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Alison Curtis: the UK's first female boxing trainer | Alison Curtis: the UK's first female boxing trainer |
(about 17 hours later) | |
"It's a fantastic sport but it takes 100% dedication. It doesn't smell good, you're going to get hit and it will hurt." | "It's a fantastic sport but it takes 100% dedication. It doesn't smell good, you're going to get hit and it will hurt." |
Alison Curtis, a mother of six from Accrington, is under no illusions about the challenges the sport of boxing poses for many women. | Alison Curtis, a mother of six from Accrington, is under no illusions about the challenges the sport of boxing poses for many women. |
For a decade she has been working as the only female trainer at the town's Kokoro Centre, a boxing and martial arts gym run with her husband, Jason. | For a decade she has been working as the only female trainer at the town's Kokoro Centre, a boxing and martial arts gym run with her husband, Jason. |
And now she has become the first female boxing trainer in the UK to be awarded a professional licence by the British Boxing Board of Control. | And now she has become the first female boxing trainer in the UK to be awarded a professional licence by the British Boxing Board of Control. |
"I think boxing is slightly intimidating to women but there's nothing at all to be intimidated about - it's a great environment to come into." | "I think boxing is slightly intimidating to women but there's nothing at all to be intimidated about - it's a great environment to come into." |
Interest in the sport among women is growing slowly following Nicola Adams's success in the Olympics. | Interest in the sport among women is growing slowly following Nicola Adams's success in the Olympics. |
The Yorkshire flyweight became the first female to win Olympic gold in boxing at London 2012, making her a sporting hero. | The Yorkshire flyweight became the first female to win Olympic gold in boxing at London 2012, making her a sporting hero. |
Alison, 46, still hopes more girls will take up the sport but only one woman boxer is currently training at her gym. | Alison, 46, still hopes more girls will take up the sport but only one woman boxer is currently training at her gym. |
"After the Olympics everybody said 'You're going to get a lot of females coming to the gym', but we didn't get any," she said. | "After the Olympics everybody said 'You're going to get a lot of females coming to the gym', but we didn't get any," she said. |
Alison was reminded that boxing is predominantly a man's sport within minutes of entering her licence assessment in Bradford. | Alison was reminded that boxing is predominantly a man's sport within minutes of entering her licence assessment in Bradford. |
"Do you realise you are female?" her instructor joked. | "Do you realise you are female?" her instructor joked. |
"There's not much you can say to something like that," she said. | "There's not much you can say to something like that," she said. |
'Supported and encouraged' | 'Supported and encouraged' |
Her aptitude and knowledge of boxing became clear and she flew through the assessment with an impressive pass mark of 99%. | Her aptitude and knowledge of boxing became clear and she flew through the assessment with an impressive pass mark of 99%. |
"That's higher than my husband Jason got, and I'll never let him forget that," she said. | "That's higher than my husband Jason got, and I'll never let him forget that," she said. |
"I was supported and encouraged all the way. Their attitude was, if she's good enough, she's good enough." | "I was supported and encouraged all the way. Their attitude was, if she's good enough, she's good enough." |
Alison and Jason train more than 80 boxers of all ages and abilities from throughout East Lancashire and are at the gym 12 hours a day, seven days a week. | Alison and Jason train more than 80 boxers of all ages and abilities from throughout East Lancashire and are at the gym 12 hours a day, seven days a week. |
She is currently training two young men, Shakeeb Ali, 21, and Artif Ali, 25, who have just turned professional. | She is currently training two young men, Shakeeb Ali, 21, and Artif Ali, 25, who have just turned professional. |
It was her determination to work with them that motivated Alison to get her professional qualification. | It was her determination to work with them that motivated Alison to get her professional qualification. |
"I've been with the boys for four years and I had to either get a licence or hand them over to Jason. | "I've been with the boys for four years and I had to either get a licence or hand them over to Jason. |
'Bond of trust' | 'Bond of trust' |
"It's like I'm their second mum. I need to know everything about them, their diet, habits, whether they're having relationship problems. | |
"They text me everything they do. If they've been out for a run, I want to know where and how far. That's the level of dedication needed to make it. | "They text me everything they do. If they've been out for a run, I want to know where and how far. That's the level of dedication needed to make it. |
"My job is to train them and motivate them and to do that you need an unbreakable bond of trust." | "My job is to train them and motivate them and to do that you need an unbreakable bond of trust." |
Brian Roche, a retired professional, who trains fighters in Burnley and Bacup, praised Alison for her achievement. | Brian Roche, a retired professional, who trains fighters in Burnley and Bacup, praised Alison for her achievement. |
"I wish the best of luck to Alison in her training career," he said. "To reach the level of skills she has, she must have worked incredibly hard. | "I wish the best of luck to Alison in her training career," he said. "To reach the level of skills she has, she must have worked incredibly hard. |
"I'm seeing more and more girls come to our training and I think it's fantastic for the sport." | "I'm seeing more and more girls come to our training and I think it's fantastic for the sport." |
For Alison, the most important thing is her love for the sport. | For Alison, the most important thing is her love for the sport. |
"I can't remember a time when there wasn't boxing. You've got to love it - it's not a job, it's a way of life." | "I can't remember a time when there wasn't boxing. You've got to love it - it's not a job, it's a way of life." |
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