JUNIOR boxers are truly thriving at Jersey Leonis Boxing Club, as the historic gym is committed to providing opportunities for young people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in the sport.
“Here, we have two junior sessions per week, where we take kids from nine-years-old, all the way up to when they turn senior at 18. Usually, we tend to start integrating them with the seniors at 16-17 so that we can manage the numbers,” said Richard Langlois, who is the club president and junior head coach.
“However, we’re not expecting all these kids to be boxers, that’s not how we train them up. Everyone here comes up for different reasons, and it’s not always to get in the ring and do actual boxing. For some, it’s the friendship and companionship, the gym’s good atmosphere and the discipline.
“The club has a membership of around 50 kids, which doesn’t like like it will be dropping off any time soon. It’s great that we have so many who want to get away from devices and screens for a couple of hours and do something physical, in what is a very disciplined sport.”
Jersey Leonis Boxing Club is a pillar of the Island’s boxing and sporting community, with a steep history beginning from its formation in 1955. They’ve been training since 1962 at their current home, South Hill, which could potentially be the oldest purpose-built gym in Britain, as the building was originally built as a gym for Fort Regent’s military garrison around 1860.
Juniors get two sessions a week at the renowned local club, working on the “fitness, discipline and general training” during Wednesday’s class from 6.30pm, before then focusing on boxing’s more technical aspects on Sunday mornings, which begin at 9.30am.
As well as Langlois, coaches Shane Goggin, Tony Burt and Harry Bertram volunteer their own time to help bring through the next generation.
Learning the art of boxing truly is a process, and Langlois detailed the club’s programme: “The very first thing that we teach them is that boxing isn’t about the fists, your feet are actually the most important part of your body. So, we build them from the ground up, showing them how to stand and hold themselves in a proper stance, before then moving on to correctly throw punches.
“Following that, it’s a gradual process of teaching them how to move while performing proper technique. They also must have the right equipment, such as hand wraps, as everyone needs to protect themselves.
“Wherever there’s contact, such as sparring, newcomers don’t touch that for months, as you really have to prove that you’re competent, both mentally and technically, to take that step. Once again, it’s a gradual process, beginning with very, very light partner work before progressing further.”
Jersey Leonis’ pathway hasn’t certainly proved itself over the years, as some exceptional boxers have come through the club’s illustrious ranks over the years. From Commonwealth Games competitor Tom Frame, to the recent England Boxing Development Championships success of Charlie Corbel, Jersey Leonis are renowned for developing talent.
A huge asset to this success is their inclusive and supportive community, where anyone is welcome to join in and get involved through the club breaking down any barriers to participation.
“Boxing has always attracted people from working class backgrounds, generally they’re the people who have fallen on hard times, and the sport’s history is full of people who have come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Of course, not everyone here is disadvantaged, but I’m emphasising that to encourage the idea that everyone is welcome.
“Even before we became a registered charity, the club have always been charitable and we look after everyone here. If times get tough financially or anything, then we understand that and don’t put on any pressure.
“Here, everyone relies on each other in more of a competitive nature, training one-on-one. No one learns anything from being beaten up, so everyone works together and supports each other to progress.”
The club also welcome those with medical disadvantages and special needs, as Langlois continued: “Part of our onboarding process is that we ask them to declare any medical requirements or conditions that we must be made aware of, so that we can tailor the programme to the person’s needs.
“We’ve had kids with down syndrome come up here to train, they absolutely love it and it’s so good because it gives them that sense of belonging to something else in their life, which just goes to show how inclusive and supportive our club is.
“Every one of our coaches has to be fully qualified, not just in coaching, but also in safeguarding and first aid. We jump through quite a lot of hoops to keep this place running, which is fine as it’s very important for us to continue our work and maintain the club’s good reputation.”
It’s not all about what goes on in the ring, as boxing is known to completely transform lives out of it by instilling discipline and the right values, with Langlois himself noticing the kids’ surging confidence.
“I’ve been at the club long enough to see people come in as kids, all the way through to adulthood, and it’s lovely to see how they’ve grown up to become these absolutely fantastic people,” said the club president.
“We’ve helped mould that by giving them the discipline, the self belief and confidence in themselves, so that they can walk around with their shoulders back and head held high, with nothing to prove. It’s important that we instil these values so that they can grow up to be good adults, as you can’t box forever.
“These kids also develop real resilience through boxing. The guys who keep coming back up from the canvas, no matter what, carry that resilience into everyday life, where they can push further.
“We don’t train bullies, if we find out that someone is using what we’re teaching to bully others at school, then we’ll be speaking to them and their parents. It gives Leonis a bad reputation, as well as the sport of boxing, so it’s very important for us to speak against this type of behaviour.”
As Langlois has been involved with boxing for many years, competing in his first bout at the age of 10, the Jerseyman carries an immense passion for the sport, so he didn’t shy from leaving one final selling point: “The main thing is that we are very much a community club, and the kids are in a very safe environment. It’s a huge misconception that boxing is dangerous, I mean there are more injuries in football and rugby.”
If you’d like to give boxing a try, where you’ll get fit while also learning key values to succeed in everyday life, then don’t hesitate to contact the club through their email: info@jerseyleonis.com.
