Boxing is a sport with a rich history for First Nations communities. But an Indigenous-owned boxing gym in Canberra is offering more than training and fitness. Over the past two decades, Cuz boxing has created a supportive community that aims to help members reach their full potential. In the ring and outside it. An Indigenous-owned boxing gym in Canberra prides itself on offering more than training and fitness.
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00:00When Bundjalung man Carl King started boxing at the age of 6, he didn't take it very seriously.
00:0720 years later, he now trains and coaches at the same gym every day.
00:12He says without boxing, his life might have taken a very different direction.
00:17I think the crowd that I was hanging out with, they had a massive impact on me growing up,
00:24some of my friends, and boxing pulled me away from them.
00:27It also helped him through some tough times for him and his family.
00:31We lost my son in 2016 and he was very close to his brother.
00:37The gym where Carl trains is run by another proud Bundjalung man
00:41who was looking for a way to bring the community together
00:44and provide a sense of purpose for the youth.
00:47A lot of the skills, the lessons, the behaviours they take out of that,
00:51they can take back into their family, their school and the community.
00:54From a First Nations perspective, when we think about sport,
00:57sport's more than sport, it's a way of life.
00:59And for us, boxing's been something that's been in our community for a very, very long time.
01:06Requiring more than just physical fitness, boxing's impact can be wide-reaching.
01:12You talk about discipline, we talk about respect.
01:15These are beautiful qualities that don't just have to exist within boxing,
01:19but they exist within your everyday life.
01:21Like Carl, others training at Cars Boxing aren't just getting fit.
01:25It's a great community, you see lots of different people coming in.
01:29Everyone's so welcoming and nice when you come in and it makes you want to come in more.
01:35And Carl now finds joy in giving back to others.
01:39I feel proud when I'm training or teaching younger kids
01:44because I was in their shoes once upon a time.
01:48So now I know what it feels like to be my coach.
01:51From where he was to where he is today, he's a real strong young man.
01:58A space run by mob, for mob.