7 Things You Should Look Out For When Trying to Find a Good Boxing Gym

When you’re first starting to get into boxing, one of the most important things you can do is find a good boxing gym. There are tons of options out there, so it’s a good idea to know what you’re looking for and how to find a gym that’s going to suit your needs to help turn you into the best boxer you can be.

Make sure to have a solid understanding of your goals as a boxer, and then keep these 7 great points in mind when trying to find a gym.

1. Gym Culture

Gym culture is definitely something you really need to look out for when you’re trying to find a good boxing gym. You need to consider if you’ll fit in with the other people around you, or if you’re constantly going to be hiding yourself and who you actually are. It’s always a good idea to pick a gym with a culture that makes you feel like you can be genuine and at home. Gym culture is everything when it comes to selecting a gym. It’s one of the most important factors.

You might not fit in right off the bat, but the gym culture can shape the kind of fighter you’ll become. Ask yourself the following questions to see if the gym culture is a good fit for you.

Is this a very politically correct gym?

Are you going to have a hard time watching your language and the things you’re saying? Will you feel like this is a place you feel comfortable growing or will you need to censor yourself? On the other hand, perhaps you feel more comfortable in a PC environment. Either way, make sure to be aware of this, check to see if your politics and values match the gym and choose what’s best for you. You don’t want to overhear something and then get upset.

Is it more old school?

Is this a gym that revolves around older time-tested techniques or does this gym want to innovate and try new techniques?  Are they the type of gym that will make you just sweat it out for weight cuts or do they have science-backed information and guidance? You’d be surprised at how many gyms are out there that aren’t very knowledgeable and run on the “just go practice” mentality without instructing you and giving you reasons why.

Are they all about fighting (hard sparring) or geared toward learning?

I know we’re all here to learn to fight, but all gyms have different approaches. Some gyms will make sure to thoroughly cover technique while others will throw you in the ring, have you duke it out and learn as you go with little direction along the way. Think about how you learn best and make sure to select a gym that fits your needs in this sense. You don’t want to be paying the cost of tuition with money and lost brain cells when you don’t have to.

When it comes to sparring, does the gym spar hard every day or do they take safety and drilling into account?

Is it a structured like a gym or more like a club?

A gym is a place people typically go to get their training session in and it might be more self-paced and focused. You’ll probably find yourself interacting with other people less at a gym.

A club is definitely more tribe-like and the people are more likely to become your “family” unit. Sometimes people will come just to hang out & check in with people. Think about what kind of experience you’re looking for.

2. Who’s the Head of the Program?

The head of the program is someone that you’ll be interacting with on a regular basis so you need to make sure that he’s a person you can both trust and respect. Make sure that he’s in this for the right reasons and knows what he’s doing.

Does he genuinely care about his students?

Make sure the person coaching actually gives a fuck. There are a lot of people out there only after money and fame that don’t give two shits about a fighter’s health, well-being or long-term success. They just want to develop a famous fighter and say it was all because of them. Don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour some gyms might offer because they’ve trained one or two famous fighters.

Is he actually competent?

Is the guy training you actually a boxing coach or is he merely a “trainer/fitness instructor”? Was he a fighter or is he just a great coach? Sometimes the best fighters make lousy coaches and sometimes the best coaches have barely fought in the ring.

Look at how many people he’s coached using his system and see what kind of results he’s gotten in the past, both positive and negative. Does he even actually have a coaching system and methodology? Do  your research before you decide to join his gym

3. Distance

This one is pretty straightforward. Is the gym reasonably located and can you reliably get there on a regular basis? Are you going to use the distance as an excuse not to train?

However, it might be worth it to choose a gym that’s further away if the program/culture fits your needs better than gyms that are closer. Don’ pick the closest gym just because it’s easier to get to. “Easy” and “boxing” don’t usually go hand-in-hand.

4. Quality of Program

The quality of the program might be different for everyone depending on their needs. What I mean by quality is, what kind of results has the program generated? Are people staying for a long time, is the instructor knowledgeable and helpful? Will they answer your questions?

How in-depth does their boxing program go?

Does it cater exclusively to beginners? Is there a growth opportunity once you’ve reached a certain point in your skills? Do they compete often, are they nationally ranked, do they have a team? There are all factors that should play into your decision. If you want to become a professional boxer, make sure the gym’s boxing program can actually take you to that level.  

Do they offer multiple types of programs?

Do they only focus on boxing or are they offering other types of martial arts such as jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, Krav Maga, etc.? Chances are if they’re very diverse in their types of programs, they’re probably not going very in-depth into any of them. It’s a good idea to choose a gym that specializes in boxing if that’s what you’re trying to get better at. If there’s too much else going on, you’ll also likely to get distracted or pulled away towards something else. A jack of all trades in this case is likely to be a master of none.

5. Type of Program

Make sure you know exactly what overall type of program you’re looking for when trying to find a good boxing gym. Do they offer kids programs, family-style programs, competition-based programs? What are you actually after?

Is this a fitness related program or actually preparing you for fights?

Think about what your goal is here. Are you trying to just use boxing as a way to get in shape or are you interested in actually learning the technicalities of the art? Make sure you choose a gym that teaches REAL boxing, not just ‘cardio boxing’ or ‘boxing for fitness’. These might be easier to find and more plentiful, but if you’re trying to become a fighter, you’re not going to find what you’re looking for here.

Hours of Operation

Again, this is pretty straightforward but still something to think about. Sometimes morning training sessions might be less crowded than those in the afternoons. Sometimes gyms might offer multiple training classes a day. Find a gym with hours that fit your schedule and that you can commit to.

6. Mainstream or Lowkey

When you’re trying to find a good boxing gym, you might be tempted to just choose the biggest or the most well-known one in your area. I urge you to dig a little deeper and do some research. Just because a gym is very popular doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the best fit for you.

Is this a gym everyone knows about?

Very well-known gyms might be less personal, and might be more geared towards just trying to make money and run a business. Just because a gym is world-famous doesn’t necessarily mean it would be a great fit for you. Sure, you can tell your friends you trained in the same room as famous fighters, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for your journey. Mainstream gyms might also have more expensive equipment and as a result, a much higher tuition.

Is it a smaller gym?

You might surprised to hear that the size of the gym doesn’t matter as much as the quality of what you’re getting out of it. Smaller gyms might actually be more serious about building real fighters than larger gyms. You’re also going to be more likely to find a tighter-knit community in a smaller gym. If a family feel is what you’re after, this may be a better choice for you. Some of my best fight camps were done in a gym the size of a garage.

7. Cost

As you know by now, there are several things to factor in when trying to find a good boxing gym. Cost is one of them. Make sure to find out the coach’s rate and see if it’s something that fits into your budget. Take a look at the equipment the gym is stocked with. If they’ve got the latest and greatest fancy equipment, chances are their rates are going to reflect that. If cost is an issue to you, it’s probably a good idea to check out a smaller gym with older (but still functional) equipment. You’re not going to need a shiny new punching bag.

Some gyms will also require you to buy their merchandise in order to train there. Check to see if the gyms you’re considering have such requirements.

One additional thing to consider in terms of cost is transportation. Factor in the cost of gas or public transport when you’re seeing if a gym will fit into your budget.

Action Always Beats Inaction

At the end of the day, just get inside a gym and figure out if it works for you. Research is important, but application is even more important. You’ll get a much better idea of they type of gym you need once you actually get inside one. Take the leap, as always you’ll figure it out along the way. If you try a gym and it doesn’t really suit you, don’t be afraid to switch it up. Once you find the right place for you, stick to it. I stayed at my gym for 15 years. No one likes a gym hopper (a person who’s literally trained extensively at every gym in their area with no loyalty to their coaches who invest time into them). Gym owners talk amongst themselves and you don’t want to have a bad reputation.

Want to increase your knowledge before you find a good boxing gym?

If you enjoy this blog, have any questions or suggestions for future posts, please don’t hesitate to contact me at budoboxing@gmail.com.