Local author, naturalist and former boxer Vanessa Chakour is leading a women’s boxing class at Franklin County’s YMCA.

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Chakour leads a group of women through the fundamentals of boxing, including footwork, balance, coordination, agility, cardio, reflexes, defensive techniques, and partner drills, and showcases a few pro-boxing techniques. Both beginners and experienced boxers, YMCA members and non-members are welcome to join a class, you just have to be a woman and want to give boxing a try. 

“I think it’s something a lot of people might perceive as a men’s exercise, but I firmly believe all women should know how to fight,” said Chakour, who is originally from Amherst and moved back to the area during the pandemic after living in New York City for decades.

Chakour said that her students have developed a sense of camaraderie, and that many of them have had negative experiences with male boxing trainers and in classes where men are also students. Whether it be from trainers and classmates making inappropriate sexual comments, or “mansplaining” and implying boxing is not a women's sport. 

She added that her students love being in a class with only other women. She said they support each other, build up each other’s confidence and help each other train to become better boxers. The class is no-contact and she focuses on defense techniques. 

Students have reported that the class has helped them recover from chronic pain and develop strength, both physically and mentally.

Scout Cuomo said she had never tried boxing prior to joining Chakour’s class this past summer but now loves it and believes it is “a great way to feel empowered.” She joined the class to learn self defense techniques as she was being verbally harassed by a neighbor, and was pleasantly surprised to find that boxing not only made her feel stronger and more confident, it also eased pain from a car accident that occurred years ago. 

“I thought I was going to be going to the chiropractor every week for the rest of my life,” Cuomo said. “Now I no longer feel back pain.”

Nina Rossi said she loved how difficult boxing was, and how each class varied and offered new challenges. 

“I hadn't found an exercise that hadn’t felt boring,” Rossi said. “It’s just really satisfying.”

Chakour said she experienced similar feelings when she first started boxing in the 1990s. She had been working as a personal trainer in New York City, and as part of that work took a mitt certification class so she could work with boxers. Then one day while working out at a gym she was asked to hop in the ring with a professional boxer who was training.

“When I threw my first punch that day I was shocked by how much power I had and I really needed to explore it,” Chakour said. “I tapped into this part of myself that I had no outlet for before. Where else could I really unleash this level of intensity?”

Chakour had also seen boxing ease pain associated with a previous car accident, and learned about rehabilitation through fitness. She continued with boxing, and fought professionally until 20o4, when she took a break due to injuries. She returned to boxing from 2009 through 2014, and began leading boxing classes in Greenfield this past summer. 

“It feels like reintegrating a part of who I am,” Chakour said. 

She added that she believes boxing ties in with her other work in outdoor education. In addition to boxing, Chakour leads foraging and natural medicine classes, and combines the two in her “Rewilding Through Boxing” workshops. She said boxing is a great way to release stress and tap into your natural instincts. 

“To me its all the same. Boxing gives me situational awareness, it gives me a level of sensitivity in my environment that I did not have before,” Chakour said. “For me its a moving meditation. It’s natural, it’s instinctual, it’s in our genetic memory to fight.”

A reporter in the ring

While researching for this story, Chakour welcomed me to the studio and allowed me to watch her students wrap up a session. I was impressed with the intensity in the room, and the fellowship among the boxers. They worked in pairs practicing their techniques, ended the session with group stretches, and enthusiastically shared with me their experiences with the class. 

To ensure I understood what is taught in the class, Chakour led me through a brief 20 minute lesson and taught me the basic boxing stance and how to throw a proper jab. Although my lesson was short, I could tell Chakour is a good teacher as she gently and repetitively corrected my stance, reminded me to breathe and told me not to hold back while throwing a jab at the punching bag. 

Chakour said boxing is great for mental health, and as predicted after my trip to YMCA, I spent the rest of the day in an unusually calm, cheerful and confident mood. I’m still just a boxing beginner, but it was a fun day and I may just have to explore boxing further. 

Chakour said anyone interested in a class can sign up on the YMCA website. People interested in learning more about her can visit her website, vanessachakour.com. She leads hour long classes four times a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 7:50 a.m. and 9 a.m. For $120, you can attend one session per week for a month. Space is limited to five boxers a session. 

“I meet students where they are. It’s not competitive, its a really welcoming environment,” Chakour said. 

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com