Boxing class ONLY review:
As a newbie to the gyms of San Francisco and someone who attended only boxing classes for 2 years in LA previously, I was delghted when I saw the reviews for this studio and signed up for a class through Classpass right away.
The gym is a clean, spacious studio with conveniently spaced out bags and a lot of other equipment. Bathrooms and showers are good too.
First impressions:
Walking in as a first timer, I didn't feel too welcome, there wasn't anybody at the front desk. When I did catch someone and informed them it was my first time, I was only checked in, told where the bathrooms were and that's it :/.
That wouldn't bother me much anywhere else, but as a former receptionist that was something I'd never do to a client, especially a first-timer. Keep in mind I came in 15 minutes early and there was virtually no one at the gym.
Also something kind of funny happened before I started class. I wrapped myself up and the wraps are old so velcros don't stick so well and I'm used to using athletic tape to hold them better in place around the wrists. When explaining that I need tape to wrap around my wrists I was handed regular tape....for paper, so naturally I declined...lol
Lastly, the class:
my biggest 2 concerns with the class were: (1) trainer's indifference to form and technique of the class takers, (2) the "mitt-work" portion of the class.
(Credibility note: While being a member of the blxing gym in LA, I was cerified while working there. Besides that I gained loads of knowledge from boxing world champions, olympic medalists and other professionals)
1) The trainer's indifference really disappointed me because seeing some of the clients not working out in the proper form made me sad, because the clientele does not get the right workout in, and therefore the results they could be getting, if the trainer was just a bit more attentive and caring.
2) THE MITTWORK: I was so disappointed. Mitt-work is the most exciting part of a boxing class for me like it is for many. I have hit mitts with over 50 trainers while sticking to only 5. Holding mitts is not easy and one needs to be specially trained in order to do that. It takes a toll on one's wrists if the impact of the punch does not land correctly and can cause serious injury. Holding up gloves instead of mitts - oh lord...that's a trip to forever ruined wrists. Even as someone who has held actual mitts before and done classes, I found this part of the excercise to be very straining. As for being on the punching side, I was lucky to have a lovely client who teaches boxing elsewhere hold her gloves up for me for mittwork and she did amazing, but the thought of me ruining her wrists was distracting me the whole classtime and I could not focus on the workout as much as I wanted to.
In conclusion, I left sweaty and with a smile on my face at the time. As I had seen, the clients there enjoyed the workout and at the moment I was glad I was done and got some cardio into my day. I would have left this as it is, if it wasn't for the pain in my wrists and a pulled muscle for the next couple of days, which made even holding onto railings in public transport impossible. I just don't see how this could be in anyway controlled by the trainer. No client gets a proper workout in this sense and it just saddens me that the clients end up just injuring themselves, potentially mistaking the pain for soreness. This is a road straight to tendinitis if no proper form or proper mitts are used (at the very least - mitts). I'm not being a know it all and I only wish the best for everyone. I just want people who have nothing to compare to, to be able to get a good workout in and stay safe
I will not attend the boxing class anymore. However, I have heard amazing things about the TRX classes and would love to try them out if I'm not blacklisted after this review lol
To add: I loved the space and I think the equipment is great, and the staff (particularly Wayne and Andrew (apologies if misspelled)) is friendly and nice - just didnt put in the exra effort I expected but still really friendly! read more