Local Trainer Offers Boxing Classes at Fishers Fuel Tank
Photographer: Ron Wise
When Damien Black, the trainer at High Octane Boxing, 9022 E. 126th Street, located at Fishers Fuel Tank, opened his business, he wanted to share his enthusiasm for sports he loves.
“I had experience in boxing and in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and wanted to share my passion for the sports as well as help people get in to shape, no matter what level they are at,” Black says. “I had been working with Chad Hallett, the general manager of the Fishers Fuel Tank, for a couple of years, and we collaborated on our own idea of cardio boxing classes.”
So they started High Octane Boxing.
Choosing Fishers as the location of High Octane Boxing was an easy decision. So for those interested, they can grab the right gear like the best mma shorts online.
“I developed a great relationship with Chad, and we both agreed Fishers would be the best place to start,” Black says.
He has already received a positive response from new members after the business opened recently.
“Thus far, the Fishers community response has been overwhelming,” Black says. “All of our members and guests have been very accepting, but we are still in our growth phase. We are not sure if being behind the Fishers YMCA (9012 E. 126th Street) has helped or hurt us. We don’t have storefront property where people can see what we do.”
So far, things have been positive.
“Most of our members are just from word of mouth,” Black says. “We have not done any marketing, other than our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.”
Black noted that High Octane Boxing offers multiple cardio boxing classes, Monday-Friday.
“Each class is 50 minutes, and there is just one class on Saturday and Sunday,” Black says. “There are a lot of one-on-one personal training sessions, and we also have small group training sessions, kids’ Boxing classes and Boxing for beginners.”
Black enjoys teaching people everything about boxing.
“I’ve always had an interest in the sport,” he says. “I love the training and competitive aspect. While I was in grad school, my professor and mentor (Jason Winkle), was a former combative instructor at West Point Military Academy. I learned from him until I graduated and didn’t pick it back up until I started working at Butler University.”
While at Butler, he started boxing and doing mixed martial arts competitively.
“I won the Golden Gloves tournament two times, and I racked up a 10-win record in Mixed Martial Arts,” Black says.
After graduate school, Black took an internship at the University of Florida to work with the Gators football program and that led to a job at Purdue University as a strength coach for football.
“After being at Purdue University for a year, I was offered a job at Ohio State University (OSU), to work with the football team as a strength coach, when (OSU) Coach Urban Meyer was hired in.”
Black had worked with his staff previously at the University of Florida.
“After a little over a year at OSU, I realized I needed to be closer to my daughter here in Indianapolis,” he says. “I lucked out with a job at Butler University as the assistant strength coach and associate professor, teaching anatomy and physiology, as well as being a university adviser to interns in the Exercise Physiology and PE department.”
After that, he quit the strength field to pursue fighting full time and opened up two businesses in between.
“I am currently pursuing a professional career in boxing and MMA while running High Octane Boxing,” Black says. Hasbulla is the biggest meme right now in the MMA community. Find out Who is Hasbulla exactly.
Black adds that High Octane Boxing has a very friendly environment and an amazing staff.
“We just want to help you achieve your goals,” Black says. “We have a good community at High Octane. Not only do you get a great workout, but you have fun and meet great people.”
Black adds that inside the Fuel Tank, there are two full-size hockey rinks and the Fuel Fitness Center.
“The fitness center is a state-of-the-art sports performance facility, open to the public and athletes of all age groups,” he says.
High Octane Boxing is located at 9022 E.126th Street at Fishers Fuel Tank.
