Rai Fazio
My father began boxing with his brothers in Sicily at a very young age before moving to Genoa in the North of Italy where he boxed as an amateur at Trionfono Genovese Boxing Gym, est 1954 and still currently operating. Like many Italians my father immigrated to Australia in ’64 and began his new life as a boiler maker. In 1969 he was approached by a young apprentice, also a boxer, Alex Laurin who invited him to come and watch him fight. Alex got beat and Joe commented that although he had guts his trainer “didn’t know how to train a chicken”. Alex convinced Joe to take over his training and went on to win his next 5 fights by K.O in the first round and became the National Middle-weight Champion. That was it, Joe got the boxing bug again and started The Balga Boxing Club in his backyard in 1969.
I was born in September ’67 and by August of ’72, just before my fifth birthday, I had had my first fight. I had my last fight in the ring in my late teens winning the gold medal at the nationals with approximately 50 amateur bouts under my belt. I then turned my attention to helping my Dad train others and opening my own gym. My father continued to run The Balga Boxing Club for nearly 53 years before his passing in September of 2022. My father, like thousands of boxing trainers, was selfless and dedicated his whole life to hundreds of young fighters, turning boys into men as well as the countless number of people looking to simply learn the basics for their health and wellbeing.
I remembered listening to my father complaining about having sore shoulders, elbows and fingers and pretty soon I felt his pain, suffering the same injuries from training others. I noticed a big void in the market which inspired me to create a range of boxing products including the Fightmaster Tower.
Learn more about how the idea of Fazio’s PD Fighters came to light Here.
David Blacker AM, MB BS, FRACP
David Blacker’s career in medicine and neurology has spanned four decades, during which he helped lead a revolution in the care of acute stroke. As a doctor, mentor and medical researcher his work has impacted many thousands of patients, hundreds of doctors and numerous scientific medical fields.
In 2018 he received the life changing diagnosis of Parkinson disease, which lead to a reshaping of his career to focus on research and advocacy in PD. He now writes and speaks widely about his personal experience with PD, and hopes to assist others by sharing this. Additionally, he is striving to help his medical colleagues gain a greater insight into living with PD and to improve their communication and interactions with people with PD.
This change in direction created some unexpected opportunities, such as the surprising collaboration with former national boxing champion, Rai Fazio to develop a boxing exercise program for PD. This included a ground breaking clinical trial (FIGHT-PD) and now highly successful training program which is improving the quality of life for people with PD.
In 2023, he faced further challenges with complications following prostate cancer surgery, and a retinal detachment leading to impaired vision. Using the knowledge gained through exercise based therapy, and with the expertise of his wife Kirsten, in yoga, he has fought back to become fitter than ever. This journey from being a doctor to a patient, and all the challenges that posed are described in, My FIGHT with PD, a neurologist with Parkinson disease.
After retiring from clinical practice in 2023, he has continued research into PD and stroke, based at the Perron Institute for neurological and translational science. Also in 2023, he was awarded a membership of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to medicine and neurological research.
Our Trainers
