In the heart of San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, a movement’s brewing that’s less about belts and more about belonging. That movement is called sffareboxing. While it may sound like another underground fight club, it’s actually a community-powered force turning punching bags into purpose. For more on its mission and how it’s reshaping lives through boxing, check out sffareboxing.
What Is SFFAREBoxing?
SFFAREBoxing (short for San Francisco Fitness and Restorative Empowerment Boxing) isn’t your average gym. It blends fitness training with trauma-informed support, social justice values, and restorative practices. This means people walk in expecting a workout — and walk out stronger in more ways than one.
At its core, sffareboxing uses boxing as a vehicle for healing and empowerment. It’s designed for folks who’ve experienced trauma, incarceration, addiction, or systemic oppression. The focus is more than just conditioning the body — it’s about rebuilding confidence, regaining agency, and reclaiming community.
The People Behind the Gloves
When you step into a sffareboxing session, chances are you’ll meet a blend of local youth, returning citizens, and community members looking for more than just reps and drills. The coaches aren’t just trainers — they’re mentors, many with stories that mirror those of the boxers they coach.
Co-founders Laura Thomas and James Johnson launched the collective with a shared vision: to create a space where fitness serves rehabilitation and rebellion. Their goal? Empower people to reshape their stories through discipline, movement, and consistent support.
Boxing Meets Community Healing
Sffareboxing training sessions mix technique, shadowboxing, heavy bag work, and conditioning — like most boxing gyms. But here, every jab and uppercut is grounded in mindfulness and interpersonal ethics. That’s by design.
What makes this program distinct is its trauma-sensitive design. Coaches are trained not just in boxing but also in restorative justice frameworks and emotional regulation. It’s not just about controlling your opponent — it’s about understanding your emotions and interaction with others under pressure.
For example, moments of conflict in sparring are paused not just for safety, but to reflect. Participants might talk about what emotions came up during a round. They’re guided to unpack triggers and reactions, encouraging emotional growth alongside physical strength.
Breaking Cycles Through Routine
Consistency is king in boxing — and that holds true here, too. Regular classes, workshops, and mentorship programs create reliable touchpoints for participants navigating unstable lives. One boxing session a week becomes three. Then you’re sticking to meal plans. Then you’re thinking about future goals.
That’s the point. Sffareboxing builds frameworks for daily progress, not only in strength but in structure. Many participants are emerging from incarceration, recovery programs, or housing insecurity. The gym becomes a sanctuary — one where they’re not judged for their past, just supported in their present.
A Return for Returning Citizens
One standout feature of sffareboxing is its commitment to reentry programming. The gym partners with support organizations to welcome returning citizens (individuals released from incarceration) into classes, paying special attention to creating an environment that affirms their dignity.
Classes may be paired with access to therapists, legal resources, or employment opportunities through partner agencies. It’s all part of the idea that boxing is step one — holistic wellness comes from connecting the body, mind, and community.
Not Just for Fighters
Think “boxing gym” and you might imagine intense training and hyper-competition. But sffareboxing flips the script. Sure, there are advanced fighters here — some who go on to compete at city tournaments — but the welcoming vibe reaches far beyond aspiring pros.
Parents bring kids to learn resilience. Survivors come to regain agency. Activists come to restore their energy. The space functions as a community hub, where shared experience builds shared strength.
Workshops extend beyond boxing to focus on anti-racism, food justice, mental health, and youth organizing. This combination keeps the gym from feeling like just a place to work out — it’s closer to a grassroots healing space wrapped in gloves and grit.
Building Something Bigger
The long-term mission of sffareboxing isn’t limited to San Francisco. As awareness of trauma-informed approaches grows, the founders hope to expand the model to other cities. Their aim: replicate a system where physical strength exists alongside radical empathy.
They’re currently training future leaders to open similar programs in Oakland, LA, and beyond. Each offshoot would adapt to its local needs but carry the original message — that boxing can be a path to community transformation, not just individual toughness.
How You Can Get Involved
Whether you box, coach, or just believe in what they’re doing, there are a few ways to support the sffareboxing movement:
- Take a class — sessions are offered on a sliding scale to keep them accessible.
- Volunteer or mentor — especially if you have legal, mental health, or educational expertise.
- Donate — gear, funds, or time.
More than anything, spread the word. There’s power in building supportive infrastructure, especially when it grows from the ground up.
Final Rounds
Sffareboxing isn’t trying to mimic traditional gyms. It’s fighting for something else — agency, dignity, and systems that heal instead of harm. By combining boxing with restorative justice, it flips the narrative on who belongs in a boxing gym and why.
If you’re looking to see what grassroots power looks like in motion — with hand wraps — keep your eye on sffareboxing. The mission is simple: help people fight for themselves while building something they’d never punch down on — community.
Roberty Larsonalims contributes his expertise in nutrition and athletic performance to Sport Lab Edge. Passionate about optimizing athlete health, he develops nutritional approaches that enhance training and recovery. His analytical mindset and teamwork help ensure the platform delivers balanced, science-based insights that empower athletes to perform at their best.