Punching lights out with pink boxing gloves and no sight
Vision loss doesn't prevent me from packing a powerful punch
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When I slip on my pink boxing gloves, I channel my inner Barbie fighter and punch lights out.
Boxing makes me feel strong, powerful, focused, and completely in the zone. It is fun, and I think there’s something pretty fierce about boxing without relying on much sight. I am mostly blind due to Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. It takes courage to step into a sport when you cannot rely on your vision, but I have never believed that poor vision should define what I can do.
I first had the opportunity to try boxing while I was in treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, and I loved it.
In the beginning, when I was learning the different punches, my coach would line me up with the bag and help me get positioned. Since I couldn’t rely on my vision, I depended heavily on my coach’s voice and verbal instructions.
After a couple of classes, I became familiar with the punches and committed them to memory. I learned where to stand, how far away I needed to be from the bag, and what each punch should feel like. Eventually, muscle memory took over. My coach still calls out the combinations during class, but I have the punches memorized.
My favorite punch is definitely a hard hook. There are a lot of good combinations, but if a combo includes a hook, chances are I’ll like it. I also love burnout uppercuts.
When I am boxing, I am not focused on my blindness; rather, I am locked in the zone. I have even knocked a boxing bag down before. Whoops.
I also used to love punching the red bag because, as an Oklahoma State girl through and through, I could pretend every punch was knocking out Oklahoma University. That made throwing a hard hook just a little more satisfying. And wearing my pink gloves adds a sprinkle of personality as I channel my inner Barbie-girl power.
Boxing has reminded me that I am strong and that my poor vision does not define what I am capable of doing. If you are determined and willing to put your mind to something, you do not necessarily have to be able to see perfectly to do it.
Boxing is empowering; it gives me a chance to feel strong, have fun, and focus on what I can do instead of what I cannot see. Sight is not required to punch lights out.
Note: Rare Obesity News is strictly a news and information website about these disorders. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Rare Obesity News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to rare obesity disorders.
