In mid-March I had the privilege to tour Havana with talented Cuban artist Alfredo Sarabia, a professor of photography at the Havana University of Art.
This blog is the second of a series of posts sharing images I captured that day. To see the first post, please click here.
In early afternoon we visited the Cuban School of Boxing (Escuela Cubana de Boxeo).
- A view of the street from inside the Cuban Boxing School in Havana
We were running late after a wonderful lunch at a local paladar (a privately owned restaurant), and so the boxers were already in the ring sparring. We were welcomed to begin taking photos.
Some neighbourhood children came by to watch.
I appreciated the walls, which were covered with inspirational artwork and quotes about boxing, or Cuba.
"Boxing is me." - Eligio Sardinas (Kid Chocolate)
"The attack is only half of the art of boxing."
- "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Your hands cannot hit what your eyes cannot see. " - Muhammad Ali
"I dedicate my victories to Fidel" - Julio Cesar de al Cruz, world champion Cuban boxer
- "No Latin-American country has done more than Cuba for sport." - Fidel Castro
- "I believe in Fidel like any religious believes in Christ." - Mario Kindelan
Coach Miranda took some athletes aside to train on specific skills.
Coach Michel continued to work on sparring skills with other athletes.
All of the boxers then did a circuit training routine, moving from station to station in timed sessions.
- "A champion is someone who gets up when he cannot."
The athletes then stretched and cooled down back in the ring.
David, who arrived a bit later than others, continued to work on his skills at the punching bag.
And gave us a final one-two punch for the camera.
Many thanks to the boxers, the coaches, and to Alfredo Sarabia for allowing us to be there with them.
This is the second of several bog posts I am doing from my visit to Havana. To see the first, about a ballet school and synagogue visit, please click here.
Thanks for looking and stay tuned for more!