Last week saw the official beginning of training for Baraka Bouts, Notre Dame’s annual boxing competition organized by the Women’s Boxing Club. Although the first fight will not be held until just before Thanksgiving, over 60 participants are already hard at work, preparing for their time in the spotlight come November.
First time participants are the focus of training sessions right now, as they learn the fundamentals of the sweet science of boxing. The novice program, which began early last week and will continue until this weekend, allows inexperienced boxers to get some quality instruction from the senior captains. Veterans will join them in the gym on September 20. “We are anticipating about 130 women participating in the program this year,” said senior captain Anna Dwyer.
Training for Baraka Bouts is not taken lightly. From now until the first fight, 6 training sessions will be offered per week, and fighters are expected to attend 4 practices, at a minimum. Although all are welcome to join the club, a high level of commitment is required.
In addition to the significant amount of time boxers must be prepared to devote to training, the practices themselves are mentally and physically draining endeavors. “They are pretty rigorous,” said first-year fighter Caitlyn Koscielsk on the training sessions thus far in the novice program.. “They consist of two-hour practices with running, crunches, and other strengthening drills followed by practice and techniques of boxing.”
As the days grow shorter, the weather becomes colder, and the date moves closer to November 18, the women will focus on putting the techniques and skills they have learned into practice. “We hope to have six full weeks of sparring before the first fight,” said Dwyer.
Although training sessions are tough and involve a great deal of commitment, experienced fighters are quick to point out their practical value. “Training is extremely important when you enter the ring in November,” said veteran southpaw Caitlin Pulte. “Those who have been training hard for the past couple months and are in good shape can usually last all three rounds, which is definitely beneficial.”
Of course, having boxers in fighting form, capable of putting on a show with their skills and swagger also helps the Notre Dame Women’s Boxing Club achieve its primary goals: selling lots and lots of tickets.
But instead of charging admission to turn a profit, the Women’s Boxing Club has something else in mind. “All proceeds from Baraka Bouts go to support Holy Cross Missions in East Africa,” Dwyer said. “Women’s Boxing raises funds for Holy Cross by selling tickets, ads, and merchandise at Baraka Bouts and by collecting sponsors for Power Hour – our mid-season event in which we do as many situps, push-ups, and jumping jacks as we can in an hour.”
The east African connection also explains the name of the club’s premiere event. “Baraka is the name of an African tiger,” said Pulte.
In addition to raising money for a great cause and learning a new sport, participants point to other sources of fulfilment they receive from being involved with Baraka Bouts. “The friendships made are the best things about Bouts,” says Pulte. “I have met some of my best friends there. Practice is guaranteed time that you are spending with your friends. It is also a lot easier to push yourself and work out when a friend is next to you.”
While friendship can be something found in the training ring, it is also something that motivates many girls to join the Women’s Boxing Club in the first place. “A few of my friends decided to try it this year, and it looked like a lot of fun,” said Koscielsk. “It’s out of my comfort zone, but I decided I couldn’t turn down this experience.”
Though Baraka Bouts may not generate quite the level of excitement as its male counterpart, Bengal Bouts, does, it has a reputation around campus for being a competitive and well-run event, which strives to support a worthy mission.
“I think Baraka Bouts is great,” said Andrew Mrugala, an RA from Dillon Hall who participated in Bengal Bouts as a freshman. “You get to come and see your girl friends push themselves and fight it out for a good cause.What more could you ask for?”
Additionally, the women who compete in the Bouts are well regarded for their discipline, commitment, and skill. “Those girls are tough,” remarked sophomore Blaise Ross. “They could whoop me, that’s for sure.”
While women’s boxing may not be for everyone, it offers something truly unique to those who fully commit themselves to it. “Baraka Bouts is the chance for each boxer in the club to showcase her skills in one judged, under-the-lights fight,” said Dwyer.
And, as Pulte puts it, “Being in awesome shape is always a plus, too.”
Jonathan Liedl is a senior from Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. If you are a pretty, dignified, lively young lass, he would like to take you to the Big Red Frog dance on Friday. You can reach him at jliedl@nd.edu.
