves, but also the bonus of technique.

Now for the fun part. He is coaching several young guys who will be competing on October 7. Very serious business. Yesterday, I had to keep running. After all, white girl in all male boxing gym, I was on display. Then I had to do man push ups with this kid who was probably not even 20...he is in shape and could barely do what coach want me to do, good lord. And the icing to my first day, a man comes up and repeatedly is saying something that I am not quite getting in French, but I finally heard (capitals for emphasis of mad man) quite clearly TU SAIS DU BOXE??? (for the french impaired - You know boxing?) and my response was OUI BIEN SUR!!! (yes of course). He huffed away but I'm still invited back - everyday this week, Coach's orders.

In the States, one might pop into a boxing club and have a "trainer" who may push you, sternly speak to you, and or kindly get you on the road to health. But, I can tell you the definition here is different, he is Coach - listen, obey, push, do, do again, do. This will be an adventure in and of itself.

And yes, I will continue to lights out the gender norm that only boys can box, girls can tooooo!