Highly recommend! Have been working out here for over a year. Welcoming gym community. Aaron, the owner, is knowledgeable and patient. Beginners and skilled fighters are all welcomed. You can show up during gym hours and there is a routine listed on the chalkboard, including warmups, jump rope, shadow boxing routine, and a routine for the heavy bags. Then the coach on duty works with you on the mitts. If you are a beginner the coach on duty will walk you through everything and teach you proper form. More seasoned fighters have opportunities for sparring, if interested. Pricing is reasonable, and you can pay month-to-month. Happy to have found such a great spot, definitely recommend it! read more

Without a doubt the most rewarding and enjoyable workout experience I've ever had. Been a member (no contract; pay-as-you-go) for 4+ years now. I lost 30 pounds and have kept it off. Went from running an 11-minute mile pace to a best of 7:28 per mile largely because of the endurance and breathing techniques I've developed through boxing. I had never boxed before I joined this gym, but I was a competitive athlete until college. I joined because I wanted to get fit again after too many years of sedentary lifestyle, and now I'm in the best shape of my life. I feel happier and more confident. I love the sense of community this gym offers. A lot of the same folks, young professionals, men and women, have been coming here for years. New folks are always welcome. We help each other. Group workouts mean we suffer together. :-) Having a trainer creates a sense of accountability, too. I find it motivates me more than a regular gym. Our trainer knows what he's talking about, and he invests in every member, no matter the experience level or gender, any of that. As a testament to the quality of his training, we have three guys who have won belts and accolades like "All American." (Sparring is optional, though, and most people don't spar.) He runs this gym by himself, too, a small business owner. Offering trials or customized sessions would take his attention away from members, which wouldn't be fair. ** Yelpers may also notice from reading reviews that DBC has a loyal following of athletes who love this gym and our trainer. Negative reviews tend to come from salty people who have not spent real time at the gym and, quite frankly, have no idea what they are missing in terms of community and fitness. More bag time for the rest of us! read more

Downtown Boxing Club - Downtown Boxing Club - Boxing Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

This was my first boxing gym and I worked out here for about a year and a half. It has a few good things going for it (parking, convenience, etc.), but the place is honestly kind of a sinking ship at this point. I can't in good conscience recommend it... The owner, Dave White, was probably at one time an okay boxer/trainer. He is now on his last leg physically, but also sadly becoming more mentally ill each day. Dave comes off as strict or methodic at first. He is often described as "running a tight ship", or "old school", and that might have once described his demeanor; however, it's increasingly become just sporadic fits of yelling or feedback that doesn't seem to align with reality. For a good long while, I simply brushed this off and stayed the course because his gym is cheap and convenient to attend. I began to become concerned when he began expressing severe signs of paranoia and hostility. For example, for two weeks, out of nowhere, he made everyone keep their gear and change very close to where he sits, because he was sure that "people were stealing things". No one had heard of anyone ever having anything stolen. He also began becoming increasingly agitated when noticing anyone in the gym having conversations (before/after workouts) of which he was not included. You will notice him walking over to do things nearby to eavesdrop, as if he's having anxiety that people are talking about him. Dave has some sort of major issue with the owner of the gym that he shares space with. He forbids his students from working-out there (citing old school theory that lifting weights makes you a bad boxer). You'll see his sign on the wall. He takes it a step further by forbidding his students from talking or associating with the owner/workers at that gym, and even further by forbidding students from buying Gatorade from their desk. I've witnessed him have intense verbal altercations with the owner out of nowhere. This kind-of came to a head with me personally when Dave tried to forbid my visiting elderly dad (who has no association with Dave at all) from working out there through me. About once every week or two, Dave will randomly have an altercation with a student and "kick them out". This was where he began to take particular issue with me. He did it with a new guy who I saw working very hard. Dave randomly blew up on the guy and kicked him out because Dave said he was not progressing fast enough on day 2. I spoke with the guy a few minutes on his way out and tried to give him some encouragement. Dave was furious, later accused me of butting into his business, and called the guy a psycho, and thug (he was a very polite professional African American guy). I suspect he made Dave nervous because he was very large and African American. I've noticed this behavior to be much more frequent with African American students. If you are interested in ever competing in a tournament, this is not the place. Dave's Gym is actually not registered, nor is he a certified Corner-man with any boxing Assoc. Ask him about it and he goes on a rant about how they are garbage, take part in illegal activities, cheat, and how "you don't want to get involved with them". He will eventually kick you out if he suspects you're training for anything outside of his gym (seen it happen). You can learn how to box here, but not because of the owner, really more despite him. He has a decent beginner lesson that get you started week 1, but after that, most learning will come with repetition, watching others, and Youtube. You'll get 3-4 minutes of basic mitten work per class (if he has the energy that day) which will only consist of basic right straights, circling, and an occasional left jab. Personally I think this place will end with Dave having some sort of nervous breakdown as I see he is very quickly degrading to that end. It is very sad, but unfortunately the truth. I will be far away from it when that happens, boxing elsewhere. read more

This place was great when I was able to attend. It was exactly what I was looking for with a great workout and very informative and helpful guidance on form and technique. read more

I have been going here since November 2017 and can only say that it's old school and it's legit! The coach knows that every potential fighter needs to come in and learn it his way know matter if you've been trained elsewhere or not. In boxing, one must have patience. It isn't going to happen overnight. I've trained at other gyms but Downtown has been the best! It's grungy and basic but that's all you need. For fighters with experience, this is a place you come to when you need to get back to the basics or like in my case get rid of bad habits. Coach Dave is a stickler on being able to shoot the jab perfectly and sometimes it can wear on you but there's a saying, "A good Cross will take you around the block but a great Jab will take you around the world". read more

It's intimidating to go to a boxing class if you never have before, but Dave is great with beginners. He's not gonna go easy on you. He'll push you from the beginning, but he'll recognize your fitness level and adjust his training to suit your abilities. Be prepared to work. You can go to as many classes as you want so it may be busier when you go than other days. Saturday morning was the busiest I've seen it and that was only 8 people. As far as I'm concerned, it's the best gym membership in the city. No contracts, no push to buy personal training time, just simple hard work. read more

First off, Dave runs a no-nonsense gym, he's a completely dedicated trainer, he teaches you how to box, and if you're new to the sport, makes sure you know the basics and watches to start schooling you once you get them down. If youve trained before he will ask where/more questions and determine if your mindset is right for the gym. He's hardcore but also very friendly and adjusts his approach to each person depending on their skill level and pushes people when they need it. Second, the environment is very comfortable, and the people who go there are chill AF even while they are complete badasses in the ring. You can talk to others and there is a strong sense of camaraderie or keep to yourself and no one will bother you. For me coming to the club really has helped physically and mentally, a constructive outlet for aggression and stress while also getting me cut, helping my back pain by straightening core muscles in addition to self confidence and feeling mentally focused. Last, and similar to the honesty of the place...what it costs: paying what amounts to about 14$ for 10 sessions (less for students or pay by month) and time is key when you're hustling around in DC. read more

The negative reviews on here are such a joke. Yes, Dave doesn't let you do a trial, and yes, there is no room for customization because this is a real boxing gym, not a class pass. And it manages to be both a real boxing gym as well as an equal opportunity and welcoming, a rare combination. I had never boxed before when I walked in just under four years ago, I'm a woman, so was nervous at first, but I have been going to the Downtown Boxing Club ever since that first class. I've never had a better workout or atmosphere in my life. If you want ~~amenities~~ or an instructor that is going to holler inspirational phrases, do SoulCycle or SolidCore or yoga, I do all three from time to time, and I enjoy them, but that is not what the Downtown Boxing Club is. Of all the things I do to stay in shape, it remains my favorite, the thing I always come back to, and it is the best workout of them all. Nothing works better than real boxing training for building strength, speed, agility, and working out any stress you have. I've taken other boxing classes that are more focused on general fitness, and less on truly learning the techniques of boxing, and I have found that those classes really don't give you a sense of the depth of this sport. I will never do any real rounds fighting in the ring, but I appreciate Dave's effective, no frills style. Dave has not changed the workout format or flow for years because it works. WSJ did a profile of the workout a few years ago that still holds true today, the workout hasn't changed. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204831304576594962811221374 But even though the workout formate hasn't changed, getting to be in the ring doing mitt work with Dave every class, and learning real technique keeps it interesting and new every time (even after four years). One class I will be working on my speed, another class I'll be working on not dropping my right when I bring my hand back after a punch. If you are truly learning the sport's, like you do at DBC, it is never dull or repetitive. I value my time with Dave over any other workout in this city, and appreciate that he treats me exactly the same as everyone else in the gym, even though he isn't training me to be a fighter, and I'm in the best shape of my life. I have had some friends balk at not being able to do a free class, or anything like that, but what I have recommended to them (and would recommend to anyone who wants to give a real boxing gym a try), just pay the $110 and try one month. Take one month to learn how to really box. There are no contracts, nothing like that, and if you don't like it at the end of the month (which I doubt), you don't have to come back, but you will walk away with a new skill and a deeper understanding of the technique involved in a fascinating sport. read more

I found Downtown Boxing Club when I was a graduate intern in DC during the summer of 2015. Funny, it was actually through a quick "boxing gym" search through yelp, but apparently the original reviews were taken down since the Club move to from Mount Vernon to Union Market. Either way, here are my thoughts: Equipment and Location: Downtown Boxing Club does not have a locker room. It does not have showers or saunas. No one will smile at you at the door or welcome you when you walk in. You enter, wrap your wrists/hands up, do your warm ups, and hit the bags until Dave calls you into the ring to work mitts with him. This is as old-school as you can get in the age of modern day boxing gyms. People come here to learn how to fight. They learn to properly defend themselves, and how to build their foundations in boxing. That's it. Community: The camaraderie and sense of community here is extremely well balanced. If you want to train and left alone, there's a good chance that you can do just that for as long as you'd like. If you'd like to meet people and talk about the weekend HBO fights, there are plenty of friendly faces here to do just that. Here's how I can sum it up: The patrons are quiet, but they are kind. I've never witnessed any type of scuffle or altercation, and even the sparring sessions are coordinated in a manner where no one gets hurt; rather, fighters get closer to one another through helping each other improve in sparring under Dave's guidance. The one thing that fascinates me is the sheer range of education and professional backgrounds that exists within this boxing community: from tenured Georgetown Professors to interns to blue collar workers to World Bank Consultants and Ivy League MBA's, you've got someone from all walks of life in this gym! Coach: Dave is an old school trainer/boxer who has built one of the most loyal community-base of student-fighters that I have ever seen. He has the ability, patience, and the raw skill (not to mention years and years of experience) to train his fighters into becoming proper, respectable boxers. Many of the downtown boxing club fighters have been with Dave for 10+ years, following him to every nook in DC he has moved to. If you are willing to learn and willing to listen, Dave will teach you how to defend yourself and how to properly box. Last Point: There is nothing more empowering than to know that you've learned how to defend yourself, and that you CAN and WILL have the confidence in yourself to protect the people that you love in your life when it requires you to do so. This is the type of unfiltered, genuine skill that Dave provides to his students. His training regime is not a walk in the park, but it is life-changing, and it is the most fun I've ever had in a coach-guided sport in my life! read more

This is a great gym run by an awesome guy with tons of experience. Dave knows his boxing and wrestling, and is always up for a conversation about the latest in politics and the world. Only in DC! Recommended! read more

Dave White's Downtown Boxing Club is a phenomenal place to work out no matter what level you start at. When I began coming here around two years ago, I had never boxed in my life. Dave walked me through the basics patiently, working me all the way up to the full classes over time. Now, two year later, I'm in the gym 4 days a week and spar with other boxers regularly. Dave himself can be quite particular, and if you're not willing or able to follow his instructions exactly you might end up having a less good time. But if you're willing to follow instruction, come regularly, and build up trust and skill over time, it's hard to find a better community of people than the DBC crew. read more

This gym is perfect. If you're looking for a place to learn how to box and get the best workout of your life- this is your spot. Dave, the trainer, loves working with new people and gives everyone individual attention and instruction so your technique is solid and there's always ways to grow and advance your boxing. In particular to other women: I've always felt very comfortable and welcomed in this male-dominated space, even though when I started and I hadn't done physical activity in a long time. I recommend to anyone who wants a no-nonsense cathartic boxing environment where you can get in great shape and also enjoy the therapeutic benefits of releasing aggression- this is your spot! read more

This place is a joke. I am a competitive amateur boxer and I will never tell any person to come or attend this place. I walked in "green" as if I didn't know anything about boxing. I asked dave can I join, he gave me his spill about boxing. When I asked him about the fundamentals, he got up. When he got into his stance, I looked at him, knowing that he looked way off balance, footing was completely off. I will say that he did keep his hands up. Which is the obvious (hands down, man down). But this is what got me, when he threw his jab. In a high guard, he brought his hand to his waist and threw the jab. In my head, I began to laugh and say no way. Fast forward later on today, when I got into the ring to spar. It was "easy work" meaning easy opponents. I, later revealed that I am a competitive boxer and unfortunately this isn't the place for me. Been in several situations like this before not interested. If your looking for a "boxer-cise workout" i guess you can go, but you will be wasting your time and money. If your looking to really know the sport of boxing or competing, go somewhere else read more

I have been coming to Downtown Boxing Club for almost 4 years now. Best workout in town. Gym is open 7 days/week with very convenient workout times. Whether you are looking to simply get a good work out or learn boxing, this is the place to do it. Dave White is a phenomenal trainer. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

This place is terrible. He is running a services business and has no room for customization. His way or the highway. The gym has essentially no members. I showed up and there were 2 people working out. The only coach, yes they only have one coach, puts no effort into teaching his patrons. My guess is those two people we saw working out are getting their months worth then moving on. If you value your time spend it elsewhere. read more

Dave is as good as they come. Old-school vibe, with next level training. The best price for unlimited attendance in the entire city. Cannot say enough about how much I love this gym. read more

You will learn the basics of boxing and get a great workout in. Great for getting into shape, and there's always the option to spar or work in the ring with other people if you decide to. Dave, and everyone I've met here have been very supportive and friendly. Dave is cognizant of your experience and fitness level and will build your confidence. Can't say enough good things about DBC read more

This is probably the best boxing workout place for local working professionals in DC. It's the real deal for amateurs and intermediate folks. There's no spa, lockers, or showers. It's a large gritty warehouse with a ring, lots of boxing equipment, and an ex-boxer turned trainer who provides great mitt and punch training. The instruction and exercise is fantastic. And the community of members is also great. For what you pay, you can't find a better, stress-relieving workout than this. read more