10-week Boxing program launched in Coeur d’Alene

Jason Chavez of King David’s Men boxing teaches Luke Maksen, 10, how to spar. Chavez created the program to build fraternity and virtue among boys. (Photo/Lisa Ormond)

By Lisa Ormond

For the ICR

Jason Chavez decided it was time to take the gloves off — though bringing boys and men back to basics really meant putting them on.

In a world where the current culture often confuses gender and, at times, shames masculinity, the St. Thomas the Apostle parishioner decided he would utilize his boxing skills and knowledge of the sport to restore a sense of Catholic male identity and camaraderie.

Last May, he launched King David’s Men boxing, a unique 10-week program for boys ages 9 to 11. The free class, held at OPEX CDA gym in Coeur d’Alene, recently concluded with an afternoon of sweaty and intense, but fun-filled sparring.

Each participant, cheered on by family and friends, stepped into the ring for three two-minute rounds.

The program aims to form men, fathers and sons in masculinity, brotherhood and spiritual virtue, as well as strength in preparation for life’s challenges.

A dozen Catholic boys attended and over 90% completed the program. Chavez, the founder of the Catholic non-profit Communio CDA, is the father of a young son. He decided “it was time” to take the gloves off and offer the Christ-centered boxing course to his community.

“We need to teach boys to be constructive, or they will be destructive,” Chavez said. “Forming virtuous, masculine brotherhoods through boxing helps young men and fathers unite in faith and muscle.”

St. Pius X Deputy Grand Knight and volunteer boxing coach Phil Hostak agreed.

“Jason is teaching them to discipline the flesh,” he said. “If you learn that, you polish the soul.”

A challenge for males

According to Chavez, today’s culture gives young

Aiden Kirschner, 9, demonstrates the correct

boxing stance. (Photo/Lisa Ormond)

men a confusing message about their identity. Mark Griswold, a father of three young sons, couldn’t agree more. He and son James, 11, were participants in the one-of-a-kind boxing program.

“Under the guise of a war on ‘toxic masculinity,’ which does exist but has been overblown and mischaracterized, the rites of passage that used to help create men out of boys have been stripped away,” he said.

Brotherhood builder

Forged from Chavez’s passion for God, heart for service and desire to build fraternity among males of all ages, he named the program King David’s Men boxing after David, the Old Testament biblical character renowned for his courage and faith.

“Through boxing, the boys learn discipline, courage and self-mastery so they can rise up and become men who serve, sacrifice and lead with strength,” said Chavez, who also serves as the Campus Minister at Holy Family Catholic School in Coeur d’ Alene.

Believing deeply in the importance of his boxing ministry, Chavez set out to build a program for young boys and their fathers with other Christian men, mentors who share a passion for boxing and God.

“I wanted to offer a masculine space where boys could learn how to take a punch,” Chavez said.

Generosity and support key

He needed support, however, to fuel his mission, and the Catholic community came to his corner. A critical partner was OPEX CDA gym owned by Christians Brandon and Katie Burchfield who provided the facility at no cost.

Hostak, 74, offered his time, mentorship

Above, volunteer coaches and mentors, left to right, John Nolan, Phil Hostak and Jason Chavez of King David’s Men boxing. (Photo/Lisa Ormond)

and the funds needed to buy the required boxing equipment.

“I knew how to throw a left hook before I knew how to throw a baseball,” joked Hostak, a lifelong Catholic, who, after college, considered boxing professionally. His father Al was a world middleweight champion at 22 and a World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee in 1997.

“I kind of look at this class as a movement, similar to the Crusades back in the day, to help instill discipline and to help these boys grow into young men with their Catholic principles intact,” he said.

Hostak encouraged his Catholic friend John Nolan to join him in the gym. Nolan boxed competitively in college for four years and was “very glad” to share his knowledge with the group and the boys.

“When I trained in boxing, I developed many close friendships and learned patience and self-discipline,” Nolan said. “I know positive changes will happen for the boys who take part in this sport.”

Hostak agreed with Nolan about the value of the sport.

“Boxing is a great foundation for life, especially for young boys, whom we can help grow up to be solid men and leaders,” he said.

Jason Chavez steadies the heavy bag as he instructs Braxton Lange on how to throw a punch. Students not only learned how to box, but were also set on a path to being confident, disciplined and faithful Catholic men. (Courtesy photo)

Program snapshot

Chavez’s weekly class is 90 minutes and includes opening and closing prayer, a 10-minute talk about virtues and values, followed by a warm-up run, stretch and boxing training.

“At the beginning he’d say, ‘Do I have to go?’” said Billy Maksen of Rathdrum, father of 10-year-old son Luke who has complete hearing loss caused by Usher Syndrome and wears Cochlear implants. “It was hard to get him here, but after he landed at the gym, he was happy.”

Maksen said part of the joy upon arriving was that all his school friends were boxing too—a reason many others commonly shared for being there.

“I wanted to see my friends over the summer and punch people,” said Aiden Kirschner, 9. “I thought it would be fun to learn more skills—new punches and new techniques.”

It was Aiden’s first go-round at boxing, his dad Kyle calling him a ‘karate dude’ based on his choice of sports.

“I enjoyed watching my son battle and respond to adversity with this tough physical challenge,” Kyle said.

Layered levels of instruction

Basic boxing fundamentals such as footwork, on-guard stance and throwing a punch were taught in the first lessons. Techniques like punch combinations, hooks, uppercuts and punch locations were covered next.

The boys then applied those skills to shadow boxing before shifting to live sparring with trainers and fellow classmates toward the end of the course.

“I learned to protect myself,” said Chavez’s son Kohanim, 9. “I had a good time with my dad, and he was one of the best trainers.”

Thumbs up from moms

“We wanted our son to have a chance to try this; to not only understand himself and stick up for himself, but also to know how, if he needed, to stand up for others and have the confidence to do so,” said Rachel Anderson of her son, Jude. “Being around other Catholic boys and men leaders is 100% a good environment to teach these types of skills. Jude does like it, even though he got a bloody nose from that last round of sparring,” she smiled.

Above, volunteer coaches and mentors, left to right, John Nolan, Phil Hostak and Jason Chavez of King David’s Men boxing. Below, left to right, Jude Anderson, Luke Maksen, Rocket Darrow, Kohanim Chavez, Aiden Kirschner and Wyatt Michael break for a photo during the free 10-week program. (Photo/Lisa Ormond)

For Coeur d’Alene mom Kara Michael, the fact that her son Wyatt, 10, had the chance to participate at all was a blessing from God. She shared that her husband, Jed, died unexpectedly of a heart attack in January.

“Jed would have been doing this with Wyatt,” she said with tears in her eyes, adding that Chavez and Jed were friends and that Chavez made sure Wyatt always felt welcomed.

“I wanted Wyatt to know how to be strong—a man and a leader who loves God,” Anderson said. “It’s been an incredible community.”

Wyatt talked about his recent sparring round with Chavez in the ring.

“I’m tired,” he said with a face flushed with exertion. “But it’s fun. You get to punch people.”

Crosses not trophies

After the 10-week program, the boys didn’t get trophies. Instead, they celebrated with a pool party and each received a cross—a spiritual piece of armor—to carry on their journey, courtesy of 68-year-old St. Thomas the Apostle parishioner and Knight Paul Grayhek.

“All the kids took one and quite a few of the parents also,” he said. “There were about 35 different crosses and crucifixes.”

And Grayhek’s message to the boys?

“To wear them outwardly and proudly,” he said. “Christians, along with Jesus, have been shoved into the closet,” he lamented. “It’s time for Christians to proclaim their faith.”

A ministry movement in need of a home

Chavez hopes the boxing seed he has planted will take root and lead to more partners, donors and, ultimately, more classes for boys and men.

“The need is great for Christ-centered, brotherhood boxing,” he said.

He is currently seeking permanent space somewhere in the Coeur d’Alene area to grow his boxing ministry.

“This isn’t just a sport. It’s a formation ground for the next generation of fathers, husbands and saints,” Chavez said. “In a world that says, ‘do what feels good,’ these boys learn to stand for what’s right. Please pray for our boys and their fathers.”