Part 2 in an occasional series about boxing. Read Part 1. Also, watch a short video about George’s gym.
When George Khosi was a kid, living on the streets of Hillbrow, he dreamed of being a boxing champion. He fought his way (literally) through the ranks, and was on his way toward becoming one.
That dream died 14 years ago, when George was brutally attacked, shot, and left for dead on a hillside overlooking Johannesburg.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I recently learned that the hill where George nearly lost his life is the same hill that I visited and blogged about two weeks ago.
Today, George has devoted his life to training future boxing champions at his gym, the Hillbrow Boxing Club. Many of the guys (and girls) he trains are street kids who have come to Hillbrow and Yeoville from other parts of Africa, just as George did many years ago. The Hillbrow Boxing Club – a converted petrol station on Claim St., is George’s life. He works, eats, and sleeps there, along with several of his fighters.
George’s room in the basement of the Hillbrow Boxing Club. (Photo: 2Summers)
To keep the gym going and to pay the rent, George trains people like me – people who love boxing but aren’t looking to become professionals. People who can afford to pay an extremely reasonable hourly fee to work out with a legendary South African boxing trainer.
George does padwork with Mark, one of his clients. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
Several mornings a week, George travels a couple of kilometers east of Hillbrow to the trendy Maboneng District, where he does boxing workouts on the roof of the 12 Decades Hotel at 7:00 a.m. (or even 6:00 a.m., if his clients prefer it). I’m a regular attendee at those workouts, and plan to write a separate post about them. Boxing on the roof of the 12 Decades, while watching the windows of Jozi’s skyscrapers turn flame-orange with the morning sun, is an experience unto itself.
But if George’s clients want to experience what real boxing training is like, working alongside professional boxers and sparring in an actual ring, they have to go to the Hillbrow Boxing Club. One or two days a week, we work out there.
Inside the Hillbrow Boxing Club. (Photo: 2Summers)
Walking into the Hillbrow Boxing Club is…Eish, it’s hard to explain. It’s REAL. There’s nothing pretentious. There’s nothing easy. There’s nothing comfortable. And yet the Hillbrow Boxing Club is a welcoming place. It’s tough, but not intimidating. It’s a place where young people go to become fighters. Most of them have been fighting for their entire lives, out of necessity. They come here to learn to fight in a different way. They’re fighting to make their lives better.
Fighting. (Photo: 2Summers)
You might think that a person like me – a white foreigner with a ponytail – wouldn’t fit in at the Hillbrow Boxing Club. But if you think that, you’re wrong. I like it there. I want to be a part of things. When I go there, I forget about all the sh*t going on in my life. I just want to be better.
Jogging on the street outside the Hillbrow Boxing Club. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
Pictures are the best way to show what goes on at our Hillbrow boxing workouts, but I can’t take pictures with boxing gloves on. So my friend Fiver stepped in to help me this week. The good news is, I now have lots of pictures of myself boxing. The bad news is, I now have lots of pictures of myself boxing. These pictures will not win me any beauty contests. They don’t say much about my boxing form either – I realize now that I really need to work on keeping my elbows in. But hopefully they’ll give you a feel for what boxing in Hillbrow is like.
A round of padwork starts by touching gloves with George. “My CHAHM-pione,” George always says as we start. This puts me in a good mood.
Padwork with George in the outdoor boxing ring in Hillbrow. By the way, why is it called a ring? It should be called a boxing square. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
Bad elbow form. Must fix. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
I like this shot because I don’t look like I want to murder someone. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
The guy in the background most likely thinks I’m a maniac. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
As you can probably tell, I’ve been a little stressed lately. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
Thwack. “Goooood!” says George. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
I almost didn’t include this photo because it is really a bit frightening. But I figure that posting it will decrease the odds that I’ll ever get mugged in Joburg. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
One round of padwork lasts two or three minutes. We alternate and do four or five rounds each. After padwork, it’s time for sparring. “We SPAHR!” says George.
Preparing to spar. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
The only punch I managed to land on George. He wasn’t fazed. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
We wind up the session with group calisthenics and abs.
George calls this “Stowe-MAHCK!” (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
My mom doesn’t want to hear me say this. But I love boxing so much. There is a part of me that wants to go all the way — to train with George every day and actually try to become a “real” boxer. What do I have to lose, other than a few brain cells and teeth?
Johanna’s smile pretty much sums it up. I think she enjoys boxing in Hillbrow as much as I do. (Photo: Fiver Löcker)
Um, I LOVE THAT PICTURE. So glad you included it. You are one tough cookie.
Thanks KLong. Miss you.
great blog Heather – please let me know when you go through one saturday / or over the easter weekend – I would just love to do some shots but quietly ….
Hi Jackie, you would be more than welcome to come and take photos. George loves being photographed. He does do workouts on Saturdays but I don’t usually go then because I attend a boxing class in Melville. Let’s talk the next time we see each other though and we can work something out.
Great post, you look like a BAMF when you box 😉
Woo-hoo! No one has ever called me that before.
Out of all the pictures i love the one you wanted to leave out most! It says so much. So real, and clean – no pretenses. Lovely post again.
Thanks Jackie!
I also love that picture you were going to leave out the most!
Thanks. I’m glad I used it.
I also love that picture you were going to leave out the most!
Thanks. I’m glad I used it.
wow, cool, I had no idea you were doing this! Long before I ever lived here, I read and re-read The Power of One, so boxing will always have a special connection to South Africa for me.
Thanks Sine. It’s funny…I also read and loved The Power of One. I read it long before I moved to South Africa and long before I started boxing. Funny how things have turned out since.
wow, cool, I had no idea you were doing this! Long before I ever lived here, I read and re-read The Power of One, so boxing will always have a special connection to South Africa for me.
Thanks Sine. It’s funny…I also read and loved The Power of One. I read it long before I moved to South Africa and long before I started boxing. Funny how things have turned out since.
Like Jackie, I love the photo you considered leaving out. Plus, I can’t help but love this boxing metaphor–I love it on so many levels. I wonder if there wouldn’t be a book here for you–either using fighting as a metaphor for your recent struggle and/or a book about the club. Powerful material.
Hugs,
Kathy
Thanks Kathy. This will be part of the book, for sure!
Like Jackie, I love the photo you considered leaving out. Plus, I can’t help but love this boxing metaphor–I love it on so many levels. I wonder if there wouldn’t be a book here for you–either using fighting as a metaphor for your recent struggle and/or a book about the club. Powerful material.
Hugs,
Kathy
Thanks Kathy. This will be part of the book, for sure!
What a great opportunity. To do anything with someone who is not only a legend in that field, but is an inspiring person in other ways as well. I can see how it’s especially motivating. Best of luck with boxing. 🙂
Thanks Mariel. It really is an amazing opportunity and I feel very fortunate.
What a great opportunity. To do anything with someone who is not only a legend in that field, but is an inspiring person in other ways as well. I can see how it’s especially motivating. Best of luck with boxing. 🙂
Thanks Mariel. It really is an amazing opportunity and I feel very fortunate.
Love the picture of Johanna
That’s also one of my favorites. Fiver did a great job.
Love the picture of Johanna
That’s also one of my favorites. Fiver did a great job.
Great pictures of my mean, tough daughter. Those of us who know and love you realize that’s not the real Heather. Once you’re a pro boxer you can pay me back if you mess up those teeth I paid to have straightened.
Mom
It is the real me! Just not the part that you normally see. And don’t worry, I was only kidding about the teeth. I wear a mouth guard.
Great pictures of my mean, tough daughter. Those of us who know and love you realize that’s not the real Heather. Once you’re a pro boxer you can pay me back if you mess up those teeth I paid to have straightened.
Mom
It is the real me! Just not the part that you normally see. And don’t worry, I was only kidding about the teeth. I wear a mouth guard.
after watching Clifford’s documentary on Aljezara – George’s is just the most remarkable chap – Im sure Hillbrow has lots of remarkable folk. I had to read your blog again. Just blown away … jacks
sorry I didn’t make yesterday.
Thanks. George is even more remarkable in person!
after watching Clifford’s documentary on Aljezara – George’s is just the most remarkable chap – Im sure Hillbrow has lots of remarkable folk. I had to read your blog again. Just blown away … jacks
sorry I didn’t make yesterday.
Thanks. George is even more remarkable in person!
I noticed ur biceps :p muscles in a silly self portrait and and thought to myself, this girl works out quite a lot.. and then i read ur boxing stories.. amazing, really. i like ur interests and ways of channelizing your emotions.. pardon my use of ‘ur’.. and that scare the mugger shot is super awesome 🙂 keep going girl! am sure you are inspiring many..
Haha, thanks. I recommend boxing to anyone who needs a little help channeling their emotions. It works.
I noticed ur biceps :p muscles in a silly self portrait and and thought to myself, this girl works out quite a lot.. and then i read ur boxing stories.. amazing, really. i like ur interests and ways of channelizing your emotions.. pardon my use of ‘ur’.. and that scare the mugger shot is super awesome 🙂 keep going girl! am sure you are inspiring many..
Haha, thanks. I recommend boxing to anyone who needs a little help channeling their emotions. It works.
Oh I love boxing and haven’t done it in years. I was so fit when I was doing it, now… not so much. You’ve totally inspired me to get back into it. Just don’t know where to start in Port Moresby!
Well, boxing is a pretty universal sport. I’m sure there’s a boxing gym somewhere in Port Moresby. And even if it’s in a dangerous neighborhood, you’ll be safe once you’re there! Boxers make very good bodyguards 🙂
Oh I love boxing and haven’t done it in years. I was so fit when I was doing it, now… not so much. You’ve totally inspired me to get back into it. Just don’t know where to start in Port Moresby!
Well, boxing is a pretty universal sport. I’m sure there’s a boxing gym somewhere in Port Moresby. And even if it’s in a dangerous neighborhood, you’ll be safe once you’re there! Boxers make very good bodyguards 🙂
How much does it cost to gym a month
Hi Terance, George charges R40 per session, per person.
How much does it cost to gym a month
Hi Terance, George charges R40 per session, per person.
Hi there. I am a journalist for the Mail and Guardian. We heard there is a women’s boxing group that trains here. We would like to possibly run a story about it. Could you please drop me an email if you wouldn’t mind having a chat? I love your story. ThaliaH@mg.co.za
Hi there. I am a journalist for the Mail and Guardian. We heard there is a women’s boxing group that trains here. We would like to possibly run a story about it. Could you please drop me an email if you wouldn’t mind having a chat? I love your story. ThaliaH@mg.co.za
I’m truly inspired,I’m a big fan of boxing myself. I would like to learn how to pack a punch like David Haye above all I’d love to learn the skill so I can protect myself!
I’m truly inspired,I’m a big fan of boxing myself. I would like to learn how to pack a punch like David Haye above all I’d love to learn the skill so I can protect myself!
Great article! A true story well-written. I enjoyed the background history on your own life and that of George’s too, very interesting! The gym looks gritty, tough, and old school…I like that. I’m glad you’re enjoying it there, keep it up, and keep up the good writing too. If I was still in SA I would love to train there too, Joburg is my pozzie!
Thanks Doron, glad you enjoyed it. Come visit any time!
Great article! A true story well-written. I enjoyed the background history on your own life and that of George’s too, very interesting! The gym looks gritty, tough, and old school…I like that. I’m glad you’re enjoying it there, keep it up, and keep up the good writing too. If I was still in SA I would love to train there too, Joburg is my pozzie!
Thanks Doron, glad you enjoyed it. Come visit any time!
im simon msiza im a student in cjc i want 2 joint boxing cze i love it.im staying at berea Aabel road at andy bostonian accomodation.
im simon msiza im a student in cjc i want 2 joint boxing cze i love it.im staying at berea Aabel road at andy bostonian accomodation.
Hi there! We really want to use this location and some boxers for a music video shoot, can someone contact me please.