STIGMAS cast a shadow over reality, blurring the lines between perception and fact.
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The term ‘disabled’ is surrounded by the stigma that people classified as such are incapable of everything.
At the same time, the sport of boxing is plagued by this stigma of violence and aggression.
Neither stigma is true and there are two groups in Bathurst working together that prove just that.
Dreamtime Sports Academy has formed a partnership with Vivability in an effort to showcase the true nature of boxing while getting people with a disability participating in the sport.
Clients from Vivability with a range of disabilities, both physical and mental, have participated in a tailored boxing program at the gym since September.
Dreamtime Sports Academy owner Nathan Swadling said Vivability was hesitant at first to be part of the program, but eventually saw how beneficial it could be.
“People see what happens in the boxing ring and think that is all it is, but boxing is such a broad range of fitness aspects,” Mr Swadling said.
“By improving them you can improve your life.”
The Vivability clients attend boxing sessions every Wednesday morning where they get to work with amateur boxers from Dreamtime to improve skills like strength and coordination.
“When we started, the majority of the guys could do about 30 punches, but now they’re doing about 600 to 700 punches in a session,” Mr Swadling said.
I didn’t think it would be as positive as it is.
- Vivability's Joe Bennett
Vivability day program coordinator Joe Bennett said she was initially concerned that boxing would promote aggression in her clients, but now she sees how happy it makes them.
“I didn’t think it would be as positive as it is,” she said. “It is teaching a lot of self-control over their bodies and it is a really good release of the energy that builds up throughout the day.”
Following the success of the boxing program, Vivability has decided to continue its partnership with Dreamtime by adding a yoga session for clients.
As Vivability puts a lot of focus on meditation to achieve mindfulness, the yoga and the boxing sessions fit in nicely with the organisation’s programs.
Ms Bennett said one of the best things about the program is the way the clients are treated by the boxers.
“Nathan has been so welcoming and so inclusive and has just treated people here with disabilities as any other members of the community.”
As the program has been so successful, Mr Swadling said he is more than happy to find space in the gym’s timetable to accommodate other disability support organisations that want to have their clients try boxing.
