Jacob Swain, 12, was jumping rope. He didn’t know how to when he started in October, but he took to it fast, doing crosses and hopping on one foot.

Ryan Bonet, 17, sparred with gym Head Coach Greg Landon. Bonet has an MMA background and is working on his boxing striking strategy.

Evan Olsen, 27, was preparing for his debut fight in Latham on Saturday. He’ll be facing off against a man named Christopher Henry from the Albany area in the super heavyweight division.

“We haven’t had a lot of prep time. I just got back from the Middle East,” Olsen said.

ADK Boxing and Fitness gym head coach Greg Landon spars with Ryan Bonet, 17, on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

On the day he got back from being stationed with the Army in Kuwait, he said he was getting beaten up by his sparring partner. Olsen started with the gym a couple months before he shipped out because wanted to learn the skill to keep fit over there.

He said he’s been training with Landon virtually for the past few weeks.

“It’s all about the legs,” Olsen said as he threw punches at a bag. “Everything comes from your legs.”

There was a lot of talk about punching, bruising, attacking and punishing.

“It sounds like we’re just all about brutality here,” Landon said.

Ryan Bonet, 17, throws a punch at a bag in the ADK Boxing and Fitness gym on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

But he said that’s not really the case.

“Oh no,” Olsen said. “The camaraderie and the fellowship you get, even going down and fighting people you’ve never met before. You’re hugging it out afterwards. It’s just beautiful.”

Boxing has a tight community, Landon said. He has a long-term vision to bring boxing competition to the Adirondacks.

Currently, he operates out of the Dance Sanctuary’s River Studio in the Dorsey Street parking lot. But Landon said he recently signed a lease at the former hot yoga studio in Lake Placid. He said he’ll keep the youth boxing club in Saranac Lake because it has a dedicated group of students who come after school.

The youth boxing club is held every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Jacob Swain, 12, jumps rope at the ADK Boxing and Fitness gym on Tuesday. He didn’t know how to when he started in October, but he took to it fast, doing crosses and hopping on one foot. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)