Pumping iron and boxing clever is helping turn a squad of Lakeview School pupils into classroom champs.
Deputy principal Tim Nelson said eight teacher-nominated Year 8 boys started training at Wai Weight private gymnasium in Masterton at the start of last term.
And this term the boys have been takingboxing lessons under Police Senior Constable Dave Drummond at the Masterton Young Citizens Club.
At the boxing session for the squad this week, the boys remained fully engaged, focused and light-hearted throughout a demanding 50-minute session of strike combinations, defensive maneuvering and sparring.
Mr Nelson said the aim of the pilot scheme is to help pupils improve their fitness and self-discipline, which is expected to carry over into the classroom and their behaviour within the school community.
He said positive changes have been already noted in the behaviour of some members of the squad that has been heartening.
He said a senior class at the school also has started using heart rate monitors during their own fitness training sessions to improve personal fitness.
Mr Nelson said the squad last month travelled to Naenae to listen to Billy Graham, a motivational speaker and former boxer, who talked to them about life skills, goal-setting and the positive changes boxing had wrought in his life.
Bevan McKenzie at Wai Weight had heavily subsidised the boys' sessions at his gymnasium, Mr Nelson said, and Mr Drummond had donated his time to coach the boys in the ring for about an hour every week.
Mr Drummond, who is police Youth Aid officer in Masterton, has boxed since he was about 15 and founded the annual Guns and Hoses charity boxing match between police and firefighters, who he also matches up and coaches ahead of their bouts.
Mr Nelson said some of the members of the pilot squad could be enlisted to mentor the next intake of pupils who will take up the scheme next year.
