At the Don Sjogren Community YMCA in Holdrege, a new class is making a remarkable difference for people living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Led by instructor Rob Fisher, the “Knock Out Parkinson’s” class combines boxing with targeted exercises to help participants improve balance, strength, and coordination. For Fisher, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in April 1999, this is more than just a class—it’s personal.

“It’s been a long journey—25 years,” Fisher said. He started boxing in May 2017 through the Rock Steady Boxing program, designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s. “The exercise totally changed my life. I was using a walker before I started boxing,” he said. The transformation was so profound that Fisher became certified to coach in 2020, eager to help others experience the benefits.

When Fisher and his wife moved to Holdrege, where she serves as pastor at Holdrege Methodist Church, he saw an opportunity to introduce the program to the local community. After discussing the idea with the YMCA, the Knock Out Parkinson’s class launched in early September.

The class is designed around exercises that mimic a professional boxing regimen, focusing on key areas where Parkinson’s patients often struggle: hand-eye coordination, strength, balance, and power. “We do footwork, sparring, heavy bag work, and a lot of balance and core strength training,” Fisher said. “All the exercises are geared toward helping people with everyday tasks.”

Research has shown that exercise can be as important as medication in managing Parkinson’s symptoms.

“When I was diagnosed 25 years ago, it was all about taking meds,” Fisher recalls. “Now, neurologists and physical therapists get you involved in exercise programs right away.”

The boxing exercises have proven effective in “retraining” the brain to overcome the challenges Parkinson’s presents. For example, a simple step and turn can become difficult due to crossed signals in the brain, which can lead to falls. In class, Fisher teaches participants to slow down movements, engaging their brains with each step, helping to strengthen the core and make those movements more natural over time.

The class isn’t limited to Parkinson’s patients. It’s open to anyone with a movement disorder, including people with multiple sclerosis or essential tremor.

Fisher has seen patients in other towns he’s taught in come to class with a walker or cane and leave without needing them.
Rylee Freeland, 34, is the secretary at the Holdrege Methodist Church and due to MS, she experiences full body tremors that make it difficult to walk. She has been attending Rob’s class since it started in Holdrege.

“I can walk in and not be walking well as my tremors will be bad,” Rylee said. “At the end of the class I’m walking better. It’s really been good for my hand-eye coordination. I’ve just seen a lot of benefits.”

She said the class essentially resets her nervous system and improves her day.

Lamar Schmidt of Holdrege said he suffers from Parkinson’s and enrolled in the class to combat his symptoms.

“It’s a good deal for people with Parkinson’s,” Schmidt said. “It works all the muscles. I can move better with the class. I strongly recommend anyone with Parkinson’s to take this class.”

Currently, the Knock Out Parkinson’s class meets on Thursdays at 4 p.m., with a cap of eight participants to ensure a personalized experience. Due to growing demand, more time slots may be added in the future.

In addition to the Parkinson’s class, Fisher also offers a Boxing and Balance class on Tuesdays for others looking to improve their physical health.

For Fisher and the people who take his class, it’s about more than just boxing—it’s about fighting back and reclaiming control over their bodies. As he says with a smile, “We’re knocking out Parkinson’s.”

For information on attending the Knock or Parkinson’s or Boxing for Balance classes, please call the YMCA at (308) 995-4050 or stop by the front desk.