Boxing: Club will get kids fighting fit

Using boxing to combat and conquer obesity is nothing new in the Noble Art as, back in the 1950s, an overweight American kid called Willie Pastrano went to a local boxing gym simply to lose weight and emerged ten years later as a world light-heavyweight champion.

Now former professional boxer Sean Heron and his coaching team at the Granton-based Edinburgh Boxing Academy have launched their own war against juvenile obesity but insist their goal is not to unearth a future ring star.

Heron and his coaching team of Ryan Faichney, Aitken Robertson, Keith Elwood and active schools co-ordinator Rikki Karayoun have laid out their stall by offering boxing fitness training to local schoolchildren.

Heron revealed: "While it would be a bonus for us to discover and bring on boxers through this programme that is not its main aim. We'd like to stress that there is no suggestion of any kids being forced or cajoled into boxing or sparring - our priority is to get the kids in to our gym at West Harbour Road in Granton and motivate them to become fit and stay physically active.

"The emphasis will be on getting fit and how exercising regularly is fun. Most kids who wouldn't usually want to box would find punching the bags or punchballs a huge attraction. We've had great support and responses thanks to the help of Active Schools Co-ordinator Rikki Karayoun and schools staff like PE teacher Louise Irvine and Jonie Harding at St Columbus High School in Dunfermline. We are also liaising with the Muirhouse Young Development Group."

For further details on training classes at The Edinburgh Boxing Academy, call 0131 551 5454 or visit www.theedinburghboxingacademy.co.uk