Boxing for Teens: An Interview with Kristin’s Daughter
Why boxing? What do you learn from it, what’s the hardest part, and is it still fun even after a year? In this short interview, Kristin’s daughter talks about her experiences at the boxing gym.
How old are you?
Sixteen.
And how long have you been doing boxing training?
At first, I did kickboxing outside in the park. That was last school year. But it was outside and it was raining. It was also cold sometimes. That’s why I stopped doing that and started doing traditional boxing.
And why did you start boxing? How did you come up with the idea?
A friend mentioned that there was an affordable boxing class and that we could go together. I thought, “Sure, why not?” It was great, but then winter came and it got cold.
How often do you box these days?
Once a week, sometimes twice a week, at the boxing gym.
Do you work out at home, too?
No, but maybe I'll start doing that.
Is boxing something you do with your friends?
At first I did it with a friend, but now I'm doing it on my own again. The others didn't want to come to the new boxing class because there were almost only guys there. But I thought, why not?
And why did you want to keep going?
After a workout, if you really gave it your all, you feel completely refreshed and just great.
What do you learn from boxing?
I go to a very traditional boxing gym, the VBSK at Albert Cuyp Market. The gym has been around for about 100 years, and even real pros train there. The trainers are really good—they’re fantastic. They motivate you and know exactly what you need to change if, for example, your stance is off.
And do you box against other people there, too?
Yeah, but. I mean, not on the punching bag at all. The boxing gym has a room with punching bags, but they're huge, and only the adults train there.
What do you find most difficult?
Sometimes, at the end of class, when you're tired, you just have to grit your teeth and push through the last 10 minutes. We always do a few light warm-up exercises, and at the end of class, we do some push-ups and crunches. By then, you're really exhausted.
Would you recommend boxing to others? Do you still enjoy it?
Yeah. It's just... When you're in the zone, it feels really good. You lose track of time—when I'm really into it, I never look at the clock. Then I'm in the zone and time flies by. But sometimes, when I'm really tired and not quite in the zone, time seems to pass much more slowly.
I've read that boxing also helps with stress. Would you agree?
Yeah, if you're feeling a little down, you can just pop over there for a bit. It takes a little effort to get there, but once you're there and doing the exercise, you feel great again.
It also has a big impact on self-confidence and concentration. Do you have any insider knowledge on this?
I'm not an expert at handling these feelings yet—I haven't been doing this for very long. But it's definitely a plus. And you get better when you fight against guys, because they're often a little stronger, and that helps me learn more effectively.
