The Heavy Punch boxing team from Uzhhorod, which includes children, teenagers, girls and boys, talks about boxing as a hobby, a favourite activity and training as a daily routine that teaches discipline. Boxers and coaches from the Uzhhorod Boxing Federation explain how not to lose motivation, even when faced with setbacks.

Coach Georgiy Kushnarenko: boxing training, discipline and motivayion for young boxers.

Heorhiy Kushnarenko is a coach at the Uzhhorod Boxing Federation and the Heavy Punch club, a silver medallist at the Ukrainian Hand-to-Hand Fighting Championship, a master of sports in hand-to-hand fighting, a prize-winner and champion of Ukrainian and international tournaments, and a candidate for master of sports in boxing.

His journey began at the age of 18 in the Uzhhorod Boxing Federation.

“I started with adult boxing, which is a difficult challenge. I fought with experienced guys who already had good training. I had to combine work, study and sport, when there were three training sessions a day. The first two years were difficult because I got beaten up by the guys at every training session,” says Georgiy Kushnarenko.

After six years, Georgiy started his own section, while continuing to box. Over time, he realised that in order to achieve significant results. He had to devote himself entirely to one thing – either a career as a boxer or coaching. Seeing the success of his students and experiencing new emotions from their victories. He decided to devote himself more to coaching than to his own athletic career.

How young boxers stay motivated despite difficulties:

Signs of fatigue that the coach notices in children are immediately apparent in training: their performance begins to decline, and they are no longer as energetic as before. But the coach tries to overcome this — he supports, motivates and helps them regain their desire to work.

“I have no choice but to give up, because if I give up, it’s not the right example for the children. A coach is a source of hope and an example for the younger generation. I train every day, and I’m always in the gym, so I set an example not only with words but also with actions. I don’t force anyone, but I explain: if you lose, the world won’t stop, we have to work. Today is a defeat, but tomorrow is a new day,” says the coach.

Constant change in training is part of Georgiy’s methodology: athletes have a lot of training, it can be up to 12 times a week, so he tries to change and improve, but never stops at what has been achieved.

“It is difficult to attract young people to boxing now, because young people today are the generation of phones. Therefore, it is necessary to listen to children as much as possible, talk to them, explain and clearly give them tasks to perform. But there is a plus side to this: thanks to gadgets, children can, for example, watch how to wind bandages. As in everything, there are two sides to this coin,” notes Georgiy Kushnarenko.

Nowadays, more girls and women are taking up boxing than before, mainly for themselves, but many girls also come to realise their professional potential in boxing. Evelina Zheleznyk talks about her experience:

“I took up boxing because I just wanted to try something new. At first, I often heard phrases like “you’re a girl, this isn’t a sport for girls” or “boxing isn’t for girls”. But over time, all these words ceased to matter because I showed that I could train just like everyone else.”

The girl talked about motivation and burnout with a smile. Recalling the stage she had gone through, which she gladly shared.

“Sometimes I felt burned out, both physically and mentally. Sometimes you just get very tired from the constant routine of school and training. But I give myself time to rest, not just to sit on my phone, but to rest mentally and properly, and then the desire to train comes back,” she adds.

Evelina shares advice that you won’t find on Instagram or TikTok:

“Don’t listen to anyone. People always say something, just do what you want. If you want to box, just go and train. Don’t miss your chance because of someone else’s words. You’re doing it for yourself, not for someone else. Don’t be afraid of mistakes — they’re part of the journey. Don’t be afraid to start: every champion was once a beginner. Just be true to yourself, work hard, put your heart into it and move forward, despite the doubts of others. Your dreams are worth fighting for,” says the athlete.

David Traxler is a boxer who has been boxing for over 10 years. And has not lost his motivation due to failures or defeats. On the contrary, he proves it every time with his numerous victories and fierce fights.

“I’ve dreamed about boxing since I was a child. I still remember when I was six years old and asked my mother to enrol me in a boxing club. For some reason, I’ve been drawn to this sport since childhood, and over time, this desire has grown two or even three times stronger. What fascinates me about boxing is the dedication it requires. I give it my all, sometimes to the point where it’s hard to go home after training. That feeling when you’ve put everything into the process and you enjoy the process of fighting yourself is incredible. The best thing about boxing is when they raise your hand after the fight. Then you realise that all the training was not in vain, that all the effort was not wasted, and that you won this victory on your own. This feeling cannot be compared to anything else,” David shares.

Regarding the state when an athlete gets tired and burns out, David says: “Of course, every athlete has a time when they burn out. The main thing is to go through this path and not stop. A boxer may have moments after a defeat when he wants to give up. But then he remembers how much he has already done for this sport. And what heights he has not yet reached, which he deserves. This is what motivates him to continue working and doing his job.”

“There is no boxer who has never lost, so you have to be able to accept defeat, but not get used to it as something normal. You always have to strive for victory and do everything to achieve it. After a defeat, it can be difficult to move on in the first few days, but over time you realise that you can’t stop, you have to keep going. Boxing is very welcoming to newcomers. And accepts everyone, so our gym is open to all and waiting for you,” says the boxer.

Heavy Punch is a team that moves forward thanks to the unity of its athletes. Having gone through a difficult path himself, team coach Georgiy Kushnarenko knows how to find an approach to children and teenagers who may be going through a difficult period in their lives.

“I have a special approach to working with children and teenagers: I love communicating with them, supporting even those with difficult personalities, and I am always open to new acquaintances. My goal is not to force children to box, but to help them develop discipline, responsibility and good habits. It is important to teach them not to be late, to keep fit and to treat training as a daily routine,” says Georgiy Kushnarenko.