Joel Yip Chuck climbed into the ring more than 16 years ago and competed as an amateur boxer until 2004.
“I got into coaching by accident after getting injured,” he said. “I immediately fell in love with it.”
He moved to Guelph in 2005 and in 2006 opened his own club TNT Boxing Academy.
“I got into boxing because it is an individual sport,” he said. “The competition is one on one.”
The club has grown in size and stature over the past 11 years and its solid reputation has attracted men and women of all ages and competitive levels.
Yip Chuck and fellow coaches, Stevie Bailey and Dan DeSantis have trained a number of provincial, national and Olympic contenders but most important for Yip Chuck is the sense of community and camaraderie.
“I am passionate about working with youth,” he said. “Boxing is a great way for them to build confidence, stay disciplined and get in shape.”