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Kenny Bhullar and federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser chatting after a press conference at Brav\u00e9 MMA and Fitness in Edmonton on Sept. 9, 2026. (CityNews)<\/p>\nCan boxing help fight crime in Edmonton?<\/p>\n
The federal government is taking a swing at youth crime and hoping to keep young people away from gangs and violence.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Ottawa promised renewed funding for an Edmonton boxing program. The feds also announced they are bringing to Alberta\u2019s capital a program that started in the U.K. and focuses on physical fitness, mentorship, and counselling for youth at risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you join a martial arts studio, if you will, in a weird way, it\u2019s like a gang but you\u2019re doing all the right things,\u201d said Kenny Bhullar, the co-owner of Brav\u00e9 MMA and Fitness. \u201cYou are abiding by a certain level of rule set, but you\u2019re doing it in a safe way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The impact of the program on at-risk youth is clear, Bhullar says, from previously getting into fights at school or being involved with gangs, to making a positive turn.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing their whole entire personality change,\u201d said Bhullar. \u201cEverything from their grades increasing, everything to them having friends that they can count on as opposed to feeling like it\u2019s people that are getting them to do bad things.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me it\u2019s so great to see what martial arts can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenny Bhullar and federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser chatting after a press conference at Brav\u00e9 MMA and Fitness in Edmonton on Sept. 9, 2026. (CityNews)<\/p>\n
The federal dollars announced at Wednesday\u2019s news conference in Edmonton will go towards the renewal of the gym\u2019s \u201cGuardians of Tomorrow\u201d program. They will also fund bringing the U.K.-based Empire Fighting Chance no-contact boxing and life skills program to other gyms and community groups throughout the city.<\/p>\n
Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser says programs like that prevent youth from getting involved in crime and gangs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we can instead create an opportunity for someone to find that sense of purpose, to find a community, to find relationships, that expose them to healthier life choices, we expect, because we\u2019ve seen it repeated time and time again, that that person\u2019s going to adopt healthier life choices on their own, by virtue of the people they\u2019re spending their time with and the supports that they receive alongside that sense of community,\u201d Fraser said.<\/p>\n
The federal government is spending $2.2 million over four years through Reach Edmonton focused on early intervention for youths ages nine to 17, plus a program for young adults 18 to 30 focusing on martial arts, mental-health counselling, and life skills.<\/p>\n
\u2013With files from Lauren Boothby<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Brave-gym-e1789060462160-1024x576.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tInside Brav\u00e9 MMA and Fitness. (Courtesy: Facebook\/Brave MMA and Fitness) <\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
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