Women and Contact Sports: ‘HIIT Like a Girl’ with Alexandra Holcroft

By London Collins Puc

The world of boxing has been dominated by male participants. Commonly regarded as a significantly brute, violent and unpredictable contact sport, women have, primarily, avoided the ring. According to Zippia, only 31.8% of women are boxers, while the remaining 68.2% are men.

However, people like Alexandra Holcroft, Flagler College alum, personal trainer, and professional boxing coach at AMP Hardcore Gym in St. Augustine, has begun to challenge the status quo.

“I struggled with anxiety, depression, self-harm and anorexia,” Alexandra Holcroft, founder of ‘HIIT Like a Girl,’ said. “Boxing taught me discipline and, most importantly, confidence. I was inspired to coach women and girls to give them the opportunity to build confidence. I believe females have to be confident to survive!”

“I was inspired to coach women and girls to give them the opportunity to build confidence. I believe females have to be confident to survive!”

According to AMP Hardcore Gym, ‘HIIT Like a Girl’ was designed to help women feel more comfortable and confident while learning the sport. It’s a one-of-a-kind fitness program designed specifically for female-boxers of all ages and levels.

The classes are based off old school boxing techniques and include high intensity interval training, sparring, jump roping, shadow boxing, heavy bag drills, personal protection, speed bag work, mitt work, footwork drills and so much more.

“When I first began, I was taught by male professional boxers and had never met a woman in the gym. It was hard to be the only girl, and it was hard to feel like I had a chance to compete against them,” Holcroft, a Flagler College alum, said. “HIIT Like a Girl goes against male-dominated stereotypes… We are allowed to share our emotions.” 

“HIIT Like a Girl goes against male-dominated stereotypes… We are allowed to share our emotions.” 

According to RunRepeat, “56.37% of female gym members have experienced harassment at the gym,” a rate 2.68 times higher than that for men. Out of those women, 28.69% reported feeling uncomfortable in their gyms.”

Anne-Marie Widener, one of Holcroft’s students, spoke about this experience during her first time taking Holcroft’s boxing class. “I definitely was intimated,” she said. “…I sat in my car for five minutes when I pulled in to my first class. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what have I done? Am I actually going to go in and do this?’ When I walked in, Ally was the first one to greet me… She was so welcoming, and so informative… She was such a great teacher, right off the bat. That’s what kept me staying.”

Gym-rooted anxiety is one of the most prominent reasons why many women have steered away from physically-intensive sports. Holcroft, however, uses “HIIT Like a Girl” to empower women, above all else. “It’s really empowering — being able to fight… it has given me so much confidence… With boxing, it’s just you and your ability to fight.”

“Getting into the ring, in itself, requires confidence,” Holcroft said. “It shows you just how strong you really are.”

‘HIIT Like a Girl‘ offers two classes; one for girls aged 5 to 17, and another for women aged 18 and up. Girls classes take place on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday each week. Women’s classes take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday each week.

“It’s really empowering — being able to fight… it has given me so much confidence.”

“I hope to change lives through the sport of boxing,” Holcroft said. “I hope to aid in creating a new generation of strong, confident females. I want to alleviate the pain young girls often go through, and create a safe space and outlet for them.”