Tucked away at the corner of 7th and Bellflower you'll find this hole-in-the-wall boxing gym. It doesn't look like much from the outside (and really not much from the inside either), but don't let the looks fool you, this is a gym that will give you one of the best workouts you've ever had, and teach you how to fight at the same time.
I say "fight" because a lot of people think of boxing as just a sport. But the skills I learned at DG Boxing were some of the most street-fight applicable techniques I've ever learned. And the manner in which boxing teaches you their techniques makes you a more effective fighter in a shorter period of time than many other traditional martial arts. I'm a firm believer that the way to learn to fight...is to actually fight. This sounds pretty obvious, but what you'll find at most martial arts schools is a lot of hitting pads and a lot of learning techniques, but not a lot of actual fighting/sparring at high speeds. It's a business decision that keeps paying customers uninjured and coming back to pay their dues. The downside is that you don't actually learn to fight. Imagine trying to learn to play basketball by doing imaginary drills in the air with no actual basket or ball and then trying to play a 5-on-5 game (Hint: It wouldn't be pretty). Boxing doesn't have that limitation. At DG Boxing I was able to get multiple rounds of sparring on a daily basis. During my rounds I was constantly monitored and critiqued by a knowledgeable trainer, often DG (Dave Gonzalez) himself. My standup striking has never improved as much as it did during my time at DG Boxing.
GREAT CARDIO WORKOUT:
For those not interested in the street-fight/martial arts side of boxing, DG Boxing definitely has you covered when it comes to getting a great cardio workout. Boxing gives you an incredible cardio workout with minimal injury and damage to your body. Of all the sports I've done (wrestling, basketball, baseball, etc) boxing gave me the best cardio workout while avoiding injuries (Editor's Note: wrestling was better workout but IT WILL break you). I lost over 10 pounds and it gave me a more lean, toned look than I had been able to get in the past.
A typical workout at DG Boxing consists of circuit training, where each fighter rotates through various boxing related stations to the count of a boxing round timer. So you can keep track of your workout by the number of rounds you survive. My old workout consisted of a warmup run by the man-made lake near the Rec golf course, a few rounds of jump rope, shadow boxing, and footwork. And then a few rounds of speed bag, double-end bag, and heavy bag. I'd try to get 3-6 rounds of sparring in each time depending on who was at the gym. Finally we'd finish with hitting the mits with a trainer in a one-on-one setting. I'd wrap up with a couple rounds of push-ups and situps before bidding the gym a farewell. Boxing workouts remind you that getting in great shape doesn't require a fancy gym or fancy apparatuses.
REASONABLE PRICING:
My time at DG Boxing was a little while back so I'm not sure how the current pricing works. But at the time I was there, the pricing seemed very fair and reasonable compared to other martial arts schools.
ONE-ON-ONE TRAINER:
DG is a small gym that gets you a lot of one-on-one time with the trainers. Usually you'll get DG himself, giving you pointers and tips on how to improve your technique. DG is a very laid back, likeable guy that really cares about his fighters. He's not the steroided-out, killing machine that you find at most gyms, but he has a really good eye for spotting problems with fighters and fixing them (the mark of a good trainer).
One disclaimer I would give is that DG's level of training will likely vary depending on your goals at the gym. If you're just there for some good cardio and to hit the bags a bit, you might not get as much attention from the trainers than if you're there to actually learn to box. So let DG know if you're serious about putting on the headgear and getting into the ring and make sure you get what you want out of the gym.
LIVING THE DREAM:
Another reviewer mentioned that this gym feels like a throwback gym of the 20's or 30's. I don't know if it's the gym or just boxing in general, but working out here definitely has that feel. It really feels like an old-school boxing gym where you're running in the footsteps of boxing greats. Or getting a chance to live out your Rocky dreams. And who knows? If you really enjoy it and have the desire, DG might just get you into a real boxing match or two, where you'll walk to the ring to the sound of your name getting announced on the PA and the cheers of your family and friends. Win or lose, I guarantee it'll be one of the most memorable experiences of your life!
This is a great, old-school boxing gym that is increasingly hard to find in the modern era. If you're a fan of boxing or just looking to get into great shape definitely give DG a try! read more