From baby baths to boxing: Medical technician stays in shape by getting in the squared circle

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- For almost three years, the gloved hands of Staff Sgt. Christopher Kemp, a medical technician in the Maternal Childcare Flight, Inpatient Operations Squadron, 88th Medical Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, have bathed newborn babies with tender loving care. Off-duty, those hands may be clenched inside a different set of gloves — those made for outwitting and out-punching an opponent inside a boxing ring.

Kemp has been boxing for about 15 years, several years before he joined the Air Force. He currently weighs 178 pounds, which is considered a light heavyweight in the amateur network.

 

“It’s always kept me in shape for my PT. I like boxing in general; it motivates me,” he said.

 

Kemp recalls when there was a boxing ring in Wright Field Fitness Center in Area B where he could work out. He often trains on- or off-base in the mornings before his shift at Wright-Patterson Medical Center, where he loves taking care of infants, giving babies their baths and being able to see life at its beginnings, he said.

 

When he can, Kemp spars on a Friday or Saturday to stay “tuned up.” He also studies fights on TV.

 

“I probably have 30 different fights I haven’t even watched on my DVR,” he said. “In my spare time, I watch those and learn what I can.”

 

Right now Kemp is looking for pointers for his upcoming bout Feb. 25 as part of Dayton History Fight Night at Memorial Hall, 125 E. First St., Dayton. The doors open at 7 p.m. and fights begin at 8 p.m. Kemp has been training for the fight at the Brown Institute of Martial Arts.

 

“I will do what I need to do to try to win the match,” he said. “Under attack, I have to come back and keep control of the pace of the match. That will determine how hard I have to make the fight.”

 

Kemp acknowledges that he’ll be studying his opponent very carefully from the get-go.

 

“Ninety percent of it is mental. It’s almost like the game of chess — in the boxing ring, you have to be two or three steps ahead of your opponent. For instance, instead of throwing a jab straight at the guy, I might feint first to look like I’m throwing a jab just to see what the reaction is going to be. Then I take a picture of that in my mind and know how he operates so I know what to do next time to counter that. Then I can feint the jab, then go over the top with a hook or go to the body with a hook.

 

“It’s little mind games like that in the ring. What I enjoy most is slipping punches and making my opponent miss,” he said.

 

Kemp speaks from experience. In 2014 he was on the All Air-Force boxing team for about 45 days.

 

The team competed in the San Antonio Golden Gloves and the U.S. Nationals. Kemp didn’t advance all the way but participated in the Cincinnati Golden Gloves and then in the national Golden Gloves competition.

 

He didn’t win his fight but “it was good to even get to the nationals,” he said.

 

To anyone who wants to take up boxing, Kemp has the following advice: “Always learn defense. That will give you more confidence on how not to get hit during your offense. When you’re first starting, defense is a lot more important than offense.”