Knockout
What is it? Knockout is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to gather together and pursue a healthier lifestyle through the sport of boxing. We are a fitness training group that recognises the health of the body comes through the security of the mind and community.
Why do people need it? This space was started as a secure and safe space for queer athletes who prefer non-team sports. Boxing is traditionally a sphere that is rife with difficulties for queer athletes, in regards to competitiveness and homo/transphobia. Knockout is a place where not only can these athletes find respite from these domineering structures, but also find individual and inner strength through a style of boxing not typically found in most other gyms. We focus on community and elevating the individual through the group.
What do you offer? A competitive boxing workout that challenges the body but is also tailored to the individual. We have some members who compete, but our core members are there to focus on their physical well-being.
In addition to this, we are a community that likes to deepen our bonds together by organising social events, karaoke nights, pub nights, and watching fights together.
We are also active in supporting other LGBTQ ventures, through charity drives and other forms of support. We organise 5k, 10k, and half marathon runs through our members, and help members find other sports and hobbies all with the mission statement of promoting LGBTQ+ rights and ideals.
What makes it different? Boxing is a hyper-aggressive individualistic sport that focuses on competitiveness and is typically taught in a harmful manner that isolates and can be damaging to the individual. Our trainers focus on combating these stereotypes to produce strong boxers that are developed through shared bonds and training together.
We emphasise positivity and connection, and work hard to welcome everyone to be a vital member of our community. Our training focuses on everyone who walks in the doors, leaving no one behind. For those who wish to, we encourage meeting strangers and learning something new from them. A Boxer steps into the ring alone, but we prove that the road to the ring can only be walked with friends and family.
What do people need to know? Boxing is a very intense sport and tends to attract introverted people. We are respectful of this and strive to provide a safe space for everyone, regardless of background. It is an intense workout, but highly rewarding, physically and mentally.
Currently, our trainings are held at the Sobell Center in North London, and are open to boxers of all levels. We have 2-3 coaches on hand in order to provide adequate attention to individual training, and thus are able to accommodate boxers of all skill levels.
For first-timers wishing to try out the sport, please come in comfortable trainers/running shoes, loose shorts, and a loose top. Freedom of movement is key. Please see our web page for more details.
Tell us a little about your story: Wanting to create a club run by queer people for queer people, to create a safe space and break down the barriers LGBTQ+ people feel when engaging in sport, Knockout London was born over a few drinks in the Duke of Wellington in Soho in January 2016. In the last six years, the club has expanded from a handful of people to a community of almost 200, with 2 classes available a week (and more coming soon), and supporting fighters participating in white-collar boxing events.
How can people be inspired by your space wherever they are? Our group focuses on community. We train strong individuals to become leaders but recognise that the individual is a construction of the community they are a part of. Competitive boxers are not created in gyms, but rather through the love, support and connection to the community around them. A strong Boxer gives back to their community and is active through charitable works and social events. It is not enough to carry these principles of Charity and Community only when one trains, but also throughout one’s everyday life.
Where inspires you? Any of the strong LGBTQ+ voices trying to bring positive changes to our community, whether they are activists (Munroe Bergdorf), actors (Elliot Page) or professional athletes (Jake Daniels). But also our members, all come to the club with their own stories, and our social events are a great opportunity to hear about their inspiring journeys.
Anything we're missing? We are a safe space for all members of the LGBTQ community and their allies, which means our members come first and foremost. Please be respectful of an individual’s right to privacy.
