How did you get into boxing and how did you find yourself at 3rd Street?

“I got into boxing about….14 years ago, believe it or not because my girlfriend at the time broke up with me and I wanted to do a contact sport to get my mind clear of it all. I was active in martial arts since I was a kid but kicking workouts bother my hips if done regularly so boxing sounded like the logical evolution. I found 3rd Street from a Google search and a friend of mine who works for SFPD said that a couple of his colleagues trained there. I checked it out, did a class, and have been there ever since. I’ve had to take a year off for shoulder surgery and another year off for knee surgery.”

What's the best part about boxing? Why do you train?

“Best part about boxing is its purity. Whittle down striking arts to the basic essentials and you’ve got boxing! I train mainly to keep in shape and to learn something. It’s different when you’re in your 40’s and boxing. I definitely have a chip on my shoulder since a lot of people there are younger, but I think anyone can benefit from training. I learn something new there all the time.”

Any words of advice or encouragement for newbies?

“If you’re discouraged….just keep showing up. If you keep showing up, you’ll eventually improve. It’s difficult to improve outside of the gym. Not all instructors teach the same so if you really like someone, it might help to talk to them and follow their schedule if you can. I stuck with the ones I liked and eventually branched off outside of my comfort zone. Going from cardio to the fight classes has definitely had its challenges. Being a new Dad also keeps me from coming in as often as I would like to. Currently, I try to hit it Saturday and Sunday, and one night a week."