We met Jennifer Huggins at a She's4Sports #ownit event  last fall that featured inspiring women entrepreneurs who run sports businesses with purpose. We were drawn to her big heart, huge dreams and fighting spirit - we know you will be too. In this pre-COVID interview, Jennifer talks about being a female boxing referee, why she opened her own boxing gym in Toronto and how she came to be a magician's assistant. 

"Jennifer Huggins owns and operates Kingsway Boxing Club in Toronto, Canada. As a 3-Star International Boxing Referee and Judge with AIBA International Boxing Association, she understands the sport from the inside out. In addition to coaching at her gym, Jennifer is the Founder and CEO of the Fight To End Cancer and President of Boxing Ontario. She is heavily involved in the community, however still manages to find the time to travel the world performing with a World Class Magician." - jenniferhuggins.com

Jennifer's team at Boxing Ontario has been working hard to help open gyms across Ontario. Alongside the KO COVID Taskforce, with her fellow board member Fred Ten Eyck at the helm, they’ve successfully opened 8 clubs as of today, including Kingsway Boxing Club. The re-opening for Kingsway Boxing Club is set for Monday June 15, and they'll be offering private and small group training out of both locations. More back-to-the-ring updates at the end of this interview.

Refereeing in Russia - 2019 Women's Elite World Championships 

So, you visited Russia last fall? Tell us a bit about your trip.

That was my second time there. The first time I was there in 2016 was for the Men’s Youth World Championships, in Saint Petersburg. We stayed right downtown - Saint Petersburg is gorgeous! Even just walking from point A to point B you’re just in awe. My most recent trip was for the Women’s Elite World Championships, for all the women's weight classes. For the Tokyo Olympics 2021, we will have five weigh classes going. That’s a big step up from the three that competed in London and Rio. 

Why the shift from three weight classes up to five? 

In 2012 the London Olympics was the first introduction of women’s boxing. Then for the 2016 Rio Olympics, we still only had three weight classes. Basically, the way the Olympics works, is they have a maximum quota of athletes and we as a sport and the AIBA International Boxing Association have to allot the athletes. Working with the women’s commission, AIBA was able to pass five women’s weight classes and eight men’s classes. The number of men's weight classes was reduced to bring in more women. The precentage of women athletes in boxing is higher than ever, which is incredible.

So it's a decision by the sport to actively ensure that women are represented?

Exactly, it’s important to the sport of boxing and it’s important to the AIBA International Association that we actually do represent more women in the ring, which is awesome.

How are Russians at accepting women referees into boxing versus North Americans?

I’m really lucky, I get sent all around the world and work with all kinds of people from different countries and cultures. It's interesting because when I travel to these countries, I find you’re almost insulated with the people you’re working with versus being widely exposed to the country you’re working in. The one thing I can say about every country I’ve been to is that they’re extremely honoured to be hosting such big and important competitions like the Women's World Championship that I worked at. 

When I was first selected as a 3-Star International referee, only 17 of us were women, worldwide. Today, women are still quite outnumbered, however the number is growing and I've worked at many men's international competitions. At this level of competition, there's no skill difference between the men and the women referees.

That’s great. So clearly male referees are open and accepting in those kinds of situations because they can see your skill level?

Yes! That’s it exactly. Your skill has to speak for itself, regardless of gender. If you’re doing your job and you’re doing it well, then that’s what matters and that’s what people are looking for. The only thing is that you always have to do better because there’s still so few of us, we stand out, so there are always eyes on us.  

How Jennifer Got Her Start In Boxing

I understand that you got into boxing because you had an injury from skating. Tell me a little bit about how you got your start.

It was a big contrast going from figure skating, which was pretty much all women, and trying to stand out as a woman to a male dominated sport where you stood out for the wrong reasons because you’re a woman. It wasn’t just men that you stood out to in the wrong ways, it was women too who would say “well gosh that’s such a rough sport". 

When I opened my gym I was twenty years old.  They were cutting a chain at Canadian Tire so I could hang my boxing bags when the chain actually snapped off and hit me in the chin, cutting it open. One of the biggest fears I had at that point was “what are the parents going to think coming in?” They’ll be thinking this is a rough sport, look at her face! There were all these misconceptions parents had coming in and it was really challenging to try and break these misconceptions that came up just because boxing is often seen as a blood sport. It’s really not.

There are a lot of very similar comparisons between boxing and figure skating and many other sports for that matter. So, my competitive spirit was used less towards competing in the sport and more towards competing to make sure the sport was seen in the light that it should be seen in.

One of the other things I’ve struggled with when I started my gym, other than being a woman, is that I’m really young. So, I felt like everything people perceived about me was a negative, when really it wasn’t negative at all. 

What Is Your most Memorable Match As A Boxing Official?

“Maintaining a clear perspective and honouring fairness is always key. As a boxing official, I play the role of both referee and judge. I pride myself on being fair in and outside of the ring.”

One of the most memorable matches I’ve had as a referee was in the 2015 Rio Olympic continental qualifier. They put me in with an 81kg match. Usually when they put you in as a referee in a match they’ll take size into account, both to make sure you can break up a fight and just for visibility. I’m not a very big person. And these were two men who were quite a bit bigger than me. Usually I don’t notice my size, but this was a very physical match and at one point they stopped listening to me. When you lose control of a bout as a referee it can be very dangerous. So, during the break I took a deep breath and thought what am I going to do here if I lose control? It could be dangerous for me it could be dangerous for them.

When the bell rang, I called time and brought them to the side of the ring and reminded them that they had to listen, this is fair play and it would be disqualification if they didn’t start listening. From there it was a lot less emotionally charged, and they clearly realized they would need to calm down and play fair to accomplish the kind of things they wanted to accomplish. It was a very empowering moment.

Myth Busting And Why You Should Give Boxing A Try

"If there's one thing boxing has taught me, it's that there is a superhero in every one of us. I feel so fortunate to be in a sport that accelerates this discovery of our inner strength." 

Myth 1: Your body will be crazy jacked and you'll have too much muscle. In reality, women typically lean out. You might see more definition in your muscles but that's because you’re going to be in such great shape.

Myth 2: It's only a sport for men. Many women think that boxing is only a sport for guys, but that’s not true anymore. It certainly used to be geared more towards men. The viewership and the overall experience was a very male dominated sport. To break that misconception now, I would say that there are almost equal numbers of men and women involved in the sport. Whether its for fitness or competition, there’s opportunity for both.

Myth 3: It's not as interesting to watch women box. The other misconception from the fan base is that it’s not as interesting to watch women box as it is the men. But women are actually, in my experience very tactical. Men tend to compete with pure aggression, while women are very tactical and there is really a lot of love between the two competitors. That’s another thing too, boxers aren’t fighting they’re competing.

Myth 4: Boxers end up with bumps, bruises, a broken nose or concussions.  Boxing is like any sport or physical activity, you can get injured, But, on average, the typical boxer isn’t going to receive bumps, and bruises. It is also a misconception that amateur boxers end up with a lot of concussions. As a figure skater, I actually received way more injuries and concussions than I could have received in any other sport. On top of that, I’ve never received any concussions in boxing.

The fact is, that this is a sport where referees are looking for impact. As a referee I’m looking to see if a competitor is in a situation where they can no longer protect themselves, and if you find yourself in that kind of position, its my responsibility as a referee to stop the match and prevent any undue harm. Therefore, if you get backed into a corner and it looks like you could be in a position to receive some damaging punches that could potentially hurt you, we give you a minute to recover, bring you back to the side of the ring and give you another chance. Beginner boxers only receive two chances before we stop the fight and for more experienced boxers, they might get an extra chance but if they can’t protect themselves, we don’t wait to see what’s going to happen.

It’s a point-oriented sport, it’s a ten-point system. You’re being scored by judges on the number of quality blows in the scoring area but also technique, tactics, and competitiveness, so the goal is not to hurt each other, the goal is to score points.

Boxing As Therapy

So, you mentioned boxing for fitness and boxing competitively, but what are your thoughts on boxing as a form of therapy, or rehab?

Yes! We actually we've recently welcomed people with Parkinson’s disease into our gym and there are many other programs available. Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder and when you stimulate the nervous system it can make a difference. It's incredible to watch the difference it makes when your brain is stimulated through boxing. People who cannot control their tremors, are completely tremor-free. They’re so stimulated that you wouldn’t even know they are struggling with physical symptons caused by Parkinson’s.

Are athletes tremor-free in the middle of the fight or do you see lasting effects?

So, it's while they’re training. I’m not sure you can actually let someone with a neurological disorder compete, but we have programs where they train. I believe if you work on training your brain to control something, that it will have lasting effects. So even if someone is tremor-free for one hour, it’s still a relief to their neurologic system, to their body, and their whole being.

So, is your program specific to people with Parkinson’s or is it more of a one-on-one training?

We don’t specifically offer a program for Parkinson’s yet, but there are programs around the world that are geared towards them. We incorporate people with Parkinson’s into our regular programs, because at the end of the day they are as good or better than people who do not have Parkinson’s or any other neurological disorder. We also have children with autism in our kickboxing program, and again you would never know there was a learning disability.

What we do, and what I feel is important, as it relates to the inclusion of people with different ailments, is to incorporate them into the regular programing as much as possible. My friend Taveena Kum from Fierce N Fit Fitness is running a program for children with down syndrome, and she has these boxers working together, which is absolutely incredible.  

If I were to come into Kingsway Boxing (pre-COVID), having never boxed before, what could I expect?

Two Great Locations 

We have two locations, I’ve actually since starting my gym, almost always had more than one location. Not because I want to have more than one location, but just because Toronto is a very expensive city and to have one location that encompasses everything is very expensive.

Our fitness studio is our Bloor Street location and has drop in classes, one on ones and studio space. You basically go online and get in contact with me to make an appointment. My Fitness Studio came about because when I first started my gym it was in my apartment, so everyone got a free lesson just so they could come, meet me, check out the space. They didn’t know I lived there, but I wanted to make sure that everyone I was bringing into my home, was someone I felt comfortable with. So, we kept that strategy, we still give people one free lesson just so they can come in a and see what boxing is like, what the space is like, what boxing is all about only it's no longer in my apartment. 

We actually just partnered with a physiotherapy clinic too. This location is really about giving back to the local entrepreneurs. So, I'm collaborating with other people who have programs and they bring their programs to Kingsway Boxing. I partner up with the best of the best and give them opportunities to run their programs with Kingsway.

Our boxing gym is large and welcoming. This location has a full boxing ring and is on Jutland Road, which is just up the Gardiner Expressway at Islington. You have to go down this alley to find us. It's a little awkward to find but that’s just because when I opened my gym in 2007, I didn’t have any money, so this location was the first big location that I started. When you walk down the alley it’s a little intimidating, but once you get inside, you’ll be greeted immediately. That’s my personality but it’s also something I really ingrain in my team. It takes a lot of courage for people to walk into a boxing gym in the first place, so we need to do our best to make them feel welcome.

Great Member Culture

Is that welcoming culture, something that is supported by the members as well?

Yeah, I think so, but not every boxing gym is like that. You’re going to run into gyms with different outlooks on what boxing really means. You’ll run into some more “new-school” boxing gyms that are really welcoming, but then you’ll also run into some “old-school” boxing gyms, which is what I had to go through, in which you have to earn your way in and prove yourself. This "old-school" way is a very different concept from what we find important. Our staff and members are all very happy and supportive. We’re all part of a big family and we all want everyone who walks through the doors to feel that too.

So, I come in, I get welcomed, then what happens? What do I need to bring with me? What do I wear?

So, we offer everything except the clothing you actually need to box. You show up in your running shoes and workout clothes, and we supply everything else you ever need to hit a bag, as well as everything you need to be safe. Pre-COVID, we provided all of the safety equipment including gloves. Likely when we return to our gym post-COVID, we'll encourage you to go out and buy your own gloves to avoid getting sick. We're still working on our back-to-the-ring plan.

Basically, when you come in, you just have to show up . The hardest part of boxing, and fitness in general is showing up.

And are you finding that the coed aspect of it is intimidating to women or no?

Gosh no, we have the women’s only programming so that women who might feel intimidated can feel comfortable and welcomed but our coed programs are by far the biggest.

What other kinds of equipment are you using?

We’ve got wraps, gloves. And if you’re going to actually stick with the program and take a step further, headgear and a mouthguard, but that’s not something you need to start off with.

Then take me through the experience, what do we actually do?

Warm Up. We want to make sure everyone is warmed up so we usually get you to do a couple rounds of skipping. If you have any injuries, we have some other options like the elliptical or treadmill that we get you to do. Some people walk in and are super uncomfortable, because they came in to try boxing, but they’ve never been to a gym, so we help them through this. If a person is uncomfortable even skipping, we warm them up by just teaching them the basics. We’ll teach you the basic boxing stance, and we’ll put you in front of, usually it will be myself, my fiancé Virgil or one of the other senior coaches.

Learning the Basics. We’ll get you set up so you know all the basics and we’ll take you through a couple of rounds so you get can try it out and feel the burn. One of the greatest things about boxing is that it’s such an immediate experience. The feeling of adrenaline, the feeling of energy that goes through the muscles, all of that is very immediate, so it really feels like immediate results. It really sells itself, the hardest part is just getting people out for the first time, after that they’re often just blown away.

Do I have the option to box but not actually hit somebody?

Yeah, so that’s how everyone starts, even if you come in and you want to hit somebody. There are a lot of people who come into boxing and say I just want to hit somebody, I just want to spar. That’s actually really surprising to us, for any boxing club really to hear, because for you to want to actually hit someone or something you have know how to do that. So, it really comes down to building personal experience before working with someone else. It's like trying to jump into a hockey game without knowing how to skate.

So sparring is when you are working with somebody, but what do you call it when you’re just starting with basics?

You’ve got technical training and you’ve got practical training, which is the competitive or the sparring. That’s where you’re trying to get ready, or practice like for a game. But in boxing it’s very humbling because we all start at the same level. So, it doesn’t really matter if you have experience, everyone who walks through the doors of a boxing gym has to prove that they have the skills and tools necessary so that they are prepared when they actually step into the ring.

So, I’m just going to come back to this question, to make sure I really want to understand. If I were to come out and try this, I could enjoy boxing without ever having to spar?

Yes exactly.

Based on my experience at the gym, only about 10% of people actually get into competition, maybe even less. In my role as President of Boxing Ontario I get to see the other gyms and what they’ve got going on. When I first started off in the sport many people really looked down on was the fitness aspect of the sport. Some boxing gyms would look at what I’m doing and say Kingsway isn't "a real boxing gym", because I would include everybody. I disagree whole heartedly. I’ve kind of redefined what real boxing is. Real boxing doesn’t necessarily mean competition. It can also mean the art of the sport of boxing and the mentality behind it.  

Women Entrepreneurs Face Many Barriers. What were yours? 

I always got people telling me "this is just not the way it’s supposed to be done... its wrong... you don’t do it this way and... you’re not the right person to be doing this". I’ve gotten a lot of pushback saying this is how it’s supposed to be done and if you’re not doing it that way, you’re not going to be successful.

Its great that you have that fighting spirit then eh?

Yeah, every time someone tried to tell me I couldn’t I was like, oh yeah I'll show you! And at one point I actually ended up with a gigantic boxing ring, because it was one of those things someone said I couldn’t do when I had my tiny gym in my apartment. It was one of my friend’s who had brought a friend to my gym. She suggested she join my gym, and the friend said no, she’s not a real boxing gym she doesn’t even have a boxing ring.

Pre-COVID, were you seeing an influx of kids into the sport?

Yeah! It’s becoming perceived as a safe sport now so more and more kids are starting to come in, and their parents are letting them compete. It’s the program that always has a waiting list and it’s full every season. It’s a common problem with all the gyms around, they’re struggling to make room for all the new athletes in their kid’s programs.

Are you still competing as a boxer?

No there’s a conflict of interest if I coach and also compete and referee. So I coach locally at recreational, fitness, and technical levels, but I don’t work with my competitive team anymore other than just getting them ready for competitions. I don’t go to competitions as a coach, or a boxer, its impossible. because could you imagine me having to disqualify my own students, or having to compete against them?

So, I hear that you are also a magician’s assistant. What’s that about?

The first tour that I did with my magician Richard Forgets, a world-class magician was in 2004. I got this opportunity to work with this magician, and I didn’t think it was going to be more than one gig. It was because of my dance and figure skating background, and we went on tour for about a month. I ended up falling in love with what I did with him, and he ended up bringing me onboard again, which I didn’t really expect to happen. We eventually started going on tours all around the world, I’ve done shows in Malaysia, China, and TV shows too! 

It’s interesting and liberating to not be the important one. In boxing, I’m always the one calling the shots whereas when I’m working with Richard, my job is essentially to make sure he looks good. Even when I’m the only one on stage and I’m dancing, it's for him to make sure he’ll be seen as the wonderful magician that he is.

COVID-19 Boxing Updates

Kingsway Boxing - 👊 Virtual Boxing During Quarantine 

Jennifer successfully recalibrated her Kingsway Boxing programs to continue virtually through the COVID quarantine. You can lock them up... but you can’t hold them down! Check out Jennifer Huggins, Virgil Barrow and the incredible Team Kingsway Boxing Team as they come to your homes LIVE 7 days a week.

Use the fundamentals of boxing to get into the best shape of your life from the comfort of your own home. Jennifer Huggins and Virgil Barrow will be coming to you live from Kingsway Boxing Club with fun boxing drills packed into an effective 45 min workout for any age or fitness level. They’re also offering a range of other classes run bout our High-Performance Fitness Professionals. All you need is enough space to drop into burpees and pushups. Maybe bring a water bottle if you decide you need a quick break.

The re-opening for Kingsway Boxing Club is Monday June 15, and they'll be offering private and small group training out of both locations.

Canada's Boxing Gyms Are Carefully Weighing How To Reopen

Like all other sports,  COVID-19 is impacting professional and amateur boxing. Jennifer spoke with boxingscene.com in a recent article on work that is being done behind the scenes to evaluate how best to reopen boxing gyms. 

“There’s a lot of concern due to the amount of bodily fluids involved in boxing, however, we’re taking a look at everything and making sure that we’re going to be overly safe, rather than sorry,” said Huggins, who is working alongside a KO COVID task force, which includes several doctors and ringside physicians, to come up with protocols for gyms across the province. “From an official’s standpoint, I don’t think we have to rush this process. The athletes aren’t going to be competing any time soon, we don’t have a set date in place for when boxers are going to be allowed to do contact, so they’re really just getting back in the gym to get in shape for the eventuality of being able to compete again.” - boxingscene.com

 

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