In the First Punch boxing studio, elementary school students experience how values such as respect and diversity can be experienced through a reading in the ring.
Plettenberg – On Friday, the nationwide reading day, there was, for once, no sweating in the “First Punch” boxing studio. Under the motto “Reading in the Ring,” Prange accents invited elementary school students to an atmosphere that is usually associated with speed and strength – the boxing ring.
What does reading have to do with boxing? At first glance, boxing and reading aloud don’t seem to have much in common. But in a conversation with Christoph Jan Jaszczuk, managing director and boxing trainer at First Punch, it becomes clear why this combination works surprisingly well. Young people who could hardly be more different train in his studio every day: students from different schools, cultures, religions and nationalities. What connects them are common values such as discipline, respect, fairness and cohesion – values that also play a central role in the story.
No opposites
Reading and boxing are not opposites, explains Jaszczuk, but rather two elements that complement each other. Boxing can provide an important outlet and strengthen self-confidence. But education – and therefore reading – forms the foundation for personal development. He himself reads a lot, especially on historical topics, and emphasizes: “Strength alone is not enough. Discipline, respect and education are the most important things.” Violence prevention plays a major role, especially in boxing. Anyone who takes boxing seriously knows that conflicts cannot be solved with punches. What is more important is the ability to de-escalate situations and appear with knowledge and self-confidence.
The idea of moving the reading day to this unusual room came from Anja Semmler, who and her team were able to recruit former primary school teacher Ingrid Kodinger. She chose the book “You belong to us – or everyone is a little different” by Julia Volmert – a story that celebrates diversity and shows that everyone has their place in a community. Only six children – mainly from the indoor school – were there. But it was the small group that made the appointment personal. After a curious look into the boxing ring, the children listened intently to the story about “being different” and “belonging.” So the reading day in the boxing ring became an impressive example of how two seemingly completely different worlds can convey the same message: everyone is different – and yet everyone belongs.
