"Con el jab alante" (With the jab forward)

its a documentary project centered in a boxing gym in El Paraíso, Caracas, Ve. Led by former world champion Kiki Rojas. It explores teaching, identity, and how boxing shapes Caribbean culture, overcoming limited resources to build future champions.

“Con el Jab Alante” is a documentary project that immerses viewers in a boxing gym located in El Paraíso, Caracas, Venezuela. This gym, housed within a small space in a local soccer stadium, is run by Kiki Rojas, a former world champion, and a team of ex-boxers turned coaches. Despite limited resources and funding primarily from the state and donations, the gym operates with remarkable synchronization, creating a space of immense value for both coaches and students.

The project explores the profound connection between teaching, identity, and community. It challenges the conventional notion of a "school" by showing how knowledge, rather than physical space or material resources, is the true foundation of education. This boxing gym, often operating on little more than sheer will, has become a “library” for boxing, where generations of boxers both former champions and hopeful future stars interact, learn, and inspire each other.

Central to “Con el Jab Alante” is the exploration of boxing as a critical part of Caribbean identity. The documentary will not only showcase the gym's role in shaping champions but also highlight how the sport is deeply intertwined with the socio-political realities of the Caribbean. Through the lens of boxing, the project will delve into themes of success, struggle, and resilience, illustrating the sport’s connection to broader regional narratives. By documenting this unique space, the project aims to preserve the stories of those who paved the way for future boxers, emphasizing the enduring legacy of the sport and its potential to shape the identities of future generations.

Through this work, the project will contribute to understanding how boxing, a symbol of discipline and perseverance, continues to be an essential component of the Caribbean's cultural and social fabric.