Novices learn the fundamentals of a solid boxing stance.
Under the lights in the JACC, Baraka Bouts are truly an event to witness - in and alongside the ring!
Until the winter of 1997, women were not permitted to participate in boxing at the University of Notre Dame. That semester, after much persistence, Aimee Catrow (now a UND professor in the School of Architecture) was finally given permission to assemble a group of women to be called the "Women's Instructional Boxing Program." For the first time in the University's history, women slipped on gloves and learned the fundamentals of boxing. Fortunately for the women, a few dedicated coaches and captains of the Men's Boxing Club were willing to lend a helping hand - sharing their time and experience with the new boxers. Interest in the program was greater than anyone had expected, and participation by female students continuously increased. After two years, the group was granted Club status and is now known as the Notre Dame Women's Boxing Club.
The seasons begins every fall, kicking off with a week or preliminary training for novice, or unexperienced, boxers. The veterans return for the season soon after, and the club is in full swing from September until November, culminating in the Baraka Bouts. Weekly practices consist of at least four 2 hour practices. Intense calisthenics and cardio workouts are followed by extensive glove work and instruction. Sparring, or controlled rounds of boxing, begins about halfway through the season, and the women truly begin to develop unique boxing styles and technique. Transformations are inevitable; every woman that steps into the ring on Bout Night is a boxer.
Despite the competitive drive that each boxer nurtures throughout the season, Baraka Bouts are primarily driven by the charitable energy each woman brings to the ring. Only one boxer can step out of the ring victorious for every bout, but everyone unites against the real opponent, poverty in East Africa. Borrowing from the Swahili word "baraka" meaning "blessing, prosperity or opportunity," the Women's Boxing Club ultimately aims to bring its tournament's namesake to the people of Uganda. You can learn more about the Baraka Bouts Missions under our Missions tab!