Positive Opportunities & Support Systems
Our Mission
Turner Boxing Gym and Youth Development Program seeks to help individuals, young and old, to achieve their personal best through boxing, self-defense, and wellness training.
We are a community-based program that mentors youth to build positive self-esteem & self-confidence and empowers them to make safe, healthy life decisions. Our team strives deter youth from risky behaviors and provide them with positive opportunities and support systems to develop professional excellence.
Our Future is Our Children
Our Vision
Our vision of Turner Boxing Gym and Youth Development Program aspires to empower, equip, and inspire generations to be champions through the sport of boxing both inside and outside the ring.
Campaigns
Anti-bullying
Bullying is an epidemic that has plagued the nation and our community here in Frederick, MD. It is our goal to inspire those we train to learn to self-defense to protect oneself and prevent violence; never to bully. By offering self-defense and wellness training, our gym is a great way for people, young and old, to connect and build community. By connecting a diverse group of people, we show a different perspective and provide a solution that doesn't involve confrontation.
Mentoring 'at-risk' youth
We offer a community-based program that mentors at-risk youth in acquiring life skills through boxing while keeping them off the streets during crucial hours. By using hands-on learning in a productive environment, our team strives to deter youth from risky behaviors and provide them with positive opportunities and familial support systems.
Anger Management
it might seem counterintuitive that "training to box" can actually help to manage ones' temper and lower the tendency the engage in physical altercations, but it is true! In addition to the self-discipline that is achieved through our boxing training program, we also teach conflict resolution skills.
Physical & Mental Wellness
Boxing promotes a wide variety of physical and mental health benefits. First, the exercise provides a rush of endorphins - a natural mood booster. Training classes can help to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression by focusing the mind and body in the present moment and taking people away from ruminating thoughts or worries. It provides a source of distraction as individuals engage in a fun activity that they look forward to and make new friends in a sociable and supportive group setting. Boxing instills a sense of achievement, building self confidence and self-esteem. Classes provide a controlled and safe environment to release any frustration, stress and anger. Boxing encourages a healthier lifestyle which benefits physical and mental wellbeing. (i.e, better quality sleep, healthy eating habits, self-care and compassion).
Benefits of Boxing
There are numerous benefits to participating in the program that we offer. Some of the specifics benefits of boxing are listed below
It builds self-confidence as well as physical strength
In addition to building physical strength, boxing can help our participants feel more powerful mentally and gives them a fighting spirit to enable them to deal with life’s challenging situations. Recently Prince Harry openly talked about his battle with mental health and how he sought refuge in the boxing ring to help him overcome the death of his mother. He is one of many who has seen immense benefits that boxing can bring. Boxing can also instill a sense of achievement which builds confidence and self-esteem. Many of the mental skills that you will learn in boxing can be effectively used outside of the ring; understanding your opponents finding your fighting style and mastering your defense, could help both at work and in your social work.
It can help you manage anger and overcome it
Hitting a punching bad can be a physical and symbolic expression of stress or anger. Physically, hitting a punching bad produces a response in your body that helps to relieve tension. Boxing, especially in a group setting, is a safe way to release tension or aggression without hurting yourself or others, helping you work through any negative feelings and effectively overcome them.
It's an excellent form of stress relief and stimulates endorphin production
Physical activity is a known stress reducer; runners experience the phenomenon of a ‘runner’s high’ and boxing is no different. When working out in the punching bag, your brain increases the production of endorphins, the neurotransmitters that create ‘feel-good’ thoughts. Punching helps to relieve muscle tension that can build when you experience stress. As you continue to punch, you will find your focus is improved, increasing your concentration and helping you forget the reasons why you are stressed.
It promotes mental discipline and emotional fortitude
Boxing can help you strengthen the tools necessary to manage your emotions and how you respond to various challenges. Our intense training sessions require the participant to overcome numerous physical, mental and oftentimes emotional challenges during each workout. As a result, the skills developed in the gym have great overlap in the tools needed to succeed in the real world. In addition, with a focus on the body and mind, boxing can improve your ability to find inner peace and patience to trigger less anger frequently.
You can switch off from the outside world and be present in the moment
Boxing requires you to fully concentrate on the task at hand. To box well, you need to be able to switch off from the outside world and be 100% focused. Boxing is fast, furious and fun, leaving little room in your head for anything else. Being able to avert daily stresses can help you truly take time out, giving you a fresh perspective to better deal with problems or issues that are bothering you.
Turner Boxing Gym History
The concept of what is now Turner Boxing Program began in the summer of 2016. The gym hopes to open in the late 2019 or early 202. We are requesting funding to assist with launching a boxing program and self-defense training.
Leadership
Gonzell Turner, Jr
Gonzell Turner is an Army Veteran and a certified USA Boxing trainer. He is passionate about boxing and strives to impart his knowledge about the sport, and about life to his students. Having trained since the age of 10, Mr. Turner has developed talent and gyms across the United States (San Diego, California, Fort Hood, Texas, and Washington D.C.) and in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army. Early on in life, Gonzell overcame enormous challenges with the untimely death of his father. At the age of 12, he moved with his mother to Somerdale, NJ and begun getting into a lot of fights. In order to channel his frustration and get onto a better path, he joined the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he turned to boxing, Taekwondo, and Akido. This began a lifelong journey to learn the art of body movement and self-discipline that can be found in these various sports, with boxing as his passion. After joining the Army, Gonzell began to perfect the boxing techniques he learned. He also improved his discipline and confidence as both a fighter and a trainer.
His training methodoloy is heavily focused on developing proper techniques and sharpening the mental and emotional skills that are required to succeed at the highest level. Once a foundation of proper skill and technqiue is obtained, the student can then learn the skilled science of punching and counter-punching, slipping, and feigning to elude being hit and set-up overhands, hooks, and upper cuts. Gonzell incorporates many of the well-known boxing styles within his training including the famous Peak-A-Boo style (Mike Tyson), Philly Shell (Floyd Mayweather) and Pivot/Precision (Vasyl Lomananchenko), to name a few. By incorporating these different styles, students are introduced to a wide array of techniques and philosophies they can reference as they develop their own style and approach.