ZEN + BOXING INTENSIVE
FRIDAY, MARCH 21-SUNDAY, MARCH 23
ALAMEDA + OAKLAND, CA
7-time world champion boxer Michele Aboro, of Aboro Academy in Shanghai China, and teachers from Chozen-ji, a Zen temple and martial arts dojo in Hawaiʻi, hosted partly at Gopa Boxing Club, will introduce an approach to boxing beyond just technical skills, but as a Way to address deep habits and push participants to realize our clearest and most powerful selves.
This intensive training is for students who have trained in Zen and boxing, minimally at an introductory level. All lodging and food are included. Participants will need gi and hakama, boxing gloves, wraps, and boxing shoes or socks.
While there is no fee for the training, we are recommending for those who can afford it, to donate on a sliding scale between $300-$500. All donations are welcome and appreciated. This will go towards covering travel costs, supplies, food, overhead and coaching stipends, and for the support crew of cooks and teachers.
If you have not been invited personally to attend and are interested, and/or have any questions, email oakzendojo@gmail.com.
TO REGISTER: Please complete the steps below, as they apply
Adults (18+): Complete steps 1 and 2 below to participate in the March 2025 Zen + Boxing Intensive in Alameda and Oakland.
Youth (6-17): All youth under 18 will need a parent or guardian to complete step 2 (the waiver).
For youth who are able to donate, complete steps 1 and 2 below.
For youth who are unable to make a donation, proceed to step 2 and have a parent/guardian sign the waiver below.
STEP 1) Donate
ABOUT MICHELE ABORO & ABORO ACADEMY
A living legend in the history of Boxing and Kickboxing, Super Bantamweight Michele Aboro retired as undefeated world champion in Boxing with 21 wins (12 KO) and Kickboxing with 32 winning fights (23 KO). Michele was also voted Pound-for-Pound Best Female Boxer of the Year for four consecutive years. She is a two-time undefeated World Boxing Champion, five-time Kickboxing World Champion and two-time K1 Champion; having pioneered boxing and kickboxing in England when it was illegal for women to be trained in boxing by coaches and compete. In 2020, Aboro was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame. After retiring undefeated, Michele founded Aboro Academy in Shanghai with her partner, Masca Yuen. For several years, it was likely the only boxing gym in the world offering boxing classes preceded by 45 minutes of zazen (seated Zen meditation).
ABOUT CHOZEN-JI & CHOZEN-JI TRAINING IN OAKLAND
Since its establishment in 1972, leaders from Hawaiʻi and around the world have come to Chozen-ji to pursue the deepest spiritual self-discipline. Our approach to Zen training is extremely physical and rigorous. In addition to training in zazen (seated meditation), students also train in martial arts such as kendo and boxing, and in fine arts such as calligraphy, tea and ceramics. Chozen-ji training has been anchored in Oakland, California by several dedicated priests and students, including Christine Cordero and Raúl Betancourt.
Christine is Co-Director of Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), organizing with immigrants and refugees for a healthy environment and thriving economy. For over 20 years, Christine strategized, organized, and built coalitions across environmental health and justice, workers rights, and economic and racial justice issues. Christine has been a meditation practitioner for 12+ years, and is a former Leadership Sangha member of the East Bay Meditation Center. Christine is also an ordained priest of the Chozen-ji line of Rinzai Zen, and trains in Hojo, okyo (chanting), and shakuhachi (Buddhist flute). Boxing is one of the martial forms she trains regularly at Gopa Boxing Club in the Fruitvale area of Oakland, CA, and intensively at Chozen-ji with Aboro Academy.
Raúl works with teens and educators to integrate practical Zen methods into the classroom and their daily lives. He was a former science teacher who regularly incorporated meditation and social emotional learning into his classroom in order to build community and resilience. He has taught mindfulness in educational settings through Mindful Schools, Niroga, Mindful Life Project as well as facilitated the teen group at the East Bay Meditation Center and has been a mentor for retreats with Inward Bound Mindfulness. He started his meditation practice as a teen at the International Buddhist Meditation Center in Los Angeles and is currently a zen student at Chozen-ji. He trains in Aikido at Aikido of San Leandro and Boxing at Gopa Boxing Club in Fruitvale and has studied martial arts for over 30 years in the US as well as Japan. He is currently studying for an MS in Counseling at SF State and will be the mindfulness director for ARISE high school in Fruitvale in the Fall.
ABOUT ALFREEDO GOPA & GOPA BOXING CLUB
GOPA Boxing Club is for anyone who truly wants to learn boxing.
We take this sport seriously because we love it. We love to fight. But more than anything, we believe boxing is a powerful tool for self-improvement. It sharpens both the mind and body—building perseverance, focus, confidence, and emotional discipline while developing strength, stamina, coordination, and balance.
Our mission is simple: make high-quality boxing training accessible. We keep our prices affordable because we believe boxing can change lives and strengthen communities. And while we have to keep the lights on, money will never come before good coaching.
Head Coach Alfredo Gopa brings 20+ years of experience, training everyone from kids as young as eight to amateur and pro competitors to adults looking to improve their health. Our members come from all walks of life, but they all share the same drive—to learn and push themselves. No matter your experience or fitness level, if you show up with motivation, you will see results.
Photos Credit Uzi Suarez