As 2017 drew to a close, my favorite boxing gym, The Fit Pit, was scheduled to close its doors due to the owner's deteriorating health. Some of the students decided to act in order to preserve this special place. With the help of new owner, Jodie Easley, Rumble Boxing was born and breathed new life into the old gym. When the doors re-opened, a fresh coat of paint and a new canvas adorned the walls and ring. Old friends returned to offer their time and talents in order to re-establish the boxing culture. An open house was held in which a beloved new head coach, Ernest DeLeon, was announced who would carry on the tradition of boxing excellence. A few other coaches and former sparring partners would step up to assist in the coaching of classes that would encourage and welcome new students.

Soon, classes began to fill up and new never before offered classes would emerge. From this unprecedented growth, I was asked to lead some of the weekday classes. I immediately accepted.

I loved this gym from the moment I first moved to Austin and discovered it five years ago. It was different from the others that I had trained at. It was clean, it was small, and I loved the leadership of the owner, his family, and the coaches. The gym was its own entity, and seemed to attract great people. The former owner was a police captain and served as host to the prestigious Golden Gloves and Battle of the Badges (An exhibition bout between Cops and Fire Fighters). Many police officers and firefighters trained at our gym. I even got the chance to spar quite a few of the them. I made lots of friends here and also got the opportunity to become a certified boxing coach.

After the new gym resurrection, I decided to return and help rebuild the old boxing spirit from before. I would attend regular group classes and encourage new students as they struggled with learning technique. I began sparring some of the old regulars which helps to build a respectable fight culture. I knew that in order for new students to continue to feel challenged that learning to spar would be their goal (as it was once mine).

In the olden days, coaches would put beginners in the ring that expressed interest in boxing in a sort of baptism by fire where they would fight experienced boxers in brutal combat. If the fighter returned, only then were they allowed to learn the sweet science of boxing. In this way, boxing is a polarizing sport where students either love or hate it.

I recall breaking my nose for the first time. I was sparring someone with more experience who did not hold back and hit me with a straight right. In boxing, if you get hit it is always your own fault. I had failed to move out of the way; however, I was simultaneously thrilled to be baptized in blood. I returned the very next week. Many years later, I have been on the other side of the punch where I felt terrible for having hurt a young fighter who carelessly walked into my glove. Sometimes they would return, but often it was said that the fight was taken out of them.

Now, after learning better self-control, I have been given the chance to teach developing students how to spar. We start off setting proper expectations: Boxing is dangerous. There is a high probability of getting punched. While some coaches won't teach those not prepared to spar as hard as an actual fight, I have found that light sparring is terrific exercise. I love welcoming new fighters into the ring as well as teaching them how to improve on the skills learned in training.

I have been sparring with college students for years; however, as I grow older I have better learned my limits as well as how to use my other gifts to outfox my opponent. In return, my students learn the confidence that comes from knowing how to carry themselves in highly stressful situations without running away as instinct would compel. This knowledge is deeper than boxing in that it translates into other areas in young men's lives where learning to stand and face one's problems rather than running away becomes their new inclination.

One of my last students after sparring nearly 15 (3min) rounds!

This past weekend I got to attend my twenty year high school class reunion in Dallas.  It was awesome!

A few weeks prior to this celebration, I had agreed to host my cousin and his parents at my new home since they would be passing through Austin.  It had completely slipped my mind that I had rsvp'd to attend my high school gathering.  My cousin and I coordinated a plan to have them stay the night while my girlfriend, Christina, and I made arrangements to leave Austin in time to reach Dallas for my reunion in the evening.

That Friday morning began with me cleaning my home and preparing for my guests.  Around noon I finished up some left overs in the fridge and was joined by Christina who took a half day from work.  We loaded up my truck after she modeled a few outfits for the evening (we settled on comfort and simplicity).

The road was smooth and clear for the most part even though we stopped in Waco for a small bite to eat.  With some food in our belly we felt satisfied to finish the hour and a half journey to Dallas and ultimately my high school auditorium as the festivities were scheduled to begin at 6p.  We arrived early and were greeted by a bustling campus hosting multiple gatherings as the school was preparing for the evening's home coming football game.  The old campus looked both new and ancient as it has continued to grow over the years.

Christina and I roamed around searching for food and drinks as my old classmates began to arrive.  Slowly the cold auditorium filled up with hundreds of warm souls from generations of graduates dating back to 1958.  It was a bit surreal seeing my peers now 20 years older than when we were boys in school.  Many were fathers, married, divorced, aged, youthful, taller, chubbier, and doing well in the world.

I didn't really plan a script for the minute conversations that we'd continue to repeat over the evening, but rather I just shared all the honest good news going on in my life.  For instance, I proudly shared that I was a boxing coach and that I had just bought a home in Austin.  I laughed with my peers over the hilarious recollection of events and stories from our past.  It was a joy to have Christina there as she attracted a great deal of attention herself which she characteristically handled with grace and class.

It was nice to see my old friends, sometimes greeting each other with an embrace (there were even some I never got a chance to speak to).  After posing for a class reunion picture, I was informed that the festivities would continue at a local pub which we stopped at to have a drink and end the night with dancing.  It was a fantastic evening which after some reflection has led me to conclude that even though at the time high school felt like such a competitive environment, it was really a "coal into diamond" experience.  After I had discovered boxing, I noticed that I could really deal with anything, and very similarly by attending Jesuit, I developed the confidence to become the man that I am...  I am grateful for the sacrifices made by my parents, teachers, and classmates that has allowed me to attend such a school, to grow, and to thrive.