“Don’t give up, don’t give up! Come on, let’s go!”

Senior Dougie Dowell pleads for his students to persevere through their intense 60 minute boxing session. Through his hard work and dedication, Dowell earned his title as a boxing trainer in early August. While any age is able to attend his hardcore boxing workouts, Dowell teaches boxing and conditioning classes every Thursday at 4everFitness, located at 7713 W 151st St. Overland Park, KS 66223.

Dowell has only been training for one year now and says his love for fitness and being physically in shape persuaded him to become an athletic boxing trainer.

“I was overweight coming into high school and I changed my life through fitness,” Dowell said. “I absolutely fell in love with training my clients and seeing their lives change right in front of me.”

Clients of Dowell’s spend 10 minutes warming up, 5 minutes stretching, 30 minutes boxing, 10 minutes working on abs and finishing with a 5 minute cool down. With such a jam-packed class, Dowell has his students leaving more physically shape than when they walked in and keeps them stimulated along the way.

“I’m very enthusiastic when I teach,” Dowell said. “I have found that when I exert more energy in my classes, my clients are likely to do the same. My clients never give up. I know the right things to say at the right times to keep them motivated and pushing forward.”

Dowell has especially enjoyed being a boxing trainer because of how he impacts his clients and changes their lives for the better.

“Not only do I give people the right exercises to do and the right information about diet, I educate them on it,” Dowell said. “I learned from Trevor Cochran (TFit365) and now I spread the awareness as well.”

Dowell says his future career will deal with fitness and helping others become physically motivated to be in shape, as well as educate on the right diets and exercises. Dowell hopes to one day become the head strength and conditioning coach for a professional hockey team.

“I love teaching fitness,” Dowell said. “It’s what I was put on this Earth to do. I love being able to tailor my teaching style to the direct needs of my clients knowing that they will be benefiting from the workout.”

Dowell has intrigued the student body at Southwest to become physically motivated and be educated on fitness. Senior Grace Wood has attended Dowell’s boxing lessons for quite some time and has enjoyed working out.

“I never really knew much about boxing; it was [senior] Bailey Blood who got me interested in it when she told me it was a great way to stay fit before track season,” Wood said. “It’s such a great workout, and what sets it apart is that you’re not just focusing on one part of your body; you’re using every muscle in your entire body.”

Wood says anyone who is interested in becoming physically fit should join Dowell’s class.

“It’s crazy because I’ll go home being sore in places I didn’t even know could be sore,” Wood said. “I would definitely recommend it to anyone; it’s a great way to stay fit and work hard.”

Wood not only thinks boxing is a great way to stay active, but it also challenges the body to its limits.

“The hardest part of the class would be pushing through the pain,” Wood said. “At the beginning I would feel all pumped up and toward the end I would be dead. But throughout the entire workout, Dougie would be pushing me to give it my all and to never give up, which is a lot easier said than done.”

Even though the class requires intense effort and hard work, Wood would agree that Dowell’s teaching style is a new experience.

“I’ve been an athlete all my life and I can honestly say his style of training is my favorite,” Wood said. “He personalizes every session and gets me really motivated while I’m working out. He always says, ‘pain is only present in the mind; we’re a lot stronger than we give ourselves credit for.’ Rather than yell at us, he works out right next to us whenever we’re slacking and ultimately makes us work harder.”

Sophomore Joann Armstrong has recently joined Dowell’s intensive boxing class and has already enjoyed being a part of the powerful atmosphere.

“I like how the class pushes you to do things that you never thought you could,” Armstrong said. “Like last week he made us jump and squat on top of huge tires. Dougie motivated us through it and it ended up being a lot of fun. I also like that when you become really tired he yells out motivating things and just keeps pushing you.”

Armstrong also enjoys how Dowell creates his class to be entertaining along the way.

“The class is very fast paced and creative,” Armstrong said. “Sometimes he just makes up different exercises on the spot.”

This fast-paced workout has allowed Armstrong to push herself to new limits. With every class she has attended, Armstrong has learned that training gets even more difficult.

“The intensity of the class is definitely what makes it so hard,” Armstrong said. “It’s nonstop with only a few water breaks. You really have to work.”

Sophomore Sydney Swyers has also decided to pick up the sport while attending with her closest friends. Swyers says she joined the class to gain more physical strength.

“I wanted to work more on myself and gain strength so I didn’t feel so weak,” Swyers said. “Boxing has made working out a lot more fun.”

Swyers appreciates Dowell’s teaching style and the way the class is set up.

“I love how Dougie pushes us and keeps us motivated,” Swyers said. “His personality really makes the class interesting and the music helps me as well.”

Dowell not only teaches boxing lessons, but spends a majority of his time teaching at KC Cheer and strength and conditioning at Next Level Baseball Academy. Dowell enjoys what he does and believes training and helping others is something he was born to do.

“I bring something to my classes that no one else has,” Dowell said. “I give off infinite energy in my classes and keep my clients motivated to give me their all.”