Skywalker Gym welcomes kids of all ages to come play sports every night

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Skywalker Gym is hosting kids off all ages throughout the summer at their gym.

On select nights, the gym is even hosting boxing lessons.

"It's a poor man's sport. It's a poor man's sport, but the ones who love it, they've found a home and they stick with it," Rodney Walker who runs Skywalker Gym, said. "They learn discipline and I tell them, 'Hey, boxing is not fighting.' This is one sport where anger goes against you and this is a great tool we use to channel some of that anger."

The gym's goal is to give local kids a place to come and spend time at night to help keep them safe.

"Our mission is to help curb the violence around here." Walker went on, saying, "An idle mind is the devil's playground, so it's our job to make sure that we have opportunities for the kids."

Once inside, kids can choose from a variety of sports to participate in ranging from basketball to volleyball. There's even wrestling mats.

Skywalker Gym finally began receiving government grants in recent years.

"I'm glad we never depended on it," Walker said, "but it does help because in the beginning the kids had to pay for everything. Some people just are not in a situation to pay for certain programming and we missed out on a certain population. Now we can take care of that population."

The boxing lessons are Tuesday and Friday night this week from 6-8 p.m.

You can register for free when you walk in.