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The EOBA Boxing program offers discipline, respect, confidence, sportsmanship and well being through the Art of Boxing. It is a practice that encourages the individual to practice the fighting arts, boxing, while training the mind and body to become the best as it can be.  Plus, it will develop a platform to overcome ones fear, anger and despair and turn it into a creative expression. And, when one has realized this, through practice and hard work, one will feel a sense of accomplishment and self love. 

There are many benefits to our boxing or physical education program. It allows the child to be active and social while allowing them to have a good time. It, also, introduces them the importance of exercise and how it can help develop their bones and muscles.  Here are some of the benefits, in which, your child may inherit if he or she decides to practice diligently. In addition, see the description of EOBA's AWAKE Program below. 

Health Benefits:

  • Develop Self-Confidence - Learning the art of boxing can help develop ones self-confidence by training your mind and body to overcome the mental and physical challenges that arises in your day to day struggle.
  • Build a Stronger Body – Through the rigorous boxing training in resistances, calisthenics, plyometrics you will see your body develop stronger muscles, leaner body, and a well defined physique.
  • Cardiovascular Workout – Jogging, jumping, punching, and evading are some of the aerobic exercises that are essential to a boxing regiment. That means you are working out your cardiovascular system where the heart rate is 75 to 85 percent regular beat while blood and oxygen are equally distributed through out your body.  This is one of the best things you can do for your thriving heart.
  • Develop Muscle Memory - After much repetition in perfecting your jabs, punches, blocks, lunges, skips, rolls, etc. you will have trained your muscles to be as efficient and explosive when you need your body to do so.
  • Release Stress – After a good work out you will have released anxiety, stress, and inertia while elevating your serotonin and melatonin levels that allows you to feel a sense of euphoria, a feel good experience. This will allow you to get good nights sleep, especially, after a good work out. Sleep is one of the best health benefits we can have for the mind and body.
  • Lose Weight – An hour and half of sparring, jump ropes, speed bags, shadow boxing, can burn over 700 calories while firming your muscles. And, if you do this 3 times a week you can easily burn off 5 to 7 pounds with the proper diet of low carbohydrates and sugar.
  • Release Toxins - After an hour or two worth of training you will be able to sweat out the toxins that cause sickness and disease to manifest inside and outside of your body. Also, it will make your skin glow with vigor because you have released the dirt and impurities from your pores.

 

A.W.A.K.E

(Aspiring Warrior Acquiring Knowledge to Empower)

 

Aspiring Warrior Acquiring Knowledge to Empower (A.W.A.K.E.) is a comprehensive physical and mental health program developed by the Physical Education staff at the East Oakland Boxing Association. A.W.A.K.E. is a mentoring and apprenticeship program that targets youth 13 to 19 years of age and focuses on mental and physical conditioning while preparing youth to become leaders. Youth will be taught to value community service, land sustainability and social justice work through the way of a warrior scholar. Coaches will work, closely, with the youth to help develop their character while preparing them to succeed academically, emotionally and socially.

Mission Statement: To nurture and empower the youth through the martial arts while promoting community service, social justice, physical & mental well being.

Goal

The goal of the A.W.A.K.E. program is to improve youth’s academic performance, physical fitness, and self-esteem through the martial art discipline (Way of the Warrior) while encouraging them to become pro active and engaged service to their communities.  The A.W.A.K.E participant will be nurtured into a warrior scholar where one’s greatest achievement is service to humanity; this is when the apprentice has fully awakened to his/her full potential and has attained the highest degree of Self Mastery.

Objectives

  1.  (50%) of current youth participants ages 13-20 will be actively engaged in EOBA’s A.W.A.K.E program. Each youth participant will be matched up with a coach/ mentor who will track their progress in school including academic performance, attendance and behavioral maturity. By July 2010, 75% of A.W.A.K.E participants have reduced their absentee rate by 50% and improve grade point average to 2.5 or higher.
  2. A.W.A.K.E participants will have the opportunity to train in various martial arts systems, including boxing, jujitsu, wing chun and tai chi, in exchange for community service & program involvement. By July 2010, 90% of all current core participants will be actively engaged in the A.W.A.K.E program and will have been exposed to at least three different forms of martial arts, have attended 7 educational field trips, and have learned to appreciate our cultural diversity. The more a participant is vested in the A.W.A.K.E program, the more opportunities he or she will be given. For example, extra martial arts training, stipend for work done in the gym, fieldtrips, gift certificate, etc.
  3. In six months time 90% of the A.W.A.K.E participants will have increase muscle mass, flexibility, and physical endurance. They will be able to run at least two to three miles in less than 10 minutes, able to touch their hands down to their toes, complete 50 pushups/50 sit ups and do 10 pull ups. A.W.A.K.E participants will, also, learn about the importance of healthy living through informed choices of the foods they consume and the substances that we might put into our bodies that causes one to get sick (sodas, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, candies, etc.)

Program Components

Teach and nurture the seven core principles to the A.W.A.K.E participants so they may impart it with their family, family and community.

 The Seven Core Principles:

  1. Respect – Self, Family & Community.
  2. Honor – The Earth and its inhabitants.
  3. Courage - To stand up for what is right and fight for those who can’t defend themselves.
  4. Humility - To oneself is of great strength in character.
  5. Educate – To liberate one’s full potential.
  6. Create – A better world through mindful intentions.
  7. Service – To humanity is true Self Mastery.

Whole Child Development: Life, Education, Success

EOBA coaches will offer martial arts training, individualize tutoring, college or job search counseling, and positive mentoring. Additional opportunities will include educational fieldtrips, offsite trainings and workshops, and participating with other youth organizations so that youth can build relationships outside their immediate community.

Coaches will carefully work with youth to ensure they succeed academically. Youth will be encouraged to enroll in college, trade school, or apprenticeship program so that they have a greater opportunity for success. The EOBA is currently partnering with the DIG Corporative in which youth have the opportunity to learn green technology and Oakland Builder’s Alliance in which youth have the opportunity to work as an apprentice under an Oakland business owner or tradesman. Most importantly, they will be informed to take advantages in colleges and trade schools that are promoting vibrant professions for the future.

A.W.A.K.E participants will be part of the “Art of Boxing” demo team where they will exhibit/perform their knowledge of the sweet science and art of boxing at cultural events, school expos, health fairs, and youth leadership programs. The “Art of Boxing” demo team will help promote physical fitness, self discipline, self defense through the martial arts.

Youth participants whom have developed and exhibited leadership qualities will have the opportunity to earn a stipend by assisting Coaches/Instructors in workshops or boxing classes in other gyms, schools or community centers. The goal is to promote proficiency, willingness to learn, and leadership amongst youth so that they can become EOBA stewards and instructors of the A.W.A.K.E. program. Youth will have the chance to travel and speak in public arenas, such as youth development workshops and training to focus and promote violence prevention, health awareness and social justice through a warriors’ code of conduct.

What are the benefits?

Youth will benefit from the A.W.A.K.E apprenticeship program when they are consistent with training and conditioning their mind and body while vested in the overall program development. Key benefits include:

  • One-on-one coaching/mentoring to ensure that youth have the proper support to feel confident in their physical and mental development.  
  • Help improve academic performance in school and
  • Help improve physical fitness, self confidence and self esteem.
  • Have one on one tutoring sessions from coaches or academic staff.
  • Have an opportunity to earn prizes (boxing equipments, movie tickets, cash, etc.)
  • Have access to a computer with high speed internet service.
  • Develop computer skills and learn how to research information on line.
  • Develop leadership skills.
  • Learn the value of service and contribution to their community.
  • Learn to eat healthy, prepare snacks that are good for you, and study the foods that can boost ones energy, especially, in sports science.
  • Opportunity to be stipend or paid through the EOBA/Smartmoves organization.
  • Opportunity to learn different martial art systems (Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Wing Chun, Tae Chi, Muay Thai, etc.)
  • Learn to become a responsible and caring individual.
  • Meet likeminded youth in support of holistic development.

Requirements of the A.W.A.K.E Program

The requirements to participate in the apprenticeship program are:

1. Work with coach/tutor/mentor to achieve positive results in school. The academic goal for the A.W.A.K.E program is attain a 2.5 g.p.a or higher.

2. Perform at least 8 hours of community service a month ( clean up the gym, perform boxing/martial arts demo. in schools or community events, assist newer participants in boxing/martial art training, encourage youth peers to stay away from the streets and participate in youth development programs through discussion panels and workshops, etc.)

3. Attend three/four times a week for training and tutoring.

4. Must attend workshop/youth development trainings when offered by the EOBA

 5. Agree to meet twice a month for progress report and strategic planning with coaches/mentors

Conclusion

Participants in the A.W.A.K.E program will have opportunities to explore their full potential through the martial arts discipline. They will be guided by caring and knowledgeable Coaches/mentors who will work closely with a youth to ensure they have the support to grow as a respectful martial artist and a responsible adult. Through hard work and consistent training, a participant of the A.W.A.K.E program will see improvements of intellectual and physical composure; this in turn will lead to self confidence and self awareness. This is when an A.W.A.K.E participant has graduated from the program and sees themselves as unique and precious human beings who have, within them, the capacity to contribute to the greater good of our humanity.