The Well Worn Paths: What Learning Language and and Learning Boxing Combinations have in Common

By: Meredith Martin-Moates

Every Monday and Wednesday Coach Brian calls out the combos:  “shotgun,” ‘thirty eight!” “1-8.” We throw the punch combos from memory, tapping into well worn paths in our brains. We hear the words and the body follows. But it never starts out that way. 

About the Author

Meredith Martin-Moats is a Dardanelle native, farmer, writer, folklorist, and lifelong learner. She directs community and literacy projects in the River Valley, co-founded the McElroy House cultural nonprofit, and runs Sulphur Springs Truck Patch farm with her family. A mother and boxing enthusiast, she balances training, writing, and caregiving with her love for animals, language, and community.