By CASSIDIE JONES
Moapa Valley Progress
Clark County Parks and Recreation is offering a boxing class for individuals ages 10 and up who are interested in learning the basics of the sport. For this summer, the class is being held at the Moapa Valley Senior Center located in Overton.
Although the class is usually offered year round, instructor Elmer Lopez says that the class is offered as long as people are registered.
Lopez hopes that the class will be offered more consistently than it has been in the last five years. It is currently only being taught once a week, due to summer hours. But classes will pick up to twice a week sometime in September, after school starts, and will continue through May.
Every six weeks a new session of classes begins. However, the new course focuses on the same skills as the one before it.
“This class teaches the boxing basics,” Lopez said. “I just want people to have a better understanding of boxing so they can enjoy it and appreciate it more.”
During the hour long class, students of all ages are taught about boxing. Moves including uppercuts, hooks, jabs and blocking are practiced as well as maintaining a proper ready stance. The class strictly sticks to the basics.
When asked what she would say to someone who was curious about taking the class, one young participant, Ahryal Schumaker, said that the class is fun. “Everyone should do it,” she said.
Each student in the class was able to make progress and receive individual help when they needed it. Although the class is made up predominantly of younger participants, any interested and able bodied person of any age is encouraged to register for the class.
“Teaching this class gets me involved in the community in a different way than my normal job,” said Lopez, who works for the local Parks and Rec staff. “I just do it for fun.”
The summer session of boxing classes are currently being taught in the dining area of the Moapa Valley Senior and Recreation Center, and are held on Mondays at 4:30 p.m.
Because the class is only being taught one day a week, the current cost of the six week course is $20. But in September, when the class resumes its normal twice a week schedule, the price will increase to $35 for the full six weeks of classes.
More information about the boxing class is available in a brochure at the MV Senior and Recreation Center located in Overton or at the Logandale Parks and Recreation office at the fairgrounds. Registration can be done at the Parks and Recreation office. The current session of classes will end the week of July 26.
