Meet Josh Rodriguez, a 17 year old Astoria resident and up-and-coming boxer. At a lean 152 pounds, Josh is now in intense physical training for the Metros, a city wide amateur boxing competition in September.

Eighteen months ago, Josh was a different person. Involved in local gangs, delinquent in school, and a frequent runaway, Josh had sought out peers in the neighborhood for respect and a sense of belonging. Weighing 205 pounds, he was a physically intimidating 16 year old, bottling years of anger stemming from an absent father. Throughout two suspensions from two different schools, Josh, a former honor student was failing all of his classes and would keep himself busy street fighting, drinking alcohol, and experimenting with drugs. His relationship with his mother had declined so much so that he was mandated by law to live in an adolescent group home. But that all ended the day Josh met Frank Burchette.

It was a Saturday night, and Josh returned home after a night of fighting with one of his peers. He had just moved back into his mother's Ravenswood apartment from the group home. Pensive, he sat on the couch and started flicking through the channels, stumbling upon the QPTV program, "Kids Gotta Eat". A man was being interviewed about a new program he was starting in the community that would teach kids discipline and respect through boxing. That man was Frank Burchette and the program he was starting was a small boxing gym located in Astoria, called "Punch." That's right around the block, Josh thought.

The next day Josh came down to Punch Boxing Gym and wanted to know how much it would cost. Discouraged when he realized he couldn't afford it, Frank stopped Josh as he was heading for the door. "I saw the look of death in his eyes", Frank said in retrospect, "This kid wasn't going to last much longer." They got to talking; it would be the first of many long talks between the fighter and the coach. Soon after, Frank took Josh under his wing and made him a deal. Frank would personally train Josh how to be a real fighter - not a street fighter - as long as Josh stayed in school. In other words, if Josh stopped attending school, he couldn't train.

"It started like every other thing," said Grace Garcia, Josh's mother, "Josh would get interested in lots of stuff, but it usually wouldn't last." But slowly, she realized that Josh's enthusiasm with Punch was different. "Something changed," she said, "Frank reached out and connected with him, he befriended him." It was around three months after his first day at Punch when it became obvious. Josh abandoned the thug life he was leading and got a job at White Castle. His attendance at school greatly improved. Each day, he had a constructive activity to keep him busy, either at work or at Punch, seven days a week. The long gaps of time he once filled with antisocial behavior gradually evaporated. He now had a different outlet for his anger.

"Coach is like a father to me", said Josh, whose real father abandoned his mother and her two sons when Josh was 10 years old, "When I see someone with more knowledge than me, I listen. I respect that."

"The only other male he ever looked up to, his uncle, passed away six years ago," said Grace, "After that was when I started to see him change for the worse. I thank the Lord above and Frank that those days are over now."

So where is Josh now? At Punch. Training. And over 50 pounds lighter! He was recently presented with a medal of appreciation at White Castle to commemorate his one year of employment and is on the track at being promoted to manager. He now attends high school at the Street Academy in Bedford Stuyvesant, and even receives Physical Education credits for the time he puts in at Punch, thanks to the approval of his Physical Education Teacher, Mr. Fair. Josh has proudly passed all of his classes this year, excelling with an 81 on his state-wide Regents exam, and is on the accelerated path to graduate in January 2005. College is also on the horizon, as he's currently discussing his academic future with "Coach". He plans on majoring in physical therapy, and Frank approves.

His relationship with his mother has dramatically improved, and she has also witnessed a reborn relationship between her two sons. Brandon, Josh's 10 year old younger brother, is also a Punch prodigy. "Punch let me have something in common with my brother now," said Josh, "We bond now." As for boxing, Josh said with a steadfast look of determination, "I'm not stopping till I get the belt."

Frank Burchette is a true fighter himself. A former drill sergeant for the US Army in 1973, Frank has been boxing competitively since the age of 7. He enjoyed success as a personal trainer for Hollywood's elite in the 1990's, training, among other names, Al Pacino, Julia Roberts, and Daniel Day Lewis (for his role in the aptly-named, The Boxer). In August 2001, Burchette's own life came to a crashing halt, when he was struck by a reckless teenage driver. His spine was severed, rendering him out of the ring for almost two years. Confined to a wheelchair for one year, Frank slowly regained the ability to walk and worked his way back to his former physical strength. It was a long grueling process, during which he had a revelation.

What boxing had taught him over the years was an inner stength, determination, alertness, and belief in himself -- the exact qualities so many of the youth of today are lacking, including the one who was behind the wheel the night of the accident. He vowed that when he got back his strength, he would dedicate himself to teaching and training kids in the community. As soon as he recovered, he began the demolition and the construction himself on a Broadway lot off 21st Street. On April 19th, 2003, Punch Boxing Gym was born.

At first, two investors were brought in. In an area where health clubs were sprouting up all over place, they may have had the wrong idea about this Astoria gym. Punch is not exactly the place with Techno music blaring, organic juice bars, and tanning lotion sold at the front desk. It was far more austere in design, and its goals far less superficial. "What we do here is train the body and the mind", said Burchette, "We're about the kids. We're about education." Even though membership was on the rise, after the two initial investors bailed, Punch's financial future looked bleak.

With bankruptcy looming over its head, Punch received a true blessing in the form of George Fuiaxis, a successful Real Estate Broker and lifetime Astoria resident. George immediately saw the full altruistic potential of Punch, donated several thousand dollars to the organization, and filed for non-profit status. Together with his wife, Eleni, a full-time employed actress who volunteers much of her time working for Punch, they are co-owners of its organization and major proponents for its success. Aside from running the financial and promotional sides of Punch, George and Eleni guide some of the kids on how to use computers to do research related to their studies. They have one computer in the gym with online access, available to all the fighters.

Since Frank's newfound business alliance with George, Punch has been gaining much deserved recognition. Frank was nominated for NY1's 'New Yorker of the Week', has participated in the Athens Square Olympic Flame Festivities, received several very generous donations from local Astoria businesses, and Burchette is currently up for 1010 WINS New York 'Hometown Hero Award'. Punch is now interconnected with similar youth boxing organizations across the Tri-State Area and has recently hosted the "Battle on Broadway", a fundraiser showcasing many of their star fighters in sparing matches.

From the hours of 11:00AM- 8:00PM, Punch is a full house of fighters, ranging from every ethnic group, from 7 to 25 years old. They come for many reasons. Some want to be the next Champ; some want to get in shape; some just want the unique discipline and approval only Frank can provide. Many kids lure outside the windows, taking a peek through the glass. They may be hesitant, or they may be shy, but one thing's for sure: They have heard about Punch, and they're curious.

Inside, 'Coach' stands before 20 of his boxers, speaking in a paradoxical voice. He's simultaneously both warm and authoritative. Fatherly, they say. The kids are put through a strenuous routine. They stand on their places on the mat, repeating certain punches and combinations, in the order that Burchette commands. If one of them acts out or goofs around, Frank shows his Drill Sergeant's roots as he requests 10 or 20 push-ups from the offender. But through it all, with many parents standing on the sidelines, you see looks of fulfillment, looks of determination. In their own structured way, they are enjoying the workout.

In unison, they follow Coach's lead, repeating a mantra as they perform the movements: "Jab, Jab, Left Hook, Right Hand". Over and over again. "I teach discipline through repetition, just like karate does," said Burchette. On the wall behind the ring, several sheets of white printing paper with phrases scribbled on them -- such as "I Win If I Do Three Rounds" -- are on display. These are the larger-than-boxing lessons Frank teaches. The Coach explained, "If they see those words when they're in the ring, they're more likely to remember them."

As Frank leads his fighters through the warm-up, 16 year old Elliot Figueroa is in the ring with another fighter, acting as surrogate trainer. Elliot, a student of Frank's since Punch's opening, earns a weekly allowance for his leadership role. He's one of three fighters that has earned such a position, and like Josh, is also training for the Golden Gloves competition. His leadership qualities have also earned him the title of "Fight Coordinator" during the "Battle on Broadway" fundraiser. Frank speaks highly of Elliot, who's two parents are both hearing impaired, "I feel our conversations have opened him up linguistically... he's used to signing at home," said Burchette, "I see his eyes light up when he's learning to express himself with words. It's exciting." Elliot also plans on attending college, possibly majoring in Criminal Justice.

Then there's the younger champs. Pre-pubescent and agile, there are over a dozen fighters age 10 or younger, like Sebti Mouaki, who recently earned a Silver Medal in the Junior Olympics. "Frank is a great coach." said Mouaki, "He doesn't let you get away with anything." "He really wants all of us to become champs," said Julio Cesar Rodriguez Jr., another of Punch's younger fighters.

Unlike many other boxing gyms, Punch is not rampant with machismo. It's also a home to several female fighters. Angela Vargas, 20 years old, is a Forensics Science Major at John Jay College and calls herself a "learner". One of Punch's newest members, she joined the gym two weeks ago to stay in shape and to learn the art of boxing. Having also undergone training in karate, she stated that boxing may not be as strict as karate, but just as demanding. What has she gathered from her coach's method in such a short period of time? "Frank lets you go through the learning process yourself," she said, "He guides you and lets you come to your own conclusions."

To the possible critics of teaching children how to box, George Fuiaxis stated, "Like football, baseball, all other sports, what we do here is provide an outlet for natural aggression. We're not teaching violence, and we don't condone it." Frank added, "Boxing is a dance. We never let anyone get hurt.... Everyone of my fighters has to remember Rule #1: 'No physical contact, unless supervised and allowed by coaches' ... We teach karate-style boxing. It's an art-form."

To date, Punch Boxing Gym has in excess of 125 members and is growing fast. There is even talk of expanding the program and the physical space of the gym to incorporate a classroom and more equipment. The fighters train four days a week, leading up to "Marathon Saturdays", the most physically demanding day of training and sparring. Parents are as much of a part of Punch's support network as are the fighters and the sponsors. Said Grace Garcia, "I hope other parents will be as inspired by Frank as I am. I'm in awe of my son now. In awe."

View Image Gallery of Some of Punch's Fighters!