St. Barnabas Hospital and Bronx Rising Against Cancer Violence have partnered to offer a youth boxing program that not only teaches young men and women the basics of boxing, but also changes their lives for the better.
Photo Jason Cohen
In 2021, St. Barnabas Hospital (SBH) and Bronx Rising Against Gun Violence (BRAGG) launched a youth boxing program. This program not only taught young men and women the basics of boxing, it also changed their lives for the better.
BRAG by Good Shepherd Services is a nonprofit organization that works with youth, residents, community-based organizations, and the public to promote safer streets.
The cohort will begin in 2021 at the SBH Healthplex building, 4507 Third Avenue, and will teach boxing to boys and girls ages 14 to 22. In 12 weeks she will have 24 sessions and will be held on Mondays and Fridays from 5pm until 6pm.
SBH Community Coordinator Amanda Martinez said that although there is no contact and the children do not spar, the program has become very popular within the community.
“We wanted to make sure they were practicing a healthy lifestyle, and boxing was a good way to do that,” Martinez told the Bronx Times.
According to Martinez, SBH and BRAGG didn't know what to expect when they started the pilot. This cohort started with just his four children, but not only have they all returned, but the number of participants has grown to 12 of his children.
With former professional boxer Joel Castillo leading the class, she said the children grew as boxers and as men and women. Martinez said the class is gaining momentum and she hopes to add more class time in the future.
“This program primarily provides a safe place to work on time management, learn new skills and self-defense techniques, gain confidence and learn how to express yourself in different ways, and meet peers in a safe environment.” “The goal is to do that,” Martinez said. “I enjoy watching the participants grow by coming back again and again and seeing them stand up for themselves more.”
Castillo, a native of the South Bronx, started boxing at the age of 10. He won a bronze medal in boxing at his 2003 Pan American Games, and as a professional he not only won the bronze medal with a 9-0 record, but also realized how important boxing was to him as a child. I am.
“I got into a lot of trouble after I started boxing, but after boxing I learned how to protect myself,” Castillo said.
Castillo has wanted a program like this for a long time, he said. Three years later, he is extremely proud of his group.
Although none of the participants had ever boxed before, Castillo said some of the participants looked like real boxers.
“The science of boxing is an art. It's not about being a bully,” he said.
He teaches discipline and punctuality by recording students' attendance and tardiness. Castillo always checks in with her children to see how they are doing at home and at school.
Many of the young people called him frequently, and they all got in touch when he had a motorcycle accident in December 2023.
“It warms my heart,” he said. “The rapport I have built with them is perfect. The most important thing for me is that this program changes their mindset.”
One of the participants Castillo has influenced is David Helena. He calls him almost every day to thank him for changing his life. Helena, 19, who lives in the South Bronx, was in trouble a few years ago and her coach recommended a boxing program.
Helena had never boxed before and was nervous when she first came to the team. But boxing taught him how to be patient, calm and act collectively.
“I used to be more hot-headed,” he says. “I had a real lack of confidence. Now I'm completely confident and I don't really care what anyone says to me.”
Helena told the Bronx Times that she thinks the course will only help her hit more people. At first, he was frustrated and wanted to quit. But Castillo guided him and became his “role model.”
“If you're feeling low about yourself or want to quit, I encourage you to try this because it's really encouraging,” Helena says.
