Every Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the San Antonio College boxing team practices in the dance studio. Coach Hector Ramos helps the athletes prepare for a tournament on Oct. 23.

The club’s goal is to teach young adults new skills.

“We simply worked on jab straight hooks for the first couple of weeks. Then we learned bottom weaves,” sophomore Xavier Jackson said. “You learn from your mistakes, or you get punched in the face.”

Many students joined the boxing team to learn a new sport or to be part of a team.

“The students that want to stay on the team, we become a family and spend a lot of time with each other,” said David Franchise, team captain. “We steer them away from the bad path they may be on and focus on pushing each other to the right path.”

The boxing practices are filled with new material about boxing, exercises, teamwork and improvement.

“A lot of training is expected in boxing practice. There is training every day where you have to be ready with your equipment,” freshman Moriarty Madrigal said. “We go to the gym at a certain time, so punctuality is important. We also do stretches, and you have to be active.”

Every team has a coach who pushes the team to their very best and motivates them in every step they take.

“I tell my team the experience is yours and that it’s all about self-defense. The students that do stay on the team are mainly there because they are competitive and want to be on the top,” Coach Ramos said. “I will push them in the workouts, races or bag drills so they carry that competitive nature in the boxing ring.”

The San Antonio College boxing team has grown in the past two years. If a student wants to participate in the tournament or other boxing activities, they can attend practices Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the dance studio.