Boxing Buddhists are a common sight in Thailand where kick boxing is the national pastime. Buddhist boxing might not be out of place in a Shaolin temple ring alongside other martial arts in China. But an American Buddhist boxing in the stiff, British style made famous in the U.S?
BOULDER, Colorado — Only in Boulder: a Buddhist boxing gym. The walls of Front Range Boxing are lined with Lao Tzo quotes, alongside photos of Dave Gaudette with famous boxers and trainers. Gaudette was 16 years old when he fell in love with boxing.
Another twist: At the time, he was studying to be a Franciscan priest. "I've always been drawn toward the ultimate, the bigger picture," he says. "Every once in a while, the time and the ego melts away. And that's the closest you're ever going to get to God. I'm talking about the 'dis-ease' of philosophy. If you're satisfied with everything, there's no impulse to look beyond your next experience."
He continues, without a breath in between: "Do you know the story of the Buddha?" Ah, yes. The preceding is a typical conversation with Lisa Gaudette's father. His endurance and passion about philosophy and spirituality rivals his endurance and passion in the boxing ring. And a boxing Buddhist is no contraction, he insists. But before we get swept into another intense discussion about transcendence and the infinite, let's pause to wish Gaudette a happy Father's Day. More>>
He continues, without a breath in between: "Do you know the story of the Buddha?" Ah, yes. The preceding is a typical conversation with Lisa Gaudette's father. His endurance and passion about philosophy and spirituality rivals his endurance and passion in the boxing ring. And a boxing Buddhist is no contraction, he insists. But before we get swept into another intense discussion about transcendence and the infinite, let's pause to wish Gaudette a happy Father's Day. More>>
Boxing Buddha
Jen Hodsdon (thebollard.com)
Jaed Coffin, 28, is a talented writer who lives in Brunswick. The Thai-American has been a boxer, a lobsterman, a sea-kayak guide, and a Buddhist monk. He’s traveled around the world. But he’s also a guy who will invite you to come hang out in his garage workshop with some warm beer and classic rock. In other words, despite all his accomplishments, he’s unpretentious. Coffin’s first book, a memoir titled, A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants, was recently published by Da Capo Press. It tells the story of Coffin’s journey to his mother’s village in Thailand several years ago to live as a monk and experience Thai culture. More>>
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