Operation Sparkle Shorts Backstory

Hi! My name is Courtney, and I 'm going to tell you all about how I got myself into this.

I used to volunteer with, and still am a big fan of Providence Roller Derby! 

I was at a bout, and looking through the program, when I found an ad for "Striking Beauties - the Original 24/7 boxing gym for women!"

I thought to myself "Self, this looks awesome! I'm good a punching stuff....I think this would be wicked fun!"

So, off I went to North Attleboro to check this place out.

I stopped by one day after work, and got a tour of the gym, and a schedule, and chatted with the people working there.

It looked like my kind of place - hot pink walls, a picture of Audrey Hepburn and a picture of Ali hung on the wall behind the treadmills, but most importantly, everyone seemed to be having a blast!


I went back the following Wednesday for a 30 minute "Intro to Boxing" session, where I met a trainer named Keith who showed me how to wrap my hands, the boxing stance, basic punches, & how to move while punching.

Just those 30 minutes moving back and forth in the ring tired me out, but I decided to stay for a one hour "Traditional Boxing Class".

In the one hour that was the class, I thought I was going to die.

I have never sweated more, or worked out harder in my life.

However, when class was over (after collapsing on the carpet, of course) I couldn't wait to come back and do it again.

I went up to the front desk, and signed up for a Knockout membership. That membership meant I could take unlimited classes, and get a key card so I could enter the gym and workout whenever I wanted! It sounded like a pretty awesome deal to me!

I went back the next Wednesday for the same class, and didn't die quite as soon. I stared asking people what kind of gloves they liked best, trying to figure out what would be right for me.

One of the girls I talked to mentioned that she sparred after the class we were in, and that I should stay and watch. I readily agreed, since when I do something, I like to go all out, so sparring seemed like the next step on this journey.

I stayed to watch sparring that day, and I could not wait to get in the ring.

Zach, the sparring trainer, told me that I needed a mouth guard, headgear, gloves and a USA amateur boxing membership in order to spar.

I went home, and went straight to titleboxing.com. I ordered myself a pair of 16oz gloves, a boil and bite mouth guard, and full face headgear. I was so excited that I paid extra money for 2 day shipping so that I would be able to get in the ring next Wednesday!

 Thanks to the expedited shipping, I got all my gear, and was ready to spar the next Wednesday.

Menace, the girl who told me I should stay to watch sparring the previous week, and the trainer Zach were the only people that were there for sparring that week, so I got in the ring with Menace.

Aside from being 230 pounds at the time, I am 6 feet tall. Menace is maybe 5'3"  on a good day, and I think she was about 140 pounds at the time.

However she had been sparring for a few months, and is a really good sport, so she agreed to get in the ring with me and see what I could do.

Zach set the clock for a 2 minute round. Menace and I waited for the start bell, then touched gloves, and the round had officially started!

The next two minutes were the longest two minutes of my life.

When the final bell sounded to signify the end of the round, I thought I was going to die again.

I was out of breath, drenched with sweat, and felt like I had just run a mile.

I hopped out of the ring, and let Menace beat up Zach for a round. After lots of water, holding my hands over my head and breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, I  decide to get back in the ring.

I felt the same at the end of the second round, but I also couldn't wait to do it again. however, I was so exhausted, I decided to wait till next week to spar any more. Menace and Zach sparred for another 5 or 6 rounds, while I sat there dumbfounded, watching them bounce all over the ring, throwing and slipping punches.

They made it look so easy, but I was determined to look like them someday!

That was the second week of May 2010. 7 Months later, I am now a total gym rat.

I usually spend about 12 hours per week in the gym now, and I spar 1-2 times a week, and love it!

Sonic (blue) and I (green) sparring a few weeks ago,