Coach Teana: Standing in her mana

When you walk into MissFit Boxing, you quickly realise it’s not just a gym. It’s a place where women and girls are invited to lace up their gloves, throw a punch, and discover just how powerful they really are. At the heart of it all is Coach Teana, the force behind Marlborough’s only female-focused boxing studio.

Words: Rachel Enright

Teana Scoon's journey into boxing began nearly two decades ago in Perth, where a friend introduced her to Liana, a fierce Māori woman who coached her through her first ever session. “I couldn’t walk the next day,” Teana laughs. “My calves were so sore from being on my toes the whole time.”

But something clicked. As a new mum in a new city, boxing became a lifeline. Liana’s one-on-one sessions allowed her to bring her baby, and soon she was part of a small group of mums training together. That led to her first fight, and eventually to coaching women’s classes herself. She returned to Aotearoa New Zealand with a dream to open a women’s boxing gym, but life had other plans and the vision faded, until Teana moved to Blenheim.

It was in Marlborough that the dream finally came to life. The smaller-town vibe gave her the confidence to do things her own way, without the pressure of competing in a crowded scene like Christchurch. MissFit Boxing was born from that belief, that boxing could be inclusive, empowering, and fun. She acknowledges the imposter syndrome that crept in, questioning whether she was qualified enough, but she also knows her experience and passion are real.

Her approach is different, and that’s the point: boxing doesn’t have to be a tough-guy sport. It can be a space for women to connect, grow, and learn. She believes in collaboration over competition and that every coach brings something unique. “I’m always learning,” she says. “There’s no way I know everything, and that’s the beauty of it.”

Before opening MissFit, Teana worked for years across youth and mental health programmes in Christchurch. It was in those spaces she first began introducing young people to the boxing gym, not as a place of aggression, but of healing. After returning from Perth, she joined a kaupapa Māori organisation supporting people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges. She stepped into support roles in the community, helping deliver day programmes designed to improve wellbeing through activities like music, education, and open conversation.

With a strong background in boxing, she naturally integrated it into her work with young people, using it as a tool to build structure, confidence, and connection, particularly for those navigating youth justice pathways or needing positive daily routines. “The majority of the kids I worked with came along to the boxing gym,” she recalls. “It’s something I was good at, and I could introduce them to it.”

Many of those young people came from difficult backgrounds. “A lot of our young people were involved in violent offending. So, channelling some of that energy in a positive and controlled environment was powerful,” she explains. “People can think boxing is aggressive, that it’s violence, but actually, it’s quite a healing place. A gym in general is a healing place.”

She often used the Te Whare Tapa Whā model to guide her support work, helping young people explore and strengthen the four pillars of wellbeing: taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional health), taha whānau (family and social health), and taha wairua (spiritual health). Recognising that many of her clients lacked encouragement or access to physical activity, she focused on taha tinana by introducing them to boxing and gym environments. Through partnerships with local gyms like YMCA and Boxfit Brothers, she created safe, welcoming spaces where young people could release energy, build confidence, and experience the healing power of movement.

After years in Christchurch, Teana and her whānau moved to Marlborough, swapping big city life for a slower pace in a smaller town. She quickly found work as a Healthy Homes Advisor for Te Piki Oranga, a kaupapa Māori health provider. There, she educates whānau on how to keep their homes warm and dry to prevent respiratory illness in tamariki.

At the same time, she kept her passion for boxing alive by helping a friend establish a new local Boxing Gym. She ran women’s classes voluntarily and occasionally supported other sessions when needed, bringing her signature mix of humour, energy, and empathy to the gym. While she eventually stepped back to avoid burnout, her impact remained. Many women told her how much they missed her teaching after she left, saying her fun, welcoming approach had made the classes feel like a space to connect, unwind, and do something just for themselves.

After taking time out, she found her way back to boxing through classes at PR Shed, where the energy and expertise of the trainers reignited her love for the sport. Immersing herself in the gym’s community, she began attending weightlifting and strength classes alongside boxing. One day, in conversation with owner Maria, she mentioned her dream of teaching again but not having the space or resources to do so. Maria saw an opportunity to empower her and offered the unused gym space on Sunday mornings, free of charge, as a way to help her get back on her feet.

That act of generosity sparked a new chapter. When PR Shed relocated, Maria continued to support Teana’s vision by offering the upstairs studio, encouraging her to build a membership base and create a dedicated female-only training environment. It was a powerful gesture that helped Teana rediscover her spark and continue making a difference through boxing.

Boxing can be seen as a bit of a tough guy sport at times but Teana says, “I think we’ve got to lift each other up, not tear each other down.”

That philosophy runs through every class. From the very beginning, Teana sets the tone: no negative talk, no put-downs. Instead, encouragement and celebration are non-negotiable. “If you see someone doing something awesome, tell them,” she says. “Speak that life into each other, because we don’t do that as women enough.”

MissFit Boxing now runs regular classes throughout the week, and she’s also just wrapped up her second term of girls-only classes, split into two age groups: Little Girls (5–8) and Big Girls (9–12). Initially unsure if there’d be enough interest, she was blown away when the kids’ classes filled up within a week of advertising.

What drew parents in was the chance for their daughters to step into something completely different. Female-only boxing classes are rare, especially for young girls, and traditional gyms can feel intimidating and male-dominated. MissFit Boxing offers an intentionally empowering space, taught by a woman, where girls can learn the foundations of boxing in an environment built just for them. It’s about more than punches and footwork, it’s about building confidence, belonging, and strength. Whether they continue with boxing or not, every woman and girl leaves knowing she’s capable, strong, and welcome in any gym.

Teana’s drive to empower others comes from her own upbringing. “I come from a long line of staunch women,” she says. “My village was fierce. They taught me that you don’t take nothing from nobody. You’re staunch in your own right, and you stand up for yourself.”

When asked if she sees herself as a mana wāhine, she doesn’t hesitate: “Absolutely. And I encourage other people to find their own mana for themselves. If we encourage women to keep moving and believing in themselves, that’s everything.”

For Teana, boxing sits at the crossroads of sport, fitness, and personal growth. “The fighting world and the fitness world are two different things,” she says. “I don’t mind sitting in both. I can do both, and I can absolutely teach fighters. I am a fighter.”

But MissFit is about more than building fighters, it’s about building confidence, connection, and community. It’s about women walking into a gym, picking up their gloves, and learning not just how to throw a punch, but how to stand taller in every part of their lives.

As Teana puts it: “They’re coming to learn the art of boxing.”