The life-changing benefits of boxing _ BBC Ideas

Boxing has massively helped my mental health.

Most of the people here probably wouldn't even have jobs if they didn't go here because they wouldn't have the right state of mind.

It helps create that sense of belonging.

Without it, I don't know where I'd be.

Taking part in any physical activity regularly will positively impact on a person's physical and mental wellbeing.

Boxing has really high physical demands, so if a young person engages in boxing training on a regular basis and they put the effort in, they'll probably see improved muscular strength, improved muscular power and improvements in their anaerobic fitness.

Boxing has massively disciplined me.

I've lost 10 kilos in weight.

I've been eating healthy. I haven't drunk.

Boxing keeps me focused.

It keeps me fit. It keeps me healthy, body and mind.

Boxing can also alleviate some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The Bulldogs is a boxing gym based in Port Talbot.

We're here to support the local community.

We've got people from all walks of life, different backgrounds.

We've got people who are disengaged with society, some people who are disengaged with school, we've got some people who have been on the wrong side of the law.

It helps create a sense of identity through attending a gym and training with others and overall it helps create that sense of belonging.

The benefits of boxing incorporate things such as cooperation and teamwork.

Even though boxing may seem an individual sport, it very much involves working with a coach or a group of coaches as well as other people within a gym.

Ultimately it's really a place to reinstall some discipline into them and put them back on the straight and narrow.

I've lived in Port Talbot my whole life.

There's a lot of misconceptions about Port Talbot.

They talk about the steelworks, about the air, about this and that.

There's not much opportunity here, but there's a lot of talent, there's a lot of sport and there is a sense of community here.

What happens with most boys, what happened to me, 16, 17, got in with the wrong crowd, started drinking, started doing this and that and sort of lost my way.

I can see that some of the issues with Sam's being, I see myself in him, struggling really for somewhere to go, somewhere to see and probably somewhere to feel accepted.

It's very important to be able to build and gain the trust and respect of the young individuals who come here.

It's about being available, it's about mentoring, coaching, empowering and also developing their needs because a lot of these young people haven't actually been able to trust people before.

We all respect the coaches because we want them to coach us and not for them to shout at us and kick us out.

The people in here are like a family that you've never met before, but you're really close to them, no matter what.

They can talk to you, even if you're feeling down, and they've always got your back.

Some people feel that it can actually increase aggression and violence, but research shows that it actually has the opposite effect.

So it teaches young people to react differently in situations that would normally trigger the anger and these stress responses.

Obviously, with a sport like boxing, there's the risks of physical injury, particularly when you're sparring and particularly when you're competing.

However, one could argue that the benefits do actually outweigh these risks.

Boxing has massively disciplined me, made me work hard, resilient, core values you need in your life to progress.

They come here, they can speak to people, they can let their frustrations go and really have a different outlook and perspective on life.

I think it's very important.

That sense of identity can extend beyond the boxing gym, so not just to the gym itself, but also to the wider community and the wider town, village or society where that individual lives.

The Ballard Laws gave me my first opportunity to be a leader, a teacher, and now I'm going on to finish my degree and be a qualified teacher.

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