Fit4Boxing gym in Murrysville, Hampton offers program for those with special needs

When Fit4Boxing opened in Hampton in 2015, its owners already had an eye toward working with people of all abilities.

“We started working with people affected by Parkinson’s disease when we first opened,” said Brett Burkhart, managing partner with Fit4Boxing. “My uncle had been training with a guy from Sewickley who had Parkinson’s, and his symptoms really started to improve, although we were never fully sure why.”

Soon after, Burkhart was made aware of a boxing program called Rock Steady Boxing, which employs a noncontact, boxing-based fitness curriculum to try to improve the quality of life for those suffering with Parkinson’s.

“We were among the first 35 programs in the country, and now there are more than 800 of them,” Burkhart said. “We also had people reaching out to us about working with other groups with special needs. So, through the years, it kind of continued to grow.”

Fit4Boxing instructors have worked with clients who have suffered strokes or undergone amputations, and have kicked off a new program, Down to Box, in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh.

“It’s more geared toward teens and adults, giving them a safe environment to have this fitness opportunity,” said DSA Pittsburgh Executive Director Meredith Peterson. “And Fit4Boxing fit that bill. They already have a Parkinson’s program, and they understood the uniqueness of working with someone who has special needs.”

Down to Box provides tools to help participants gain skills in coordination, self-defense and physical fitness. The program began at the original Fit4Boxing location in Hampton, with a Murrysville location following.

Emilie Sears of Lower Burrell enrolled her 14-year-old son Kayden in the program. Kayden has sensory processing issues and Tourette Syndrome.

“I’ve never seen my child smile and feel as proud as he did the first day we were there,” Sears said. “The self-confidence coming out in my child is wonderful.”

Sears said she’s excited to enroll her daughter — who is on the autism spectrum — when the fall class comes around.

“We have some sponsors in order to help subsidize this for our families,” Peterson said. “It’s open to anyone with an intellectual disability, but specifically folks with Down Syndrome.”

The class runs for 13 weeks at both locations: at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Hampton location and Thursdays at the Murrysville location.

Sears said she can already see improvement in Kayden, even after just two weeks of the class.

“With Tourette, it’s hard to get out of your head and concentrate on something physical,” she said. “I asked him (at the class last night) if he had any tics, and he said, ‘I’m just punching through them.’ It’s helping him to center himself.”

Burkhart said the program is an extension of the approach they already had at Fit4Boxing.

“We already had a few people at our gyms who have Down Syndrome, so we said sure — we’re excited about it,” Burkhart said. “The workout that boxing provides can really help people from all walks of life.”

For details, see Fit4BoxingClub.com or contact DSA Pittsburgh at 412-565-9936.