SPECIAL PROJECT
Kincorth Boxing Club in Scotland run a series of sessions for HMP Grampian
IT’S interesting to note that while the government has declined to publish an academic report that recommended the benefits of using boxing in the criminal justice system (see the July 20 issue of Boxing News or visit www.boxingnewsonline.net), in Scotland Kincorth Boxing Club have completed a special project for inmates at HMP Grampian in Peterhead.
The Aberdeen club held three non-contact boxing sessions at the prison last month.
Coaches Phillip ‘Spike’ Brown and Lyn Brown completed the three 45-minute sessions for remand, short-term and long-term prisoners,
with 39 inmates taking part. The aim of these training sessions was to boost the confidence and health of the participants, and also to foster discipline and self-control. The club has conducted a similar project with HMP Grampian before. Previously they put together a 10-week progamme for female inmates.
“I thought it went really well,” said Spike. “We kept it simple, a jab, a double jab, a block and a combination.
“All of the guys left on a high, although I was absolutely physically and mentally drained by the end of the three sessions.
“It shows you can take boxing
anywhere and teach anyone to box.
“Boxing doesn’t mean that you get in the ring and punch each other. You can get fit without hitting each other.
“The end result of the sport is always the same, people leave with more confidence.
“That was one of the reason why we initially did the project with the female inmates, as they had no confidence.
“There is no group that you couldn’t teach boxing to.”
These sessions were well received and Boxing Scotland are encouraging similar projects or initiatives.