ROCKPORT — Dr. Doug Johnstone has enjoyed being a chiropractor for 36 years. He has taught karate at the YMCA for two decades and many young and old have taken his classes. Wednesday nights are different as the students dawn boxing gloves and learn strategies and basics of that sport.

Another word for boxing is pugilism. The term refers back to boxing in its earliest form when it was also called bare knuckle fighting. Irish American John L. Sullivan was perhaps the most famous of the bare knuckle fighters. The only difference between street fighting and bare knuckle fighting was the later was a match governed by rules.

Johnstone said boxing skills are good to know.

“The boxing skills are great for everyone to know,” he said. “We try to tech self defense. I think it’s good to know what other people are capable of doing. Fortunately, we have Paul Benjamin, who is a wealth of experience in boxing.”

Johnstone said Benjamin has helped with the classes for more than 15 years.

“Every few months he comes and joins us and shares his skills,” he said. “There is no physical contact between the boxers. We’re learning basic skills and working with pads. We do some partner drills, but it’s not contact.”

Johnstone said they try to teach the techniques that are used by all boxers.

“Jabs and crossovers,” he said. “Round houses and uppercuts. Stances and how to move forwards and backwards.”

Johnstone said he has been interested in boxing since he was a teen. 

Benjamin, of Rockland, who many associate with the Rockland Blue’s Festival, is also an avid boxer and is a guest instructor for the Wednesday night skills and strategies classes at the YMCA.

Benjamin said he hopes to teach students the correct way to use their hands.

“All ages are welcome,” he said. “Male, female it doesn’t make a difference. Nobody gets hit, we work out with the pads and you get a good 90-minute workout. Prior boxing experience is not necessary, but most of the students are already in one of Johnstone’s karate classes.”

Benjamin said he has helped with the classes for 10-12 years.

“I try to get in three or four, sometimes five times a year,” he said. “Sometimes monthly, but it depends of course on his schedule and my schedule. I stress no experience is necessary to take this class. Some students have never taken his class or the one I’m teaching and some are brand new to the karate classes.”

Benjamin said it is a different concept and fits all age groups.

“I’ve had young kids in the class, 10 and 12 year olds,” he said. “Some seven and eight year olds, male and female, and we’ve had people in here 75 years old. It’s a great aerobic workout and you get to learn how to use your hands. You’re here to learn, not to overdo it and get a workout.”

Benjamin began martial arts in the service and that was how he became interested in boxing.

“I was on the Marine Corp boxing team and I boxed professionally for a couple of years,” he said. “I won a couple of state championships and Dr. Johnstone was the ring doctor in one of the fights that I put on at the Rockland Rec Center. That was in the 1980s.”

Johnstone said the boxing classes are part of the Korean Karate classes that are at the YMCA. He said there is an adult class on Monday and Wednesday night. There is a children’s class on Wednesday afternoon, as well as Saturday morning.

The classes were founded by Bill Groves of Rockland.

http://www.penbayymca.org/