Interview with Kathleen Delk, owner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: I went to a boxing gym while growing up in foster care. I think that boxing attracts a lot of people who may not have the money for other sports, and it also seems to attract kids and people who came from situations that weren’t always the best. At least that’s my observation. I got into boxing because of that. I always had a dream of opening my own boxing gym, and then I met my husband, Tyger, who shared the same passion for it. He boxed growing up and wanted to own this kind of business as well. We live here in Aurora, and after the movie theater shooting we saw that there was an open location near the theater. We wanted to add this very strong, positive business in the area, and that’s exactly what we did. Tyger and I are both coaches here.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: One of the things that we try to focus on is the family. We don’t just do boxing for kids, we do it for adults as well. We also have a gym available where we run cardio classes at the same time as the boxing classes, in case parents just want to work out there during their kids’ sessions. We do boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, jiujitsu, conditioning camps, Zumba and more.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: Having the kids in there and watching them grow as fighters. It’s gratifying to see their confidence levels rise with their skills and discipline. We love working with adults, for sure, but it’s special to be able to shape the growth of these kids.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: For us, it’s having enough time to spend with our family. Being in this business is hard, and Tyger and I have a 12-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and a 2-year-old son. Our daughter is with us all the time, but our son can’t really be at the gym with us, so he spends a lot of time in daycare and with our family. It’s a challenge to find people who are willing to take time to help with him, and it’s hard on Tyger and me to find a balance.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: The atmosphere at our gym is a lot different than what most people would picture in a boxing gym. It’s very welcoming and comfortable. All of our coaches work together as a team. We’re all willing to help each other, and that’s different from the isolation at most boxing gyms. We teach kids ages 5 and up. Parents seem to get nervous about putting their kids in boxing classes because there’s a misconception that boxing creates anger issues, especially if their child exhibits anger already. In fact, the level of discipline and respect required has the opposite effect. There are so many kids who come through here and learn how to manage their emotions and find relaxation.
Profile
Business: TygerKat Boxing & Fitness
Address: 14200 E. Alameda Ave.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
Founded: 2013
Contact: 720-600-4984,
Employees: 6
