Sweat dripping down Michael B. Jordan as he fights in CREED. Blood-stained gloves disheveled in a street brawl. For some, these are the primary images coming to mind at the word boxing.
However, these generalizations have faded in recent years, as the sport has gained a massive following and become a national and worldwide hit. In fact, the global boxing market is already worth billions of dollars and is only projected to grow exponentially.
Here in Montgomery County, plenty of boxing gyms and studios are available for all participants. And at 5535 Wilkins Ct, you will find the one and only Elite Striking Club, one of the premier boxing and Muay Thai locations in the area. Open six days a week, the gym houses members ranging from working parents to athletes training for their next fight.
Elite was founded in 2022 by Gambian boxer Ebrima Jawara, a former professional fighter with experience in the Olympic Trials during his career. He commends the sport for bringing him the structure, mentality, and lessons that helped mold the man he is today. Opening his own gym was a lifelong dream that he spent years planning and working hard toward, finally leaving a former studio he had worked at to achieve it.
“I wanted to have something I can call my own, and build that family inside of it,” EJ, also a husband and father of two, said. “It’s a traditional type of boxing gym and here we just try to keep it all good vibes, especially when we have so many different demographics.”
EJ is also the sole instructor for each class, including cardio training, effective drills, and technical skills. Clients can expect anything between laps in the parking lot or pushing through each grueling round in the ring. As a featherweight boxer himself, he is known for drilling quick movements and precise shots.
Just this April, three of EJ’s boxers won the Golden Gloves regional championship, defeating fighters from long-standing studios. Many of his clients trained twice each day, putting maximum effort into strict nutritional and workout routines. Still, Elite makes sure to work with all levels and guide beginners past any initial intimidation.
“Whenever there’s someone starting out I make sure to introduce myself, understand what their goals are and help them achieve that by walking them through instructions or pulling them aside during class. Everyone helps everyone,” EJ said.
While some people box to defend themselves amidst a harsh society, others simply crave a stress reliever that keeps them active. To further their sense of community, the studio has also been a place of bonding, hosting local fights, known as “Smokers,” and get-togethers to watch popular matches.
“It’s been so beautiful seeing people transform here,” EJ said. “I’ve seen boys mature and transform into young men, and in moments like that, it’s so much more than a sport. In many ways it’s a lifestyle.”
Beyond the ring
Marty Fischer, trainee of EJ and working father, is a walking example of someone who embodies the values of boxing inside and outside of the ring. Fischer was introduced to the sport in third grade by his father, NFL legend Pat Fischer, who required more academic discipline from his son. After taking initial beatings and learning occasional self-defense techniques, Fischer began to enjoy what boxing had to offer, and grew up idolizing pioneers like Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson. Throughout his 20s, Fischer joined a gym, and sparred in several inter-club matches.
However, it wasn’t until his 30s, after becoming a father, that he actually began to understand the sport. While living in Virginia, Fischer briefly trained with former professional boxer Jimmy Lange, immersed in depths of boxing he had never seen before.
Recalling this transformation, Fischer said, “For a while I considered organized teams like baseball as sports and boxing as something I did for fun. I loved it, but relied far more on toughness and athleticism than technique until I met people like Jimmy and EJ.”
Fischer met EJ shortly after moving to Maryland in 2017, and credits him for a consistent teaching style toward every level, which includes an emphasis on defense.
“I instantly noticed [EJ] taught everyone the same and it was basically ‘Look. You don’t want to get hit in the face, so before you throw any punch, you need to know how to protect yourself,’” Fischer said.
He notes drilling in basic footwork, rolls, slips, and other defensive movements for months before even starting on offense.
Eventually, Fischer took a painful step back from boxing as the pandemic hit and things became busy with his job and family of four. But this did not last long after his life took a major turn. On October 8, 2024, Pat Fischer passed away from cancer, a loss also felt by the entire country and football community.
To honor his father, Fischer made the bold choice toward something he had never done before: fight. Although he had competed once in a regional competition, the crowd consisted of a mere 20 spectators, whereas this would be an arena with over 3,000 people.
For Fischer, this jump was far bigger than a fight. The match was sanctioned under the organization “Haymakers for Hope,” which allows fighters to box while raising money for cancer research. And the fight’s outcome was not the only thing that mattered. The countless hours of bruised knuckles against the bag, constantly checking the scale and staying disciplined enough to repeat the cycle were chances to incorporate the lessons Fischer’s father had instilled.
After what Fischer calls "essentially living in the gym for months,” sticking to strict routines, and dropping 20 pounds, he stepped foot into the ring, held at The Anthem, DC.
“My trainer and I had a plan: jab right, slip, shift your feet, and land the hook. But after seeing everyone there, my training in the first round went out the window. I ate a punch, and that was when the flip switched,” Fischer said.
After the initial nerves subsided, he allowed his years of training to take the reins. It just took a few minutes. His hands were tight, his movements sharp, and his shots powerful bullets. Step… Hook… Step… Cross Uppercut… Hook… Hook… Jab- and KNOCKOUT! By round 3, Fischer had annihilated his opponent and the referee ended the match.
As his glove was raised in victory, there wasn’t just a winner standing. In Fischer’s corner were his trainers, (including EJ), his wife Andrea, who had earned her USA Boxing coaching certification for the event, and his two kids, Patrick and Claire, livestreaming the match. The experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to push himself, practice what he preached, and set an example to others.
“I read a book written by a Navy SEAL and it said the first thing you should do in your daily routine is make your bed… Boxing is exactly the same in the sense that it gives you that same consistency, and mindset to stay focused because regardless of any opponent, it’s ultimately you vs. you,” Fischer said.
As he continues pushing his own kids in their activities and serving as a model beyond martial arts, Fischer recognizes the special aspects of boxing that make it accessible to everyone.
“Even aside from all of the large-scale things, there’s just no other workout, both physically and mentally, like fighting for your life when your body wants to break down,” Fischer said.
The average person burns 30-100 calories in a single boxing round, and ESPN’s Sports Skills Difficulty Rankings placed boxing at number one.
Whether it’s throwing simple combinations on a bag or hiring a personal sparring trainer, there are so many levels encapsulated in one sport that allow it to reward every single person. Not to mention the physical, mental, and social components intertwined in one.
Final shots
As the martial art grows, both EJ and Fischer hope that the upward trend only continues in Montgomery County. From empowering women to directing teenage boys, boxing can make a warrior out of every journey. For readers who are inspired to try boxing but are unsure where to start, EJ has an answer.
“They say the heaviest you lift is opening a new door and they're completely right. It may be an adjustment, but we’d love to welcome new faces and help you grow as a boxer and person.”
For more information, visit https://elitestrikingclub.com to finally buy those gloves and get started!
Video courtesy of Gauntlet Films and Haymakers for Hope.
Middle photos in cover collage are courtesy of @leonxrdo on Instagram.