I love this place! Lost a stone and a half and everybody was happy for me, especially the wife…read more Crowd is mixed, local, expatriate, prices are superb and definitely no ripping off. Had horrible experiences at other Makati boxing clubs and Empire represents Filipino hospitality! 24 hours and no appointments needed. 5 stars.

As recently being part of the work force, the value of time has become very important to me and…read morehaving time for my daily workout was something that I really had to put effort and plan for as of late because of busy working schedules. Thank god for Empire Boxing because this is also just but a mere walking distance from where I work, and apart from that, they are open 24 hours. Yes! 24 hours! So even if I get so busy with work during the day, I need not to worry because I could still make it on time. The coaches here are friendly, accommodating and very efficient at what they do. I am especially thankful for my regular trainer because when I was still a student, he was already the one who trained me in a different boxing gym back then. More than boxing, they also offer Muay Thai and cross-training exercises. The owner of the gym is also usually there and extends effort to get to know his customers and also offers his help in doing certain workouts. What I like most about working out here is the overall atmosphere and vibe of the people working out there. Everyone is generally friendly and definitely not an intimidating place to be in.

Everyone seems to be getting fit nowadays and I believe that there is no better way of doing it…read moreother than eating right and getting proper exercise. I was an active member of Elorde Boxing Gym in Don Antonio back in 2010 to 2013 and of all the sports that I've been involved to, Boxing and Muay Thai training is by far the most strenuous and most calorie-burning physical exercise for me. Elorde has definitely sweated a hell lot of fat from me! The biggest weight loss I had was with their Muay Thai and Boxing programs. For sure, you've seen a lot of Elorde branches around the metro. I've tried Lagro, Katipunan and Don Antonio branches and I can tell that all maintains quality services and facilities. All of the branches were accessible to me but I find it more comfortable and at home with the trainers in Don Antonio because they train beginners and advanced students better than the others that I've worked with. They know how to engage and motivate their students one step at a time with proper combat and martial arts discipline and eventually hardcore training! Also, the best part about Elorde training is the mandatory post work-out massage that's surely gonna pass you out. If you're looking for an indoor activity to sweat you out this coming rainy season, I suggest you try Elorde Gym. To me, it's better to be fit with skill training than weights and other gym machines. You can check out www.elordeboxinggym.com for rates and details.

Boxing is arguably the most popular sport in the Philippines. The only other sport that can…read moredethrone boxing is basketball. Unlike basketball, boxing can't be played by majority of Filipinos. But because of a little someone named Manny Pacquiao, the sport of boxing has a permanent place in every Filipino's heart. For those of you that want to try your hand at the sport, you must visit Ala Gym Boxing. Located along Balete Drive in New Manila, the gym aims to encourage both beginners and advanced athletes to not only try boxing but to make it a part of their daily routine. Ala Gym has all the usual equipment that can be found in a boxing gym: punching bags, speed balls, jump ropes, stretching bands, and a circuit routine. They even have 2 small boxing rings where the trainers can show you how to spar. The gym has ample training space so even if there's a lot of boxers, you won't feel suffocated. I enrolled at Ala Gym for a trial session. I paid 4,000 for a month's worth of access to their gym. They have different pricing schemes that can suit your available workout time. They also have a summer promo: 3,500 for unlimited workouts for 1 month. Take away: a clean gym where you can focus on fitness. Aside from the awesome boxing equipment, the best thing about this gym are the trainers. They're friendly and encouraging. They even won't mind having a drink with you when they close shop!

I've been going to this gym since 2012. Honestly, I'm really not athletic nor physical activity…read more Back in high school and college, Physical Education was my least favorite subject (practically failed the subject). BUT, when I started working, I started to feel the "heaviness" of my over-eating and over-drinking lifestyle. So, I guess it was a wake up call to lose weight and get fit! I tried out the gym (which BORED me!), spinning classes and even those calorie-count diets. None of these kept my interest. Then, a friend invited me to try out Boxing. During that time, PacMan was at the peak of his career. So, everyone was boxing for fitness or trying to be amateur boxers. For me, I thought it would be cool to wear wraps and just punch the heavy bags. :) My very first day at the gym was quite memorable. In a room full of guys, I was just 1 of 3 girls. Each student was assigned a personal trainer; I got Coach Steve. It was pretty easy at first: warm up, stretching, putting on the wraps. Then, he taught me the basic footwork + stance. When he saw I was comfy, we started with the punches. This went on for about 3 minutes (Round 1). Before Round 2 started, Coach Steve told me, "Ma'am, ang hina ng suntok mo. Ilabas mo galit mo! (Ma'am, you're punch is weak. Unleash your stress/anger!)". That surprised me! So, I DID! I just let it ALL out! He kept at it until we reached a total of 6 Rounds with the mits, 3 Rounds with the heavy bag, 3 Rounds with the hanging ball + an Ab Workout. I was sooo TIRED but happy that I even finished ALL of that on my very first day! After that, I was hooked. It's been 3 years and Coach Steve is still my trainer! Enjoying something is probably the number one reason why you'll stick to any routine and get better at it too. For me, boxing is FUN! Boxing is my workout and stress-reliever. Try it for yourself! Who knows, boxing could be that awesome exercise you've always wanted. :D P.S. - the reason I'm giving this a 4-Star is because the gym isn't a high-end gym. It's more like a boxer's stable. So, don't expect it to be clean and air-conditioned. The grunginess adds to the charm.

The Good: They have the best trainers, regardless of your skill level…read more The Bad: The showers leave much to be desired The Pro-Tip: If it's your first time, look for Steve or Powell! I've always been a fan of fighting! Even when I was a kid, I would spend summers learning Japanese Martial Arts like Aikido or Judo. Too bad boxing wasn't so big back then! Fast forward to decades later - here I am, looking for alternative sports to augment my boring gym routine. I lucked upon a friend who does boxing. He invited me to his gym which happened to be near my office so I decided, why the heck not? It was love at first sight! There are a lot of things I love about boxing: the science behind it, the discipline, the practicality. And yes of course, the workout! Boxing is a great form of exercise! It combines both aerobic and anaerobic workouts. Plus, it's very much scalable to your fitness level. Oh, and did I mention that hitting stuff is a great way to relieve stress? Onto the gym itself: Elorde Ortigas is very spacious. One of the biggest boxing gyms I've been to! Their prices are very reasonable specially since all training sessions are one-on-one. Since it's an Elorde gym, you know that you're getting the best professional training - all of their trainers are pro fighters or pro coaches (one of the perks of being in the Philippines). My one negative about this place are the showers. There's only one shower stall and it's not exactly the cleanest. So, shower at home if you have the option to! Will we be coming back? Yes, at least 3 times a week!

When my friends and I finalized plans to go to the beach for the summer, it was time to get that…read morebeach body (or as close to it as possible). My girlfriend suggested that I check out Sarreal, since her younger sister trains there. Before my first training session, I really had zero expectations on how a boxing lesson goes. As soon as I got changed, the trainer instructed me to do the same warm-up as my girlfriend's sister. I followed her as close as I could, and after the warm-up, I was already breaking a sweat. Little did I know that I had to repeat that warm-up three times. Crap, I'm in trouble. What followed was repetition after repetition, and it just never seemed to end. When the three sets were finally over, we started stretching, before the actual sparring. I was taught how to box and throw a proper punch. Going at it slowly, one by one, was no sweat. However, when the trainer started teaching combinations, and put me in the ring for two full minutes, I was exhausted. I mean, I knew how hard it was to train to be a professional boxer, but I had no idea how much cardio you need (not to mention building up the other muscles) to survive a round. After what felt like forever, we weren't done. The trainer told us to lift weights and do some body weight exercises, which included push-ups and crunches. The feeling after any good workout is indescribable, and in this case, no pain is really no gain. When planning to train here, make sure to set aside a couple hours for the day, as you'll really get the most out of what you pay for each session. Don't forget to tip the trainers!

Ka Pow! Fight factory BGC, kind of pricey compared to most gyms…read more But you know the saying, "you get what you pay for" I've been to a ton of boxing gyms in the Philippines this is definitely in my top 2. Equipment is in good condition wherein other gyms there's holes in the heavy bags it speed balls. They have weights, cones, ladder, battle rope! - make sure to ask to use some of their other equipment to get your best workout. - comparing this place to some of the gyms in California it's top notch. - 1 on 1 mitt training in a California gym can cost up to 30 dollars a session here it's way more affordable. - there's shower facilities - gender friendly - all the trainers are nice and helpful. Also I lost five pounds in about two weeks !

The trainers here do not give a damn what you think, they really will put you through the most…read moregrueling workout until you keel over from exhaustion, and it's just what I need to not need a forklift to carry my coffin when I die, instead of a hearse. I'm an admittedly, um, horizontally-challenged individual, and I wanted to get fitter, and I thought it would be nice to lose some weight while also learning something. Boxing seemed a solid way to go, so one afternoon I headed to the Elorde Boxing Gym in front of La Salle and signed up for one session with a trainer. I thought he'd just show me the ropes and let me ease into what I hoped would be a nice routine. I was wrong. He made me run lap after lap around the gym, and THEN we went through rigorous warm-up routines. Before the warm-up was even over, I was puking my guts out in the bathroom. But I soldiered on. I did shadow-boxing drills over and over again, and then he paired me up with a petite college girl who then proceeded to wipe the floor with me a la Scarlett Johansson and Jon Favreau in Iron Man 2. It was humiliating, and I haven't gone back since. But that's more of a reflection on me than it was on the gym. There's no false advertising here. They give you what they say they'll give you. There's no coddling, no extended rests. You sweat and you lose weight. Nothing less.

It started out as a random thought in one of our many conversations, but I'd like to thank my best…read morefriend for actually getting me to do Pilates this summer at White Space, because there's just so much to love about it. We were total beginners with no clue what was in store when we signed up for a trial. Now four regular sessions in, Mondays and Wednesdays have become our favorite days of the week because of them. Our wonderful instructor, Rissah, has a meditative approach to teaching the class. I love how we do warm-up and cool-down centering to send our daily worries away as we slowly melt into our mats. I love how some workflows are intense and others are more relaxed as she adjusts the main exercises for the night depending on the general mood of her students. I love how, even if I'm sore from all my muscles being stretched out to the max, I still have a fulfilled smile on my face when the hour's up. This beautiful space is more than just a weekly reminder to stay healthy, inspired, strong, focused, and mindful about myself and everything around me. I guess I've found my happy place.