Undisputed Champions helps kids with disabilities fight adversity

SCHENECTADY, NY (NEWS10) -- Everybody in life needs an outlet. For 12 years, the Undisputed Champions program has provided just that for kids living with autism and other disabilities.

The Undisputed Champions program is a non-contact boxing program at Ring of Hope Boxing in Schenectady. It's a part of the Wildwood School's adapted physical education program, led by head coach Javy Martinez, a retired undefeated pro fighter and current Colonie police detective, pro fight judge Tom Schreck, and their volunteer coaches.

Friday was the culmination of this year's program: the 1,000 punch challenge. Each student threw 1,000 punches to earn a sweatshirt, and the title of Undisputed Champion.

The program sets out to show these students that nothing can hold them back. "We wanted to set up an athletic program that really pushed our students," said Schreck. "A lot of times if you have a differing ability people think that you know, 'This is as far as you can go.' We wanted to crash through any kind of limits. We wanted to teach our students about adversity. My love is boxing, Javier's love is boxing, and there's no better metaphor for dealing with adversity and pain and pushing through things than the sport of boxing."

"Life is full of adversity and it's full of struggle and sometimes you just want to stand up and punch life or your struggles in the face," said Martinez. "There's nothing as cathartic as working out your stresses or your traumas or your difficulties, and that's what these kids get to do. They come in here and they get to push through that physical pain and realize and learn what they're really capable of."

The program also raised $12,000 through the 1,000 punch challenge, which was donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.