More important, Mr. VanDemark sensed that boxing was helping his performance as a musician.

WSJ: Music Students Hit the Boxing Ring

Last year, Mr. VanDemark introduced a handful of his students to Mr. Arioli and was pleased with the results.

WSJ: Music Students Hit the Boxing Ring

On a recent day, Mr. VanDemark patrolled his students' workout sporting a cutoff T-shirt and the remnants of a fairly spectacular black eye that he'd sustained during an early-morning sparring session.

WSJ: Music Students Hit the Boxing Ring