WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF WOMEN+

We are fighting to redefine the historical and societal perceptions of who defines as a boxer.  We are fighting for our cause, for our place in the ring and for our place within the sport. With your support we can rise to the challenge, we can empower ourselves, and we can inspire others.  On May 24th, 25th and 26th 2024 Sooke Boxing Club will host the 5th annual International All Female Boxing card “West Coast Wonder Women+”.  Athletes of all ages from across the country and areas of the United States and Mexico will come together not to beat each other down, but to build each other up so that we may stand stronger together.

The Sooke Boxing Club, is implementing a six month training program to support and encourage any woman, regardless of age or experience, to rise to the challenge and discover the strength that lay within each of them.  On the 24th, 25th, 26th of May, 2024, these fighters will step inside that squared circle that will complete their challenge.  The journey to the ring will provide these athletes with not only physical changes but personal growth that is immeasurable.

The proceeds of our fundraising efforts will be utilized in the advancement of programs within the community. Programs such as workshops, training camps and the continuation of our WCWW+ outreach program.  Outreach program involves teaching boxing to girl’s only PE classes at all high schools in the Greater Victoria School district. It has been proven through studies that girls are less active by the time they are 13 years old.  This is mainly due to self-esteem issues, body image issues and feeling inferior.  We have found that these girls are defeated before they even try.  Our mandate is to change this, one class, one girl, one punch at a time.  We believe that boxing is the sport that allows that inner empowerment that creates belief within oneself.

Wonder Woman Responsibilities

• To show up, with a positive attitude every training session
• To attend at least 4 days/week of training at Sooke Boxing 
• To inform all WCWW+ coaches of any possible days of absence from training – without adequate training, you might run the risk of not being able to compete due to safety concerns
• Training must occur at Sooke Boxing for morning/evening boxing – outside training at other boxing/martial arts facilities is prohibited due to CABA safety concerns and regulations. All training at Sooke Boxing will be FREE and covered with WCWW+. 
• Supplementary personal boxing training/conditioning is available at your cost with WCWW+ approved coaches
• To have all sponsorship completed by February 1^st, 2024.
• WCWW+ will have a doctor out to complete medicals. Date, time and location will be announced with plenty of time to accommodate scheduling. This cost will be covered by WCWW+.  If you are not in attendance, it is your responsibility to get your medical done by a physician and the cost is yours to incur.  Registering with BC Boxing/Boxing Canada will be handled by WCWW+ and the cost will be to you. The cost of registering is $100.      

Frequently Asked Questions

Who am I fighting? Why has my fight changed?

Fights are not 100% confirmed until the day of the fight, despite any prior information that you have been given about your opponent by staff, media releases, or speculation.

Will I get hurt?

Boxing is a contact sport, and with that, comes an inherent risk of injury. In a study of professional boxers, the most common injuries were to the head/neck/face area (~90%), with about 40% of these being eye injuries, and 20% being concussions. Approximately 75% percent of all recorded injuries were cuts or lacerations, most being superficial (Zaryn, Finch, & McCrory, 2002).

In amateur boxing, there are many best practice safety measures to prevent head injuries. All boxers are required to wear headgear during competition and sparring, which greatly reduce the risk of cuts and lacerations. Additionally, during competition, gloves have a greater amount of cushion and padding around the knuckles, which can reduce the concussive force in each blow. Broken noses are a potential risk, but are less common than one would expect in combat sport, but the softer gloves help to mitigate this risk. Smaller females are less likely to deliver nose-breaking punches, as they usually are less capable of producing the high amounts of force with their punches.

It is important to note that the fight referees and officials keep fighters safety as a paramount concern, and more often than not, fights will be stopped to ensure the safety of the athletes if the referee notices that you are not defending yourself appropriately, or are taking too much damage.

During training, coaches are there to ensure that sparring is controlled and purposeful, with athletes partnered with equally matched and appropriate sparring partners.  Due to the nature of sparring, this is only done at the direction of WCWW+ coaches, and not at any other gyms, clubs or with other coaches.    

Do I have to lose weight?

No, however it is quite common to do so considering the amount of training you will be doing.

My Mom/Dad/Uncle/Sister/Aunt/Coach is a boxing/fighting legend, I want to train with her/him at another club. How can I do this?

All boxing training done must occur at Sooke Boxing. Even if you currently training at another martial arts/boxing club, we require your boxing training to occur solely at Sooke Boxing. Though this rule may seem stringent, it is a fundamental requirement and responsibility for athletes to uphold for multitude of reasons:

1. Safety – Due primarily to the aforementioned safety concerns with off premise fight training, we require all boxing training (minus bag work) to occur with WCWW+ boxing coaches. It is our primary responsibility as CABA coaches to ensure the safest environment possible to allow you to fight without injury, and specifically to minimize the risk of concussion during sparring. We cannot ensure your safety if you spar/train with somebody who may or may not have your best interest in mind outside of our training program!
2. Overtraining – When training for your first fight, anything beyond 8 training sessions/week (including supplementary training) is not necessary, and may lead to a diminished performance come fight night. In my personal and professional experience as a coach and combat athlete, I have seen and experienced the effects of overdoing it in training camp, only to come out flat and tired on fight night.

Keeping these facts in mind, there are additional boxing and supplementary training options for all WCWW+ (see below).

Can I do more training? I’m not ready!

Have you been faithfully attending all training sessions? If not, this is your first course of action. If you have excellent attendance, and still feel like you want more boxing education or general fitness, there are a couple of options:

1. Supplement your training with a cardio class – spin, Zumba etc. and or a yoga class for stretching and flexibility.
2. Hire a WCWW+ coach for discounted personal training. This is an excellent option for some extra tactical and technical training, focus mitt work, or light technical sparring. Cost can be additionally decreased by sharing a session with another team mate
3. Attend Evening Boxing classes at Sooke Boxing.

Including WCWW+ classes, you should not be doing more than 8 classes/conditioning sessions overall per week!

At the end of the day, remember that your opponent is probably experiencing the same pre-fight jitters as you are. Everyone has fear and doubts about their level of preparedness and ability before fight night. The best way to prepare for your fight is to attend all training sessions, make sure that you that you give it your all everyday, and believe in your ability to push through your own personal battle in the ring.

Do I need to run everyday?

No, 3 times a week with one of the sessions being a weekly sprint session.

What equipment do I need for training and the night of the fight?

All boxers will receive 16oz gloves and hand wraps with their contender package. These will be used for training and sparring, and must be brought daily. Some people will also be interested in obtaining 10oz gloves for bag work and mitt training. Headgear will be provided for training and the fights, but people prefer to have their own. There will be headgear available to purchase (Adidas Red or Blue competition headgear).  The cost is $140. You should have proper gym footwear.  See below.

You will also need a mouth guard for training and sparring.

Who is in my corner?

One of your WCWW+ coaches.  We will decide closer to your bout which WCWW+ coach you will have in your corner.  Relationships develop between an athlete and coach and we take in consideration the relationship you develop with which coach you bond with.   

Do I have to travel to Sooke for training?

Yes, you must attend the mandatory training at both Sooke Boxing. Traveling to Sooke is a commitment that you are aware of prior to signing onto training with WCWW+.  This allows all coaches to work with you as well as create a bond with all of your teammates.

What if I get injured and can’t fight? What does this mean for the sponsor?

Injuries are a legitimate concern in any sporting endeavour, and may prevent you from competing. Remember that you will have to pass a pre-fight medical clearance on the day of the fight, so all injuries and health concerns must be made clear to your coach and organizers.

In the unlikely chance of a serious injury or health concern that will prevent you from fighting, your sponsorship will be transferred to another athlete, and the sponsor will still receive all of the sponsorship marketing incentives.

Can I crowd fund sponsorship cost?

Yes, you can crowd fund your sponsorship cost.  However, the 100% tax write off for sponsors is a marketing expense and not a charitable donation. Sponsors receive benefits that far outweigh the cost of sponsorship, and crowd fund donators will not receive these benefits. If you are having trouble obtaining sponsorship, please talk to us.

I’m too tired/sore/sick/injured to attend training. What do I do?

If you are legitimately unable to make it to training because you are physically unable to make it out of bed, please contact one of our WCWW+ coaches and inform her/him of your situation. It may be that you legitimately need rest and are experiencing symptoms of overtraining, but do not forgot to contact your coach. There may be strategies that can be put in place (prioritizing rest, nutrition, stress management, make up training) that your coach can help you achieve.

That being said, the hardest part training is getting out the door. If you are convincing yourself that you simply can’t train because you are little sleepy, the onus is on you to suck it up and make it possible. Even if you are feeling run down, come to training any way and inform your coach before training commences – he can help scale the training volume to help you stay healthy.

When do I get my uniform for the event?

Sizing for uniforms will occur during the first month of training, and you will get your uniform well in advance to our event.

What sort of footwear should I wear for training and fighting?

Any athletic shoe will be permitted for training and fighting. Boxing or wrestling shoes are recommended, as they grip the floor better, support the ankle, and allow for easier movement. They can be purchased online or a variety is available at Suits U downtown or Fitness Experience in Langford.

Where do I buy tickets? How?

Tickets can be purchased online or at the gym approximately 1 month out from the event. More details to follow.  

Can I have my match on a certain day??

We will let you know when your match will be as we are having females come from all over North America.  For example- Your opponent may only be able to come to the last session and therefore you will be scheduled accordingly. People that travel will have the priority on the sessions (please note that sessions will be Friday May 24 at 7pm, Saturday May 25 and noon and again at 7pm and Sunday May 26  at noon).  We will let you know far enough in advance in order to let your family and friends as well as your sponsor know.    

What’s after? What’s next?

Fighting in the ring, no matter if you win or lose, is a huge accomplishment! Be proud of your success. Many people talk of fighting in the ring, but few have the courage to actually do it. Remember the long hours in the gym, the hard training, and most importantly, discovering what you are made of! If you can enter the square jungle, there is nothing in life that you can’t do!

Many people will feel a hard come down after the fight. After the buildup to the night, the huge release of adrenaline on fight night, and the celebrations after, it is somewhat challenging to adjust back to regular life. We encourage you to take a week off to recover, get in some light workouts, and genuinely enjoy your success.

Then it’s time to consider what your next challenge will be. Realize your physical potential and realize that the fight is not a destination, but a milestone. Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Fight again – for some, WCWW+ is just the first step into the realm of competitive combat sports. Past athletes have continued competing and some have returned to the WCWW+ training to do it once again.
• Continue training for fun – many past competitors continue to train in boxing! In fact, some past competitors have become instructors and inspirational teachers themselves. As you have undoubtedly learned, boxing truly is “the sweet science”, and takes many years to truly master its intricacies. Never stop training!

Timeline of Events

IMPORTANT DATES

November 13th, 2023 **WCWW+ STARTS*** – Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6pm at SOOKE.  Each Sunday all participants will be required to be at group training in Sooke.  This will allow all participants to learn techniques that you will practice until the next Sunday. In addition, it is a great way to team build.  

December 2023 – February 2024

Mandatory training 4x per week (with the Sunday group session in Sooke) Mandatory running 3x per week (with the one sprint session). Sparring is on Wednesdays and Sundays.

March 2024-May 2024

Mandatory training 4x per week (with the Wednesday and Sunday group sparring session Sooke).

May 24, 25, and 26th, 2024, WCWW+ All Female International Card

 

Mid Training Review

There will be midway meeting with your coaches to discuss your progress to date and what you will need to focus on for the upcoming months of training camp.   This will also be your opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions regarding your progress and how you’re adjusting to training camp.   
Supplementary Training Routines

“Conditioning is King in the Ring”

There are many important determining factors for success in the ring, but the most important is your cardio, specifically your anaerobic cardiovascular conditioning.

Your fight will be 3 x 1-2 minute rounds (depending on your age, 40+ will fight 1 minute rounds, under 40 will fight 2 minute rounds), with a 1 minute break. This means that to win, you have to have the ability to work at an extremely fast pace for 2 minutes at a time, while someone is trying to hit you. Needless to say, it is very tiring. We recommended that you supplement your 4-5 days of training at the gym with supplementary conditioning training.

We do not recommended that you start a weight training regimen that focuses on size, strength, or powerlifting (think heavy weights, slow lifting, or muscle isolation). If you are already currently doing a weight training program, you may continue, but focus more on explosive lifts, and eliminate most lifting 2 weeks out from the fight.

Instead, focus 1-3 training sessions/week on a combination of explosive power training and anaerobic HIIT (high intensity interval training).

Prioritizing Rest

With this extra training options in mind, it is imperative that you get enough rest and recovery time to prevent yourself from burning out. For many of you, this may be the most intense training that you will go through in your life, and therefore you must make sure to prevent yourself from letting your training (body breakdown) outpace your recovery.

Therefore, we recommend you come faithfully to WCWW+ training for at least 1 week to get used to the training volume. From there, add on 1-2 runs a week, or 1 run and 1 explosive power training routine. If you are feeling strong, continue with this training volume or increase it to 3 supplementary sessions/week.  If you ever feel like you are getting particularly run down, decrease the amount of supplementary training you are doing in a week, and instead opt for a massage, a nap, or simply an evening off.

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