What’s this? Oh, we’re boxing now, are we? It’s not enough to go to fitness classes, not enough to work out in the pool and then lift weights, now we’re supposed to go boxing?

The Old Broads, Corner Kids and Rusty Gloves all do and love it, and benefit. At one point, the age range for Old Broads was from 40 to 92. Yup. They are all boxing and thriving. Well, the 92-year-old Old Broad moved away, so now their oldest is just 88.

Let’s back up.

A U.S. national boxing champion for more than ten years is now the owner of Corner Boxing in Boulder, Colorado. You can get a look at this astonishing woman at the end of each ofthethree boxing episodes on Aging Fitfully. That’s where you’ll find Carrie’s Ted Talk,   (http://www.youtube.com/@agingfitfully)

Let’s start with proudly self-named Old Broads. Forget about being delicate flowers. With humour and determination, these senior women are increasing both their fitness and confidence. They see the payoff in their out-of-gym activities, such as baseball. At the end of that episode, you’ll find the link to a fun news clip of the Old Broads made by a local TV station.

Years of working with police and the Colorado Justice System has given Carrie a direct connection to kids in trouble. The system is fully familiar with Corner Boxing’s successful programs for young people who are in danger of taking a bad path.

Enter Carrie. Tough, smart, skilled and experienced. No nonsense. As she reveals in her Ted Talk, Carrie left home when she was 12. She knows about teen challenges, all right. During those formative years she saw the value of adult mentors who were critical to her life success. She knows the role she and her team and her Corner Boxing members play for these kids, any kids.

Corner Kids gives both males and females a place to go, structure to live within, adults to mentor them, and a cluster of people who care. Sure, admits Carrie, it isn’t a fit for all of them, but many feel at home, make it home, and thrive after possibly years of a hard life.

What about Rusty Gloves? Is that old coot boxers? Wanna-be Rockys staggering around in the ring? No. Nowhere near. The kernel of the group is Parkinson’s Disease. Carrie put out word that Corner Boxing would offer training for people with Parkinsons and on opening day found 18 people clustered outside the gym door. They too had read the research — intractable Parkinsons seems to respond well to the left-right body action that is central to boxing.

During covid, Rusty Gloves in Boulder had clearance to continue as an essential service. It continues to be the gym’s most popular program and Carrie has no trouble finding boxing buddies to pair with and support these clients.

Results? Certainly, “increased confidence” plus some medical evidence that when re-tested some of these clients have arrested deterioration. “In Parkinson’s that’s a solid win.” A few have even rolled it back.

Note: Kamloops fitness classes are also yielding positive results.

See the Aging Fitfully episodes featuring Corner Boxing Club Rusties, Old Broads, and Corner Kids. Each has Carrie Barry’s Ted talk link at the end. Don’t miss that.

What about for you? If the idea piques your interest, find your local boxing club and check it out. You may be surprised how quickly your boxing stereotypes are replaced by a sense of camaraderie, fun fitness and a brand-new way to balance your right and left brain.

Interested in helping Kamloops Parkinsons patients add a new tool to their fitness? If you are a boxing coach, medical professional, kinesiology student or willing to buddy with a Parkinson’s patient, please contact Margaret ([email protected]).

For boxing and other ideas for staying active and building your physical health, whatever your age, go to www.youtube.com/@agingfitfully

Margaret Archibald is an 80-year-old Canadian retiree, who is neither medically nor fitness trained. She is not qualified to diagnose nor recommend health or fitness. She is simply learning how to develop her own fitness, bound and determined to keep on loving aging.