Rediffmail Money rediffGURUS BusinessEmail

The incredible boxing grannies!

November 26, 2017
By Siphiwe Sibeko

They have KOed old age.

KEEPING HER GUARD UP: Zodwa Thwala, 70, takes boxing lessons in Cosmo city outside Johannesburg, South Africa.
All photographs: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters.

 

PULLING PUNCHES? NOT THEM! She is part of a group of grannies who are learning to box in an attempt to battle old age with exercise.

 

HOOK-ED: They train twice a week as part of the 'Boxing Gogos Program' -- gogo means grandmother in South Africa.
The programme is the brainchild of a Claude Maphosa, a former body builder, who began training them four years ago.

 

BOUT TIME: The grannies have said they feel stronger than ever since they started boxing; some even claim that they no longer suffer from the ailments they had before.

 

TAPPING THEIR INNER BRAWLER: When not in the ring, the ladies focus on full body workouts or practice their form.

 

ON THE ROPES: Apart from increased fitness, the boxing lessons have increased confidence in grannies like 79-year-old Constance Ngubane.
The popularity of the boxing lessons has lead to coach Maphosa planning similar events in other areas.

 

#LIFEGOALS: Gladys Ngwenya (right, 77) and her friends are who we want to be when we grow up!
Siphiwe Sibeko in Johannesburg

More News Coverage

Zodwa Thwala Gladys Ngwenya Constance Ngubane Maphosa Siphiwe

RELATED STORIES

WEB STORIES

10 Wonderfully Tasty Makhana Recipes

Paneer Peppers Salad: 10-Min Recipe

13 Insanely Yum Halwa Recipes

VIDEOS

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email