If you’re one of those people who believe boxing for fitness programs have no place in a boxing gym, for the good of boxing, maybe you need to rethink your opinion. Boxing for fitness programs can be the most important component of any new boxing club or gym, providing the necessary funds and recruitment required to sustain any competitive boxing training program.
To date, I’ve focused How to Box primarily on the basics and direction for people looking to compete in the sport and have neglected those of you who aren’t interested in ever stepping foot in the ring. As the slogan says – "for fitness or competition", I will now be putting more effort into the boxing for fitness aspects of the site.
Much like the boxing tips portion of How to Box, I’m now launching boxing for fitness principles that are going to be focused on general fitness and how boxing can help you achieve your fitness goals whether that is to lose weight, add weight, increase athletic performance, or "insert requirement here". In my opinion, it is extremely important to grow a boxing for fitness culture in addition to cultivating boxers looking to compete both here and in offline clubs.
Are You Thinking of Opening a Boxing Club?
her own boxing and fitness
studio in Toronto.
Photo by ZaNiaC
If anyone out there is contemplating opening a boxing club, then don’t scoff at the importance of offering a boxing for fitness program. I know many gym owners that swear by their boxing for fitness curriculum and without it, would not be able to make it financially. A good, well attended boxing for fitness program will bring new boxers into your gym and fund your endeavours to train amateur boxers. Eventually, a small percentage of the boxing for fitness crowd will be converted into full fledged amateur boxers once they get a taste for it. How many will depend on how good your program is.
You see, some people don’t want to fight and never will, but they do want the benefits that a boxing workout can provide. They want something different and have no intention of ever sparring with anyone, but the idea of hitting a heavybag or focus mitts, knowing they aren’t going to get hit back, is exciting and just what they need to stay motivated for their training program.
Only the best known boxing gyms are strictly boxing gyms. They have built reputations and businesses around popular, successful boxers. Unfortunately for any gym starting out, unless they happen to be promoting one of the top names in boxing, they cannot follow the same business model and succeed.
A Better Boxing Business Model
For a startup boxing club, in my opinion, the best business model is a hybrid type of fitness centre offering various aerobics classes, weight rooms, and so on, in addition to boxing training. These types of gyms cast a wider net, generating more leads and more business that will fuel their boxing program. Focusing only on boxing will lead to stunted gym growth and likely failure. Pinning your hopes on having the next Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis come walking through your door is not good business sense.
Like any business, it’s a numbers game — the more people that come through the door, the more funding you will have to play with and the better training you can offer your boxers so tha
