Inaugural Faith Athletic Training Camp Engages Oxford’s Youth

By Adam Brown and Collin Rivera
Sports Editor, Hottytoddy.com intern
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com

Local trainer AJ Johnson, who owns One Body by AJ, brought the inaugural Faith Athletic Camp to Oxford last Thursday morning.

“In this camp we want our youth to know and understand that they are valuable,” Johnson said. “God loves them, and when we come together we sharpen each other.”

This year’s camp took place at the public soccer fields beside Mississippi Critterz Animal Shelter on McElroy Drive from 9-11 a.m. The camp was for children and teens ages 8-17.

“Knowing that One Body can affect a few as well as a large number, we were proud of the participants that showed up and worked extremely hard,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s personal health and fitness, known as One Body, provides camps year after year to people in the community. 

“We wanted to establish a relationship with the community and offer a camp to enhance athletic skills while offering them time to express what is in their hearts and on their minds,” he said. This allows us to have a heart-to-heart moment with them. Also with this camp, we wanted to highlight and show support for Jordan Ta’amu because of his leadership, faith, and passion for people.”

Campers got to work alongside former Ole Miss quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, Ole Miss student Kendric Bradley, police officer Joshua Shipp and athletic trainer Tony Knox.

“We just wanted to volunteer and give something back to the community of where it all started,” Ta’amu said.

The staffers of the camp wanted to bring an experience the children can learn from so they take the necessary tools to their game no matter the sport.

“It’s not all about being a better athlete. We want to teach them about being a better person,” Shipp said.