Rigid Fighters Boxing & Strength Program: Designed to Fight Back Against Parkinson’s & Neurological Conditions
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The Rigid Fighters Boxing & Strength Program is a specialized fitness initiative designed to help individuals combat the challenges of Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions through the empowering discipline of boxing.
This program is tailored to support those affected by various neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and others that impact the nervous system.
According to Parkinson’s Disease Canada, “Engaging in aerobic activity, along with other activities for strength, flexibility and balance, improves Parkinson’s symptoms and sense of well-being.” This 1-hour class is designed to improve overall health, manage Parkinson’s symptoms, and enhance neurochemistry and brain plasticity. Combining strength training, yoga, and boxing, the class focuses on:
💪 Strength Training: Build muscle, balance, and coordination.
🧘🏼 Yoga: Increase flexibility, reduce rigidity, breath work and promote relaxation.
🥊 Boxing: Boost motor function, cognitive focus, and rhythm.
Key Program Features:
✅ Customized Training: Personalized exercises to accommodate different levels of ability and progression.
✅ Comprehensive Workouts: Combining boxing techniques with full-body conditioning to improve overall health and well-being.
✅ Supportive Environment: A community-driven approach fostering encouragement and camaraderie.
✅ Expert Guidance: Led by coaches trained in addressing the unique needs of those with neurological conditions.
[Toronto Star Feature] A Program Geared Towards Fight Back Against Parkinson’s
People with Parkinson’s are finding strength, energy and connection at this Etobicoke boxing club’s specialized program that began in January.
Mike Loghrin’s grey hair is plastered to his forehead with sweat, as he sports a navy blue T-shirt that reads “It’s so weird being the same age as old people.” He picks up the thick black battle ropes anchored to the gym wall, each weighing about 22 kilograms, and for 15 amazing seconds, he lifts and slams them in rhythmic waves against the floor.
MORE ABOUT RIGID FIGHTERS (formerly StrikeBack)
Incorporating PWR! Moves, our program is built around two key components: boxing-based training and targeted neurological movement work. Together, they enhance physical fitness, coordination, balance, and strength within a structured and supportive environment.
Each session blends purposeful boxing technique—pad work, bag rounds, and controlled combinations—with PWR! Moves that reinforce posture, weight shifting, rotation, and stepping patterns. This dual approach ensures participants are not only training like boxers, but also addressing the specific movement challenges associated with Parkinson’s. Sessions also include conditioning and cognitive drills to further support reaction time, focus, and overall function.
Led by nationally certified coaches with experience in neurological conditions, the program is designed to be safe, progressive, and engaging. What sets it apart is the intentional integration of real boxing structure with evidence-based movement principles, creating a more dynamic and transferable training experience. Tailored for all fitness levels, it supports neuroplasticity, improves mobility, and enhances quality of life while building confidence through skill and community.
More About PWR!Moves®
The program contains a strength, agility and balance section led by a PWR!Moves®certified instructor. PWR!Moves® is a research based Parkinson’s Disease specific exercise program, developed by a physiotherapist, and targets the movements that are impacted by PD such as weight shifting, stiffness and size and speed of movement. PWR!Moves®can be done in any position including, standing, sitting and on the floor, and can be adjusted to meet each person’s individual ability. They are designed to support and build confidence in everyday movements such as walking, twisting, and reaching. You can see the movements demonstrated here: https://www.pwr4life.org/moves/
These movements are incorporated into the conditioning programming done in a group setting. The exercises are supervised, will challenge you physically and cognitively and are designed so that they can be done at a variety of levels. PWR!Moves® fits extremely well with the technical boxing skills you will learn in the Rigid Fighters program.
Join Rigid Fighters today and take the first step toward a stronger, more resilient you.
Whether you are looking to maintain your fitness, improve your quality of life, or simply enjoy a new challenge, our program is designed to help you fight back and thrive.
📅 RIGID FIGHTERS PROGRAM OPTIONS
Available For Drop-In or Membership
This program runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Each session includes boxing, strength, and stretching, followed by a relaxed social gathering in our Ringside Lounge.
Pricing Options:
Bonus: With any package purchase, enjoy unlimited access to our High Performance facilities for the entire length of your package.
Drop In Options:
- Single Drop-In: $30.00
- 6 Week Access: $150 (1 Class Weekly)
- 6 Week Access: $240 (2 Classes Weekly)
Monthly Membership Options:
- Option 2: $42.99 bi-weekly — includes access to one Parkinson’s classes, unlimited Open Gym, and all morning and daytime classes on our regular schedule.
- Option 2: $59.99 bi-weekly — includes access to two Parkinson’s classes, unlimited Open Gym, and all morning and daytime classes on our regular schedule.
Add-On Options:
- 3 TKO Private Session Package—three 1-on-1 sessions for just $135 ($50 off)!
- Fire & Ice Membership $15.00 bi-weekly—Rigid Fighters group session every Thursday at 11:15 am following the class session with additional access to our general group sessions (Tuesday 4pm, Thursday 7:30 pm, Saturday 10:30 am)
📆 Private and group training options available. To start a small group, a minimum of 3 participants is required.
GROUP TRAINING PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE
We are in the process of organizing small group sessions and would love to accommodate your schedule. Please let us know your availability and whether you prefer group or private training.
MEET THE RIGID FIGHTERS COACHING TEAM
Jennifer Huggins | Kingsway Boxing Club Founder & Program Director of the Rigid Fighters Boxing & Strength Program
Jennifer Huggins is the owner and senior coach of Kingsway Boxing Club in Toronto and the creator of the Rigid Fighters Boxing & Strength Program — a specialized initiative designed to help individuals fight back against neurological challenges through boxing. Under Jennifer’s leadership, Rigid Fighters provides a structured, empowering environment where participants work on strength, balance, coordination, and motor function, combining strength training, yoga, and boxing-based movement to support overall health and quality of life.
With decades of experience as a boxing coach, international referee, judge, and advocate for community-focused programming, Jennifer brings a deep belief in movement, purpose, and support to Rigid Fighters. Her personal connection to the impact of neurological conditions, informed in part by her own family experiences, has helped shape the program into a space where members don’t just train — they connect, improve, and thrive together.
Jennifer’s broader career includes leading Kingsway Boxing Club, involvement at national and international levels of Olympic-style boxing, and founding initiatives that use sport to create positive community impact. Through Rigid Fighters, she continues that mission, helping participants use fitness and strategy to confront physical challenges with strength and resilience.
Patricia Else | Certified PWR!Moves® Instructor & Co-Lead of the Rigid Fighters Boxing & Strength Program
I’m Patricia Else, a former public health professional, lifelong fitness enthusiast, and participant, and a yoga teacher and personal trainer. I am certified in PWR!Moves®, a research-based exercise approach for Parkinson’s that integrates strength training and functional mobility to help lessen the impact of Parkinson’s-related symptoms.
Yoga brings both physical and mental challenge to any program, inviting us to tune into how we feel in movement and in stillness. Meditation and mindfulness are also essential tools for reducing anxiety and supporting emotional well-being.Parkinson’s work is especially meaningful to me, as it has impacted close friends and may affect any of us — Parkinson’s is currently the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world according to Parkinson’s Canada.
Rob Gorican | Program Director & Boxing Coach | Rigid Fighters Parkinson’s Program
Rob Gorican is a Program Director and Boxing Coach with the Rigid Fighters Parkinson’s Program at Kingsway Boxing Club, helping lead a program designed to support individuals living with Parkinson’s through boxing, movement, and community.
As part of the Rigid Fighters leadership team, Rob plays an integral role in the program’s day-to-day delivery and continued development. His coaching focuses on creating a safe, supportive, and motivating environment where participants can work on coordination, balance, mobility, strength, and confidence through boxing-based training and purposeful movement.
Beyond the physical training, Rob is committed to the community at the heart of Rigid Fighters. He works closely with participants and the coaching team to ensure the program remains welcoming, adaptable, and focused on helping every member challenge themselves at their own level.
For Rob, Rigid Fighters is about more than boxing—it’s about keeping people moving, connected, and fighting forward together.
Barend van de Vrande | Rigid Fighters Boxing & Strength Program Volunteer
Barend is a volunteer with the Rigid Fighters Boxing & Strength Program at Kingsway Boxing Club, supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions through non-contact boxing and strength training.
His motivation to volunteer is deeply personal. He has witnessed the impact of Parkinson’s disease firsthand through his grandfather in the Netherlands and the husband of his wife’s aunt in Austria. These experiences shaped his understanding of both the physical and social challenges associated with the disease, including the frequent misconceptions that lead people to unfairly underestimate those living with Parkinson’s. Through his work with Rigid Fighters, Barend has gained a deeper appreciation for the diverse manifestations of the condition and the resilience of its participants.
Born in the Netherlands, Barend moved to Austria in 1993 before relocating to Toronto in 2017. He previously worked as Senior Vice President / Director until May 2025. During an unplanned career break, he transitioned from a desk-based lifestyle to boxing and strength training at Kingsway Boxing Club and chose to dedicate his time to supporting the Rigid Fighters program.
