MILLIE

Millie has practised boxing for over 35 years, alongside Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Capoeira and Jiu-Jitsu — though boxing has always been their core sport. As a coach, they believe it's essential to meet everyone on their own level: boxing is a personal journey, and whoever steps into it is a fighter, regardless of age, physique or gender.

Their training centres on the foundations of boxing — balance and coordination — while also teaching the mind to stay calm in stressful situations. For Millie, boxing is a useful skill to carry into every area of life. Its beauty lies in its elegance, even though it traditionally comes from hard and challenging roots. Elegance, to them, is about dignity.

Millie has also trained in yoga and Pilates, and weaves elements of both into their sessions. Balance connects to posture, posture to coordination and core strength — training boxing should give you the ability to walk through life with a straight back and open eyes.

Above all, training should be fun: Millie is intentional about creating a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Millie is non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them. Their own journey through martial arts — especially as a teenager — wasn't without challenges, which makes it a meaningful full circle to now share their knowledge with women of all ages and walks of life. Millie has never doubted that women can fight just as well as men, and stands firmly by the belief that trans women are women and belong in women's sport.