As boxers took to the ring for the Baraka Bouts semifinals Tuesday evening, senior captain Ocean Leto reflected on the intense training boxers go through to prepare for their fights and her own role in producing this year’s Baraka Bouts.
Baraka Bouts has meant much more to Leto than just her wins and training; she explained how much growth she has seen in the club and its impact abroad in Uganda, where the money raised from the Bouts goes. “[It’s] really neat seeing how our awareness and fundraising has helped build real buildings like their dining hall and dormitories and tracking updates on how the girls like their new amenities during Missions Monday,” she said. Aside from looking at the impact of the club overseas, Leto has seen tremendous change within the club itself, especially how members’ confidence and excitement increase when they learn a new skill, which she says is “the essence of Baraka Bouts.”
As one of the technique captains, Leto guides the women in most of their movement training, which Leto described as “the first line of defense.”
“Knowing the stance, how to move and how to distribute your weight are the points of focus,” she said. From there, the captains teach jabs, crosses, blocks and hooks. The first hour of each practice is spent on cardio or calisthenics exercises, while the second hour focuses on technique.
Outside of boxing, Leto said her fitness comes from training with the Navy ROTC Program and running with a weighted vest when the weather is nicer. Despite the grueling training Leto puts herself through, she keeps coming back because of the club’s “kinetic art, the call for discipline and its competitive mirth. It’s a beautiful sport that also empowers your means and agency of self-protection.”
Leto explained that it’s normal for students to join the club with no background in boxing, since the training is meant to teach everyone from the ground up skills that will stick with them throughout their lives. Leto said there are more freshmen in the club this year than ever before; however, the team dealt with struggles encouraging new boxers to spar for the first time and in participating in the tournament early on. These anxieties disappeared as the season went on, and Leto saw more people wanting to compete, which she described as “a good sign for the future of the club.”
For those who are hesitant to box, Leto offered some advice. “I say be bold and give it a go, because there's no other feeling than working under that pressure and playing tag in the ring,” she said. “Even if you feel like you’re not that type of person or if you feel like you’re not athletic enough, try it, and I guarantee you'll take away something rich.”
Leto, making the most of her final Baraka Bouts, is enjoying her final moments with the girls and coaches in the club and reflected on how it’s “been a joy growing in friendship, especially [with] the captains, and improving technique.”
The Baraka Bouts final rounds will be hosted on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Dahnke Ballroom, where proceeds will go to Congregation of Holy Cross to aid the expansion of schools in Uganda.
