Kal Walker sharpens his jabs on a punching bag at the Hastings Giants Boxing Academy. Photo/Duncan Brown
Kal Walker sharpens his jabs on a punching bag at the Hastings Giants Boxing Academy. Photo/Duncan Brown
It's not all about bobbing, weaving, ducking and jabbing when Kal Walker visits the Giants Boxing Academy in Hastings.
For Walker, it's also about defining the parameters of his existence and a sense of purpose that's slowly dawned on him as he frequents the gym.
"It's great to have coach who is about just box, box and box but it's also outside the ring and what do you want to do," says the 20-year-old of trainer Craig McDougal before the 18-bout card at the gym starts from 3pm today.
Walker, who will help boxers spar today before their fights because his opponent pulled out three days ago, says McDougall also became a like a father figure to him after his own father, Brett Walker, died late last year
"He's been there from like day one ... so he's supported me all the way. Dad and I didn't have too much of a relationship but I just look up to Craig like a father."
McDougal, he says, often sent him text messages to remind him it wasn't always about ring craft at the gym but also acquiring life skills in a receptive and understanding environment.
Walker is returning after a year's break from boxing and is now on a journey of self-discovery.
Craig McDougall is Giants Boxing Academy trainer in Hastings and New Zealand amateur team assistant coach. Photo/file
His flirtation with boxing began when he started playing rugby at Hastings Boys' High School.
"As I went into the reps I realised my fitness wasn't good enough so my father told me boxing was good for it," says Walker who was about 91kg in those days.
He looked up Hastings gyms on the internet and Giants Boxing Academy caught his eye. He is now 81kg and owes it to the sport.
"As soon as I walked in I got greeted with hand shakes and everything. Everyone is so positive here and it just feels like more of a family.
"I know in many other gyms they just look after their main boxers but here we look after each other and so it really is welcoming to new people."
The electrician from Bay Electricals is addicted to boxing.
"It's a team sport in a lot of ways but you also have to reflect on yourself. You've got to put in the work and can't rely on the whole team to do the work."
The former Heretaunga Intermediate and Frimley School pupil says not turning up for training or even arriving late tends to prick his conscience about letting himself down, never mind the team.
However, that does extend to the collective when it boils down to sparring.
The amateurs are mindful not to use their skills improperly in public but it's a peace of mind to know they can look after themselves in an emergency.
"It gives me a lot of confidence. I didn't realise I had it in me because I've always been around a team but once I started doing this — I don't know, something started coming out of me."
