Are you starting to box or are you looking for a new place to train in? It doesn’t matter what your experience in boxing is, and the truth is that there are always important things to take into consideration when picking the right boxing gym for you.
There are many different types of gyms available (maybe you just want to stay in shape or perhaps you want to really develop your boxing skills) and choosing the right one is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one. Keep reading and don’t waste time in a gym that does not meet your goals.
A boxing gym for every need
Boxing gyms for fitness: This type of gym is usually open for accepting new members and they are great for getting in shape and losing weight. If this is your goal, this gym will align perfectly with your needs.
A gym that focuses more on fitness will be a lot looser on its equipment needs since the focus will be burning calories, rather than perfecting technique. Sparring will rarely occur, and you will see more of bag work, shadow boxing, rope jumping, push-ups, sit-ups, and also some heavy bag and mitt work.
You may also find that there is not even a boxing ring and that the coaches will have a lot of experience in conditioning training but not so much in boxing technique or strategy.
Professional boxing gyms: These gyms can be found in a variety of sizes, from small to big, and they usually only accept new fighters on a case by case basis. However, if accepted, you will really develop your boxing skills and technique.
Gyms for professional boxers focus more on getting someone ready for a fight and people here can become pros after training long and hard enough. Sparring will take place on a regular basis and even though the main objectives will be developing technique, you can still get in shape.
Some gyms won’t focus at all on training, only on technique, so you would need to do conditioning yourself (such as running, strength exercises, etc.).
As for the equipment you may find, there will be a big boxing ring, heavy bags, ropes for jumping, weights, speed bags, and everything a boxer needs. The coaches will be very experienced and may have even had a professional career as a boxer. They will have you do a lot of heavy bag work, pad work and sparring.
MMA Fighting Gyms: This is a separate discipline from traditional boxing. The punching, counterpunching and footwork are the same, there are differences in the ability of opponents to go for a takedown and to mix in kicks.
Many people say that there are fake and real MMA gyms. The “fake” ones sell themselves as the all-in-one martial arts fight centers and say they specialize in everything and the “real” MMA fighting gyms focus their classes on variations of grappling, kickboxing, and boxing.
In these gyms, you will learn the basics aspects of boxing and other martial arts as well.
Youth Centers: These centers are designed to keep young people off the streets and focused on an after-school activity. You may find all sorts of people from the neighborhood looking for a good workout, as well as some professionals and amateur boxers.
The cost is very low and some trainers may not even want to charge you for their time since there are many that like to teach for the simple love of boxing.
What to look for in a good boxing gym
When choosing the right boxing gym for you there are a few things you should look out for, depending, of course, on what your boxing goals are: Do you want to box for losing weight and staying fit or are you aspiring for a more professional type of training?
- Equipment
Some gyms may not have the newest and highest tech equipment but if it’s well-maintained it is a great sign, no matter what your boxing goals are.
You should also look into safety gear and if there is enough for all the fighters that train there. Check what equipment for endurance and weight training is available
2. Trainers
Ask about the trainers and if they are certified or not, how many years of experience do they have? Were they professional fighters? In addition, how professional are they when it comes to handling their business?
3. Who are the other boxers?
In any boxing gym, you will find people with different levels of training, however, trainers should not be focused only on one or two people and ignoring the rest of the boxers. If everyone is paying for the service, they should all equally receive a good training experience.
4. Reputation
You can ask around or search on Google what people are saying about a particular boxing gym. Try to see how many people have moved to the next level in their training or if people are really getting into better shape after training here.
5. Price
Boxing gym prices can vary from place to place, so try to find a gym that balances cost, attention from the trainers, size, equipment and reputation.
Tips for choosing a good boxing gym
We have already told you about the different boxing gyms near you that you may find and also what you should be looking out for before signing up for a membership. All of these tips, if followed, will help you not only save money but find what you are looking for really fast.
A way of spotting a bad boxing gym is if the trainers and trainees are more focused on winning fights rather than perfecting technique or developing skills.
Keep an eye too on gyms full of people with no fighting experience but are fine with putting on shows rather than enjoying training.
How the environment feels is also important when choosing a boxing gym since it should not feel scary but supportive.
Since experts say that you cannot teach yourself how to box, you need to find a boxing gym with a trainer that will teach you everything you need to know.
Finally, how many people are training at the boxing gym? A large group can be a sign that the gym is good, but if you are a beginner it can be a hindrance since the instructor may find it difficult to focus on everyone’s techniques and keep an eye on each boxer.
My experience in finding the RIGHT gym that changed my life and CONTINUES to change my life
Being a stressed-out lawyer, I was desperately driven to find a new outlet for my stress. I remember having a very difficult hearing in court in March of 2017 and the stress was affecting my daily functioning at the office. By chance, I was driving near my office in Spring Valley, California (East of San Diego) and found a gym named RSD Boxing. I stood outside the gym for a good amount of time, not sure whether I would go in or not. I had all these preconceived notions – that the price would be too high, that I would not be able to connect with the instructors or students. I decided to take a chance and step in and was warmly greeted by the instructors. They calmly explained everything to me and made me feel at ease. The fees were more than reasonable. I decided to try out a class and from that point on, I was hooked.
What did I like so much about this gym and what do I now continue to LOVE about this gym?
- Affordability;
- No-nonsense and supportive attitude of the instructors;
- The down to earth attitude of the instructors and students;
- The availability and flexibility of instructors to offer private lessons to accommodate my busy and oftentimes unpredictable schedule; and
- The proximity of the gym to my place of work.
Working out at RSD Boxing has made an enormously positive impact on my life. I work out there several times a week and here are some of the benefits I have received over the past few years:
- Lowered stress; I am able to better focus on stressful happenings at work and better compartmentalize stress and release it through my workouts.
- I sleep better.
- I drink more water and eat less; due to the stressful and demanding nature of my work, it is easy to take out my stress through eating; however, after a good workout, I feel refreshed, happy that I had a productive day and I usually wind up eating something light such as grilled chicken and a salad and drink LOTS of water. I find that after my workouts, my body does not crave high sugar/caffeinated drinks (like soda). Just good old-fashioned water! I may occasionally drink a small bottle of Gatorade right after my workout but if I do, I always follow up with water.
- Even if I had a “stressful” day at work, I find that after my workout, I am able to expand my worldview and see that regardless of external circumstances that occurred (many of which are OUT of my control), the fact that I was able to physically engage in a boxing class, take care of my health and well-being, and most of all, have fun, the day has then become a success!
- I have made friends! The owner, Alan, is super cool and I have also become good friends with Terry, an awesome trainer there. In addition to having him train me, we also started running and hanging out. In short, thanks to boxing training, I have made new friends! There would be times I would be stressed out in court over a case and I would text Terry for some motivation, and he would actually respond with helpful and supportive messages based on boxing training! For example, one day, I had a very difficult case before a hard judge and Terry told me to stay focused, be quick on my toes, hit and don’t be hit and don’t focus on what others are saying around you. I remember feeling much more at peace and ready to tackle my hearing. Needless to say, I stayed focused, did not let emotions get the better of me and the hearing turned out well!
- Boxing training at RSD has helped me focus more on my personal and professional life. Thanks to boxing training, I am better able to handle stressful situations at work, whether with clients, opposing parties or deadlines. When a stressful situation hits me, rather than immediately react, I breathe and carefully measure my response. What will I say? What will I do? THE PHILOSOPHY OF BOXING TRAINING WORKS!! Just like in the ring, I have to think of a counter-attack. What degree of force do I need to use with my words? How can I hit but not be hit? No good will come of me letting my emotions get the better of me. I will do a disservice to my staff, to my clients, and most of all, to myself. HIT AND DON’T BE HIT. Take any challenging situation and learn from it. Everything is a test. We grow strong through adversity!!
How has your experience in finding the right boxing gym been for you? Leave your comments below!
