{"id":44172,"date":"2015-10-05T12:15:02","date_gmt":"2015-10-05T16:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=44172"},"modified":"2021-05-06T03:55:01","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T07:55:01","slug":"boxgirls-international-kenyan-girls-boxing-mm-100515","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/boxgirls-international-kenyan-girls-boxing-mm-100515\/","title":{"rendered":"Monday Motivation: Why We\u2019re Rooting for Kenya\u2019s \u2018Boxgirls’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Boxgirls
Photo: Courtesy of Boxgirls International<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boxing always delivers a great workout: It\u2019s a cardio-intensive sport that requires a combination of agility, precision and conditioning (not to mention an outlet for some weekday frustration). And hey, even supermodels love it<\/a>. But what\u2019s blowing us away in the ring right now has nothing to do with the latest big-city trends. Instead, it\u2019s a group of women using the sport as a means for social change.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> VIDEO: 60 Seconds to Greatness<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2008, a group of women in Kenya decided to do something about the rampant sexual violence women in their country were facing. They didn\u2019t just want to respond to the violence, they wanted to learn how to fight back, too \u2014 which is exactly why Boxgirls International<\/a> was launched. According to the organization, its mission is to \u201cuse boxing as a catalyst for social change\u201d while \u201cmaking girls stronger \u2013 both inside and outside the ring.\u201d With that new self-assurance, these women can take those skills and improve their strength and resilience, while advancing further in their schooling, families and careers.<\/p>\n

Now 1,200 girls in the Nairobi area are members of Boxgirls International, learning the art of self-defense while also growing their own confidence. Plus, the organization has launched two international chapters located in Berlin and South Africa. To learn more, Vice\u2019s Broadly<\/a>, a women’s-interest site, spent a day with the Boxgirls Nairobi team to find out how the sport has helped\u00a0build hope\u00a0in a city that\u2019s been devastated by violence in the past.<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0five-minute video below, prepare to be inspired by the coaches, athletes and members of Boxgirls International \u2014 they might just make you want to get into the ring yourself. In fact, don\u2019t be surprised if you have the urge to try out this UFC-inspired workout<\/a> or sign up for a cool kickboxing class<\/a>. Or, you can donate to Boxgirls International here<\/a>. Why not do both? Because it\u2019s Monday \u2014 and you can do anything, right? After all, that\u2019s the thinking behind Boxgirls International: that yes, yes we can.<\/p>\n

Monday Motivation: Kenya\u2019s Boxgirls International<\/h3>\n