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Photo by Ben Bulkeley

Dylan Kurz, 12, gets in a few punches Monday night at Holistic Health & Fitness. Dylan, along with his brother Dakota, are taking boxing classes.

As Dakota and Dylan Kurz now know, boxing isn't easy.

Push-ups, jump roping, sit-ups, more push-ups - the pair doesn't stop moving until the buzzer rings.

And that's the lesson coach Jesse Diderrich wants them to learn.

Diderrich is the boxing coach at Holistic Health & Fitness where the Kurz brothers are enrolled in a six-week boxing program.

"This is the crash course," Diderrich said. "I want to get them ready for three minute fights, but they have to train to fight for four times as long."

For the second year, Diderrich will train young boxers before they spar at the end of the course.

The way Diderrich gets them to that point is with non-stop motion in Monday and Wednesday sessions.

"About 90 percent of the lessons are cardio," he said. "We have a saying 'If you lose because you lose, it happens. If you lose because you're tired, it's the coaches' fault.'"

If the boys think practices are hard, they are in for a surprise, Diderrich said.

"It doesn't compare - the training is nowhere near as hard as the matches," he said. "In the matches, you get hit, and you swing and miss : you get tired really quick.

"There's no wasted energy. I want them to learn to use a small amount of energy and to have their opponents use as much as possible."

Dylan, 12, doesn't need to think long when asked what the hardest part of boxing is.

"The jump rope," he said. "We've been working on our footwork most of the time."

Having the young boxers learn their footwork is an important first step, Diderrich said.

"I want to turn every single motion in to one continuous, smooth motion," Diderrich said. "And they'll learn that getting hit a few times isn't that bad."

Both boys said they started boxing for equal measures of self-defense and confidence.

For Dakota, 15, being able to defend himself is only one part of his time spent in the ring.

"This is just the first step," he said. "Eventually, I want to work my way up to kick-boxing.

"I don't usually do athletics, but I like this because I'm learning to stick up for myself."

With every cut, jab and uppercut delivered to the punching bags, Dylan and Dakota improve.

"I'm getting faster," Dylan said. "It teaches you self-defense - it gives you the knowledge you need to protect yourself."

Both boxers said the workouts are hard, but they want to keep going.

"People said that kids who box usually give up after a few days," he said. "I think about it a little bit, but I don't want to. This is fun."

For Dakota, he gets his kicks from punching.

"The best part is hitting stuff," he said. "We are here twice a week, and we do the same stuff until we get better."

The hardest part of being a coach for Diderrich comes naturally.

"Patience," he said. "But, thankfully, I have a lot."

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 875-1795 or bbulkeley@craigdailypress.com.