Boxing at Lower Moreland HS

The Lower Moreland boxing program starts September 30.

The best way to
describe my boxing class is from a former student of mine at the University of
Pennsylvania, Samantha
Prestia. I put her words in
quotations.

“First,
let me commend any school or college that thinks boxing is a dangerous sport to
teach and for its departments for its diligent protection of the student body;
yours is an important position we all rely on as students.  I realize that
both popularized professional
boxing and
amateur level competitive boxing is dangerous activities that practically
guarantee injury. 

What I wish to express
to the administration of any school is the difference between the sport of
boxing and Ron Aurit's Boxing class that may not be evident at first
glance. 

During meetings of the
Boxing Club at Penn we are taught the basic technique and form of moves used in
the sport of boxing; including punches, blocks, ducks and footwork.  We
then pair up to practice the punch and the corresponding block, alternating
roles. 

The distinction here is
that the members of the Penn Boxing Club are notcompeting.  It is
not a fight in which opponents intend to hit in order to gainpoints or a knock
out.  Instead it is a practice of skills alone or withinpairs, repeating moves
without aggression or intention of harm.  Each member is instructed by Mr.
Aurit how to adjusts their behavior in order to match the skill level of their
partner. 

As one of a few female
members of the club, I feel I have a certain advantage in this debate.  Not
only did I feel in no way in danger of injury, I was also welcomed into the
club and given a chance to partner with any member of the group.  This was
possible because of the policy set within the group to adjust to one another:
when sparing with me male members were not violating a social mandate (never
hit a girl) because hitting each other is not what we were doing.  Instead
it was a practice of punches, blocks and counter punches, each of which were
explained and demonstrated in detail before pairing began. At no point in my
experience with this organization was my safety at risk at any time.”