Brick City Boxing: In Joe’s Corner
Finding an activity that fits your child can take some searching. A child may love to move but feel overwhelmed by team sports, become frustrated when a skill doesn’t come easily, or need a coach who takes the time to understand them. At Brick City Boxing in Pasadena, founder Joe Hanks brings that attention to his work with kids and teens.
A coach who sees the child
Joe grew up boxing in Newark, New Jersey, before pursuing a career as a professional heavyweight. He opened Brick City Boxing in 2021, naming it after his hometown and the gyms where he learned to train. What stands out to us is how he connects with young people of different abilities, including children who have ADHD, developmental disabilities, mental health challenges, or haven’t found their place in traditional sports. Joe meets children where they are. He knows when to encourage another attempt and when to adjust his approach. He also notices progress that might be easy to overlook: staying engaged when something is difficult, working through frustration, or returning to a skill that didn’t go well the first time.
Where agency comes in
Building agency means helping children recognize that their efforts matter and that they can influence what happens next. Boxing practice offers concrete opportunities to explore that connection. A child tries a movement, receives feedback, adjusts, and tries again. With coaching that fits their needs, they can begin to identify what helps them and recognize their own role in improving. The important moment may be a child realizing, “That was hard, but I figured out something that helped.”
An option beyond traditional team sports
For some children, an individual activity offers a welcome way to participate. Boxing training gives them opportunities to move, practice, and work toward personal goals without having to navigate every demand of a team sport. At Brick City, beginners and seasoned athletes alike are welcome. Children can participate in boxing fitness and skill training without fighting or sparring. Families can ask about youth classes and individual training, discuss their child’s needs, and find out which format might be a good fit. We appreciate having this local coach who understands both the physical and technical demands of boxing training while nurturing the mental side: building confidence, tolerating frustration, and developing persistence.
Explore Brick City Boxing to learn about youth training and contact the gym.
Where Kids Find Agency highlights local people, programs, and places that give children opportunities to try new things, learn, connect, and grow.