Twice a month on Wednesday afternoons, members of Oxy Boxing Club can be found at LAKO Boxing Club on Eagle Rock Boulevard, punching to upbeat music. According to club president, Timothy Shumaker (junior), the group has existed for years without a consistent place to train or reliable equipment to use. That changed at the end of last semester, he said, when ASOC granted them $1,400 in funding to finance a series of 12 classes at LAKO.
“[Oxy Boxing Club] was left without an advisor and it was going to die, so I became president and started looking for ways to get more involvement and make it convenient for people,” Shumaker said. “Working with LAKO was kind of a breakthrough, because they’re so close [to campus].”
Shumaker said that since the partnership began, Oxy Boxing Club has seen a rise in membership, particularly from beginners. At the most recent training session, he said the club had around 20 members join, with more anticipated to come for future sessions. Because of the high quantity of beginners, Shumaker said he is working to make the club as inclusive as possible.
“Part of the reason that I want to make it more accessible and [all]-skill-level-friendly is so that anyone who’s even a little bit interested can have the convenience to be able to join,” Shumaker said. “I want to be a leader that everyone is comfortable around.”
Just two years ago in 2023, the club had no female members. Shumaker said he thinks at least half the group is female identifying now, and it is important to him that the environment of the club is open to everyone.
Club member Sawyer Bornstein (first year) said he had over 10 years of martial arts experience before joining but had never tried boxing. He said that while having prior experience might help out some, it is not necessary to succeed in the club.
“I’ve seen people come in, not knowing how to stand or anything, and then other members of the club being like ‘Hey, make sure to put your foot here, put your hands up [like this],’” Bornstein said. “Everyone really helps each other out. It’s a great environment.”
Club member Gerard Suner (first year) said that although though he was intimidated at first, he has found his time with the group to be highly rewarding. He said that since joining, he has increased mental clarity and plenty of new friends.
“Boxing brings a whole bunch of people together, even though it’s a small community,” Suner said. “It’s very nice to go workout with other people and start bashing your problems away.”
Part of the reason Suner said he enjoys training with the club is because of their coach at LAKO, Justin Van-Hairston.
“He’s an amazing coach, one of the best coaches I’ve ever seen,” Suner said. “He doesn’t put you down, but he will make sure that you continue to push through. He’s genuinely one of the most motivating people I’ve ever seen.”
Shumaker said Van-Hairston is an enthusiastic presence who always trains with a smile on his face. Van-Hairston has further supported the club, Shumaker said, by facilitating the donation of over $500 worth of boxing equipment, including gloves and wraps which members can keep.
“I know how it is being a college student,” Van-Hairston said. “So even the classes I made free, gloves I made free, wraps I made free — they really don’t have to pay for anything.”
Van-Hairston said he hopes to continue to coach the club in the future, particularly as some members become more interested in competing. He said the club’s ability to continue training at LAKO will depend on if they are able to get continued funding from ASOC — which he hopes they will provide after hearing positive feedback from students.
Van-Hairston said, as a coach, it is important to him that the energy during trainings is both positive and serious.
“You can’t half-ass boxing,” Van-Hairston said. “You can get hurt, you can die. Boxing has to be something you really want to do, and then you have to get good at it, and then it becomes fun.”
In the coming months, Shumaker said the club has plans to organize a fundraiser for punching bags and other gear that students can utilize on campus to train between classes. He said the club will continue to be open to new members and that he recommends joining as a way to build physical fitness and community at the same time.
“For anyone considering joining, just know that all skill levels are welcome, there’s equipment provided and free trainings,” Shumaker said. “We encourage anyone who’s interested to come.”
Contact Estel Garrido-Spencer at garridospenc@oxy.edu
