The Good Fight Boxing Gym will host a free introduction to boxing clinic on Sept. 10 in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day and National Suicide Prevention Month. The Good Fight’s owner Katy Kopec said the clinic will be open to all, regardless of age and ability, and will be a low-stakes and friendly introduction to the art of boxing.
Sparring will be prohibited, but participants will have access to education about boxing culture, stance, basic punches and movements. The session starts at 4:30 p.m. and goes to 6:30 p.m. The free clinic is part of the gym’s “Bring a Friend to Boxing” Month initiative, which invites non-members ages 18 and older to attend any all-level class for a $35 drop-in fee.
For help
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering suicide:
Axis Care Hotline:
24/7 local response to your crisis and behavioral health needs: 247-5245
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE:
(800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 741741
RED NACIONAL DE PREVENCIÓN DEL SUICIDIO:
(888) 628-9454
FORT LEWIS COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER:
247-7212
BOYS TOWN HOTLINE:
(800) 448-3000.
SAFE2TELL COLORADO:
(877) 542-7233 or safe2tell.org
COLORADO CRISIS SUPPORT LINE:
(844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 or online at coloradocrisisservices.org to access a live chat available in 17 languages. The line has mental health professionals available to talk to adults or youths 24 hours a day.
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION:
Colorado chapter information available at afsp.org/chapter/afsp-colorado/
FOR MEN:
A website for adult men contemplating suicide is available at mantherapy.org.
To Kopec, boxing is the perfect way for anyone struggling with mental health issues to try something new, get exercise and build community – which, she said, are great ways to feel better.
“I think it comes down to the outlet,” she said. “Boxing is a craft where you have to be focused 100% into the present moment. And I think that, combined with the physicality of just being able to really unload on a bag or the right sparring partner, there’s just something really healing about that.”
A common misconception about boxing is that it is a barbarian sport – two people duking it out on the mat, throwing punches and trying to harm others. That can be intimidating to some, but couldn’t be further from the truth, she said.
“There’s so much more to it than that,” Kopec said. “I mean, yes, in a fight or in sparring, there is contact. It can be brutal, but this is a sport where after the round, we hug each other, we go out for a meal, we talk together, we cry together, we grow together.”
She said boxing is known as the “sweet science” because of how much everyone relies on one another in a gym – whether that be their sparring partner, their coaches or other people who are trying the sport for the first time.
“It’s one of those special things that it seems to draw people maybe when they’re having a hard time or feeling a little broken, and it just is so good for building confidence, helping people with their mental health as well as their physical health,” Kopec said.
She hopes the Sept. 10 class will help attendees find an outlet or remind them that life is full of opportunities to grow, learn and heal. If nothing else, she said, it will be a good time.
“You can expect to have a lot of fun,” Kopec said. “We have some wonderful boxing coaches and volunteers from our gym. We’re going to take you through the basics of boxing. You’re going to sweat a lot, laugh a lot and you’re going to leave tired and happy.”
For those interested in attending the class, more information can be found online at thegoodfightdurango.com, by calling (806) 786-8849 or by emailing TheGoodFightDurango@gmail.com.
Participants will need to sign a waiver or, if under 18, have a parent or legal guardian sign a waiver on their behalf.
If you or anyone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the suicide prevention hotline at 988, or visit the La Plata County Suicide Prevention Collaborative’s website. There are always people in your corner.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
