LUCAN

My name is Lucan Taylor-Culshaw, I am 20 years old and work as Assistant Coach at Mid Canterbury Boxing Academy (MCBA). Although I was born in Invercargill, I moved to Ashburton when I was 3 years old.

My Dad first brought me to the Academy to try a combat sport and a different sport to rugby. I also met the coach through a youth worker at school. I was keen to experience something new as I’d never been into a boxing gym before.

When I first walked into the Academy, I was surprised at how nice the building was. I was a little bit nervous as I didn’t know what to expect. When I put on the gloves for the first time, and when I mastered a push-up it felt really good. Boxing taught me self-discipline and gave me something to focus on - achieving little goals each session and in my every day life.

My first time in the ring at a competition I was very nervous. But the Academy has a strong brotherhood that is always in my corner, and this remains as we grow older together. From the start I could see how the Academy cared about building good young men, not just good boxers. The values of the Academy are taught from the ‘Passport to Succes’ and this is one of the most important tools I have learnt here.

The Academy has had a pretty massive impact on me, it makes me think of the consequences of my actions before I act, it’s made me like myself, who I am and are becoming as a person, and how I carry myself and act towards other people.

I am now one of the best boxers in New Zealand and I have learnt to really love running. I am currently the MCBA assistant coach after completing 2 years intern coaching and I am training towards my second national championships. As a new dad I can execute patience with my young son and have strong values by which I live my life.