5 Things To Look For When Choosing A Boxing Gym
These days, many people consider taking up martial arts training, whether for health and fitness reasons, or to learn self-defence. Turns out, boxing is an amazing option for those looking to go any route.
Joining a boxing gym is the perfect gateway to martial arts training, to open you up to a wide world of martial arts disciplines you can try. It’s simple enough to pick up and learn quickly, and will reward your hard work and dedication with technique mastery.
But training is also predicated on the quality of the boxing gym you join. Fortunately, boxing in Singapore is very popular, and you can join a boxing class in some form at just about any gym. Still, choosing the right boxing gym for you is important, because not all boxing gyms are made equal.
There are a handful of things you need to consider before making the decision to join a boxing gym.
For those shopping around, whether in Singapore or anywhere else in the world, here’s a list of what to look for to help you make the right choice. Your pathway to great training depends on the choice that you make.
Today, Evolve Daily shares five things to look for when choosing a boxing gym.
1) Accessibility
The first thing you may want to consider is how close the gym is to your home, or at the very least, it should be located in between your routes. The bottom line is that it should be easy to go to and from the gym. The last thing you want is for a gym to be hard to get to. It’s just an added hurdle to stop you from actually going.
The next thing should be operating hours. Is the gym accessible during early mornings and late nights? Can you train on your own? How accessible is personal training? Does the gym have more than one branch and can you train at any location?
These are all necessary questions you should be asking yourself. Accessibility is one of the most important things you should be looking at. Before a boxing gym is good, it has to be accessible first.
2) Schedule of classes
Related to accessibility, you should also take a look at the schedule of classes available.
In any gym, there will be peak periods and off-peak periods, as most people work during the day, and only have time to work out after office hours. This makes the period between 6pm and 9pm the busiest of the day at the gym.
For those who are fortunate enough to work out during the day, expect a smaller crowd using the facilities. Boxing gyms also have a specific schedule laid out for classes.
You should be looking at a gym that offers classes in different capacities and levels. Beginner classes and advanced classes should be segregated. And there should be options for morning and evening training. Good boxing gyms will have multiple training schedules for different levels of skill.
Of course, a schedule is relative, and you have to choose a gym with a schedule that works for you in particular.
3) Instructors
Arguably the most important aspect of a good boxing gym is the quality of the instructor team leading the classes. Students can only be as good as the people charged with teaching them the basics of boxing. This should make instructor credentials a focal point in your decision to choose the right boxing gym for you.
Beyond just having a grocery list of qualifications, instructors should also be able to communicate well with their words and their body language. They should have experience in teaching students, patience, and a passion for passing on their knowledge to those willing to learn.
A standout boxing gym will feature an instructor team that is easily approachable, and courteous to its students. But at the same time, strict and heavily-invested in their students’ development.
4) Gym mates
Last but not least, a great boxing gym should have great students. There should be proper decorum and good behaviour in the gym. In fact, the people you train with should be as invested in your development as much as in theirs. Contrary to popular belief, martial arts is not just a solo undertaking. It’s a team sport.
To enjoy your time in training, you have to be able to get along with your gym mates. These are the people you’ll be down in the trenches with, pushing each other to the limit and overcoming obstacles on a daily basis. Gym mates are what keep you hooked on training. They will keep you coming back for more training.
It may be the last place you could think of to look for new friends, but the relationships built within the gym walls are some of the sturdiest. Together, you’ll work towards achieving common goals and help each other progress in this journey.
This article, 5 Things To Look For When Choosing A Boxing Gym, originally appeared on Evolve MMA, Asia’s No. 1 martial arts organisation.
