South African Grandmothers Are Boxing to Fight Old Age

 

Some older women in South Africa are fighting the effects of aging with boxing exercises.

They call themselves the grannies. They belong to a boxing group near the South African capital, Johannesburg. The 75-to-80-year-old women are fighting the pains of aging while keeping their bodies fit.

Mariam Barie is one of the boxing grannies.

"The advice I give to other grannies like me is that they should leave the old way of telling themselves that they are old, and that they are grannies, and to try their best. Just because you are a granny does not mean you need to burden¹ yourself with that word "granny." You need to wake yourself up and show that you are a granny with life."

The group started five years ago with a special, aerobic² exercise training program. Nqobile Khumalo is one of the boxing trainers.

“We were doing fitness…they saw my gloves. And then they just tried them on. And then since from there, they just never stopped.”

Boxer³ Constance Guban seems to have turned back time.

“I feel young. I feel like I’m 16, but my age is 80, yes.”

Boxing is more than just good exercise for at least one of the grannies. Germina Maluleka learned⁴ recently that she has cancer. She says boxing gives her new hope for the future.

"The gym has helped me through my illness. When I was starting out I had a problem with my feet. I used to have swollen⁵ feet. Since going to the gym I do not have that problem anymore. I never used to have a problem with my knees, with my legs, but the gym helped me a lot."

The trainers say the grannies are inspiring a younger generation to get fit at an earlier age.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in this Story

aerobic – adj. strengthening⁶ the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more

boxing – n. the sport of fighting someone with your hands while wearing very thick gloves

burden – v. to make (someone) hold or carry something heavy or accept or deal with something difficult

granny – n. an informal⁷ term for grandmother

inspiring - v. making someone want to do something; to give someone an idea about what to do or create

1 burden   

n.负担，重载，担子，责任；vt.装货于，麻烦，使负担

参考例句：

• The burden fell on the eldest son.担子落在了长子身上。
• Too much praise is a burden.太多的赞扬是一种负担。

2 aerobic   

adj.需氧的，增氧健身法的，有氧的

参考例句：

• Aerobic exercise helps to build up stamina.有氧健身操有助于增强耐力。
• Aerobic dance is conductive to the health.有氧舞蹈有助于健康。

3 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

4 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

5 swollen   

adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀

参考例句：

• Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着，她的双腿已经肿了。
• A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她，她的手臂肿起来了。

6 strengthening   

n.加固v.加强，巩固( strengthen的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• By strengthening the embankments they secured the village from floods. 他们加固河堤让村子免受洪水之灾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• By strengthening the river banks, the city secured itself against flood. 由于加强了河堤，该城可确保免受水灾。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 informal   

adj.非正式的，不拘礼的，通俗的

参考例句：

• I got an informal reception.我受到了非正式接待。
• The leaders met over informal lunches.领袖们在非正式午餐时进行会晤。