Pro 'KO's students in boxing class

The unique class includes Penn students and faculty, as well as community members. Jabbing. Counterpunching. Sticking and moving. Ducking. Simulated three-minute rounds. The 24 members of the co-ed Quaker Boxing class aren't learning how to bite chunks of anyone's ear or sucker-punch their opponents in the groin. Instead, former professional boxer Ron Aurit teaches them the fundamentals of the sport, hoping to give the students an intense, unique workout. The class' mix of students, faculty members and other Philadelphia residents meets every Thursday in the aerobics studio of the Hutchinson Gymnasium to learn the techniques and discipline associated with boxing. "It's a great workout," said James Benjamin, an engineer from Philadelphia. "It's something completely different that everyone can do." The course is based on the principle that "you can box with full hand-speed without getting hurt," explained Aurit, 47, who won Golden Gloves and intercollegiate titles in his younger days. Aurit, whose nickname is "The Yid Kid," has been teaching Penn students how to box since 1976. Prior to that, he had served as Temple University's boxing coach for four years. Originally enlisted by members of Penn's Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, Aurit -- who as an amateur traded blows with famed champion Sugar Ray Leonard -- taught the very first classes in the basement of the chapter house. As the popularity of his classes grew, they were eventually moved to High Rise East to allow more students to participate. Although the University did not recognize Aurit's programs as a club or class until 1995, students participating in them throughout the years have, in some cases, achieved fame in the amateur boxing world. Steve McNeil, a 1981 College graduate, won a national college championship in 1979. And Phil Cuffey, a 1982 College graduate, lost split decisions in the national championship bouts in 1981 and 1982, according to Aurit. But Aurit decided in 1986 that the intensity of the training and its possibly detrimental effect on students' studies were too much to allow Penn students to participate in intercollegiate competitions. Aurit did continue to teach boxing, although University officials did not formally recognize the class. But on November 22, 1995, then-College senior Matt Robinson -- after numerous requests to University administrators -- received a letter from then-Provost Stanley Chodorow congratulating him on getting the group recognized as the Quaker Boxing Class. When teaching the class, Aurit aims to avoid injuries at all costs. He never hesitates to cut a training drill short if fatigue hinders the students' abilities to defend themselves. In the 22 years Aurit has taught boxing at Penn, only seven nosebleeds have occurred, he said. The workouts are intense. But despite frequent exhaustion, participants remain determined. The co-ed nature of the course has raised very little concern among Recreation Department officials. Recreation Department staffer Paula King said that "there are just as many, if not more, women involved with the program" as men. And College freshman Christina Lee said the co-ed nature of the class "is a good thing because guys hit [girls] harder and it's better practice." Not all of the men in the class, however, feel comfortable about hitting their female classmates. "I would feel too guilty punching a woman," Benjamin said. But according to Aurit and former Quaker boxers, one of the most important things the class does for its students is create a sense of camaraderie. Robinson described the class as "a wonderful fraternity." Unlike most boxing gyms where the atmosphere is overwhelmingly competitive, the ambience of the Quaker Boxing class is friendly and comedic. As sparring partners exchange punches, they also give supportive gestures to each other. The bonds formed between the students and Aurit are also apparent in their collective efforts to raise money for Aurit's National Boxing Scholarship Association, an organization dedicated to raising money to help boxers attend college. In the past, Penn students have offered free tutoring for boxers in the association and have participated in annual fund-raising boxing exhibitions. And the class is popular. A waiting list lengthens nearly every day. In response to the high demand, Recreation Director Mike Diorka said there will probably be a second instructional class added to the schedule next fall, as well as the possibility of a class being taught this summer. Information on the class is available at the Recreation Department office.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.