Paislee Byrne

Q: What first got you into boxing?
I grew up around a lot of violence. When I got older, I decided to face my fears and go to a boxing gym — which even then was very unusual for a ‘girl’. I met the nicest, most encouraging people; I fell completely in love with the sport and combat gyms in general. In the chaos, I found peace. It gave me a heartfelt drive to help others overcome their fears and hardships too.

Q: You’ve trained both in Australia and overseas. What was that experience like?
Different cultures have different approaches to fighting and martial arts, but the fire in the belly is universal.

Q: What inspired you to start coaching?
Boxing has been the best thing I have ever done for myself and I felt a deep need to share that experience. I know that it can seem super daunting trying a combat sport, so it’s always been my mission to make it as easy as possible. Every single one of my clients has a unique background and reason for wanting to try boxing — all of them leave better than they came, and that’s my purpose.

Q: What’s your coaching philosophy?
Boxing isn’t just for some people; it’s for everyone.

Q: How do you make your classes approachable for beginners?
You’re starting at the beginning and that’s a very good place to start! The fundamentals are crucial for beginners… but they’re also crucial for professional athletes. We never stop learning and growing. You deciding to take on something new is something a lot of people never do — that in itself is amazing. My job is to give you the skills, encourage you to practice them, and share the experience of you turning into a version of yourself you might not have thought possible.

Q: What’s your favourite part about coaching women’s boxing?
Coaching women. Every single woman I work with is always striving in some way — usually in multiple aspects of their busy lives. Learning boxing is about strength and fitness, but it’s also deeply cathartic.

Q: Do you have a favourite combination or technique to teach?
I’m a boxer, so I love focusing on the nitty-gritty of technique. If a jab is thrown well, I’ll always be in awe. Of course, I love a fast combo to get the sweat up too — jab, cross, hook, roll flows beautifully.

Q: Who inspires you most in sport?
I get very inspired by female athletes in general. It wasn’t very long ago that combat sports for women became mainstream. I still remember watching Ronda Rousey dominate in the UFC — she was the first female athlete there and it was monumental. I remember watching Rose Namajunas with her uniquely feminine energy get in the ring and absolutely demolish her opponents. It was through athletes like this that I learnt you don’t have to compromise your femininity to be great at a combat sport. You can be a baddie and still bash people.

Q: Outside of boxing, what do you enjoy doing?
When I’m not training, I’m training. This is what gets me up in the morning and helps me sleep at night.

Q: What do you hope every woman takes away from your sessions?
I know that each woman I work with leaves with a lightness I don’t see when they first walk in. When you come in and you push your mind and body, you finally get to release everything through punching something. That’s a type of freedom you won’t experience doing anything else.