Box'Tag is something out of the ordinary

Box'Tag is a modified form of boxing first developed at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in the late 1990s.

Former AIS chief scientist Allan Hahn said boxing coaches wanted an objective way to score bouts, so the institute worked with the CSIRO and others to develop a lightweight T-shirt covered with sensor fabric with a very low-level electric current running through it to register impact.

From there Box'Tag was born, where competitors can hit only their opponents' shoulders and torso and no punches to the head are allowed.

Professor Hahn, now a professorial research fellow at the University of Canberra, said there were regular Box'Tag competitions in Sydney.

''The concept was that it would be a safe form of boxing that would enable people who get involved in boxing for fitness-type reasons to compete without the fear of injury,'' he said.

But he said many people now participated in specialised training activities associated with Box'Tag without ever competing.

Former Boxing Australia and AIS coach Paul Perkins runs Box'Tag training at the Canberra Police Community Youth Centre in Erindale every week night.

Mr Perkins said he trained about 100 people aged from five to 50, more than half of them women, and 15 local families who worked out together.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening was devoted to strength and conditioning training, and Tuesday and Thursday his ''athletes'' worked on positioning and techniques.

Mr Perkins said he aimed to make the sessions as inclusive as possible.

''Most enjoy the fact that families can train together,'' he said.

''It's a different environment; even though it's challenging - pretty hard work - it still has a really nice vibe about it.''

Professor Hahn said he was working on improving the Box'Tag equipment, including developing gloves which absorb impact.