One of the greatest boxing gyms in the greater Bay Area. Old school boxing, with old-school boxing rules. A true boxers, paradise. read more

King's Boxing Gym - William Sanders training in King's Boxing Gym with Jacari Wilson. - Boxing Near Me - Oakland, California

Best boxing experience I have ever had in my 30 years of boxing. Gym has everything a real boxer needs to sharpen their skills. Trainers are knowledgeable and approachable. Mrs. King is delightful and is vested in every athletes potential. Has a great community vibe! read more

Old-school boxing gym I read about this place in the 3/23/25 SF Chronicle newspaper and went to buy a t-shirt for a friend who is a long-time boxing aficionado. Located in a short cul de sac next to the frontage road just east of highway 880. Parking was haphazard. Was greeted by Celeste King, who owns and operates the gym now. Inside it's like a scene out of a boxing movie, old school and serious business. There's an elevated ring where two boxers were sparring, guys skipping rope, hitting the heavy & speed bags. Hundreds of posters and photos adorn the walls and ceilings, including ones that proclaim this the home of Andre Ward! I bought a t-shirt with their logo for a very reasonable $20. When my buddy visits me again I'll bring him here, he'll luv it no doubt. read more

See all

Extreme warning went to this place stopped in randomly looking for a new place to train. It's been more than 20 years and I wanted to get back into it. I showed up just as a walk in people were extremely rude borderline seemed racist so after leaving, I went online to do some research about this place. Apparently they've been open for quite a long time and after doing some digging, I see on social media that someone claiming to be the owner of this place is in fact extremely racist and sends hate messages from social media accounts, harassing ethnic groups and people based off their religion I saved screenshots and honestly I'm glad I left and sexual orientation . if I had kids I 100% would not want my kids training in a place that promotes the kind of ethics I saw promoting hate speech just outright disgusting read more

My 14 year old Son has been trying at Kings Gym for about 1 year. He has been welcomed by owners, trainers, and peers with open hands. This is a wonderful place and I highly recommend it to parents and young boxing students. read more

Love this place!!! Great Training, they al know what they are talking about let alone know the sport of Boxing read more

It was the best first time experience for me . I am an older women and all I do is work and raised up 2 kids who are now in college and now I wanna do something new and exciting. I'm glad I stopped by here . My instructor was so patient and helped me push to get the best result . I will be getting a membership here soon read more

Grew up on 22nd and 23rd Ave when king's was on 23rd. If you're from Oakland, then you know. When you wanna train, workout and focus in a pig iron, grit and grind setting with no joking allowed, then head to KINGS BOXING GYM. If you're scared to look exhausted, tired and worked out and trying to be cute and pretty, this might not be your spot. read more

Been here for a few years, straight up boxing gym. The Kings are the nicest owners. You come in here and its pretty much an open gym, unless you get a trainer that gets you right. read more

Having heard on the street that King's was the place to visit when it comes to boxing, I found myself in the Fruitvale District of Oakland, It took awhile to find, even the OPD assisted me. I entered and was greeted by Mrs King and within minutes, I spent the next 30 minutes being greeted by Mr. Charles King, it was like we were old friends. I was introduced to many of his trainers, and I was spell bound entering the major leagues of boxing. The Boxers were dedicated, lean and mean and sleek as the complete their daily routines. I met a man who I loaned my sweat pants for an hour as he had the same goal as I to visit and train. He had no shorts, he was just out of prison, his hour workout was an inspiration. I got my pants back and he told me with a smile "He Owed me One" I will return. read more

See all

You kidding me? Noone's reviewed KIng's?! Man, I wish I were sober enough to do this properly right now. Andre Ward, Killer, Mr. King, Tommy, Rio... Man, King's gym is Oakland. I can't do this right now. I'm back to finish and I'm sober so here goes a second jab: If you're looking for the best freaking deal in the world go to King's boxing gym in Oakland. Andre Ward trains there as well as a bunch of other pro fighters (and novices). It's cheap b/c it's a sweat gym that gives a lot of poor people a chance to make money w/ their fists. If you're new to boxing go train w/ Robert (Killer's dad). I think he charges around $60-75 a month. The gym's open Monday - Thursday 12-10pm. Robert's usually there in the early afternoon to closing. If you want to train in Muay Thai at King's, go to Jonas. You get more personal time with him and he's pretty good.~$75. read more

+ I've trained multiple disciplines throughout California and Europe. Mr.King's gym is pretty much the gold standard for me. Where most gyms have a coach teaching 10-20 students, King's gym is several coaches teaching a handful of students each. No gym that I have been to up to this point even remotely compares to the one-on-one time I've received here. Granted I can only speak from experience as a student under Mr.King, I would have no issue training under any of the other coaches I saw. The largest class under a single coach may have been 7-8 people at once, with the average being around 5 if I had to guess. Assuming you put in the effort you should see improvements at a solid rate. + Has showers + Accessible from BART + Good pricing compared to other gyms I've seen though you should always look around - Can get crowded during peak hours - Little to no comradery. Nobody here cares about your existence. Whether or not you consider this a con is subjective. I came to fight so this didn't bother me much but the lack of relationships between a lot of attendees was noticeable compared to some of the more traditional gyms I've been to for MT and Judo. read more

Kings, what can i say except that from day one I was greeted as family! I was so scared to go in and felt like I was stepping out of my comfort zone and i was, but when i walked in and spoke to Mrs. King she was a total sweetheart. She made me feel safe and comfortable and she LISTENED to what my goals were. i did a drop in the very next day and trained with Mr. King. 3 Months later i am still training with Mr. King and i don't plan on leaving any time soon. The gym facility is no fuss no muss, it is just a straight up gym, if you want to work out this is the place to do it with no distractions (unlike other gyms). This is not a singles crowd or a place to hook up, this is a place to make new friends and really learn about boxing. In the last 3 months I have pushed myself with the help of Mr. King to do things i never thought possible. While some say the neighbor hood is not safe, what place is? Anything can happen anywhere it is all a matter of perspective. When i leave the gym late at night Mr. King always offers to walk me to my car or gets one of the other guy's to walk me. I must say that as a female going into this type of gym was very intimidating but every trainer and athlete at Kings has made me feel part of their family and are always willing to give me pointers on how to improve my game. EVERYONE has a positive attitude and EVERYONE is welcome. This gym is the most diverse place I have ever been. The monthly fee is close to nothing and i don't think you will find a better deal anywhere! read more

Seedy neighborhood, stinky man smell gym, older equipment, no dedicated parking. This place is like Rocky-- old school, hard knock kinda feel. Super serious boxers and nothing else. No preening rooster weight lifters only focusing on their chiseled bodies but can't fight for shit, no lycra clad bimbos walking around just aspiring to become ring girls, no "bro" mentality here. Kinda felt like million dollar baby meets girl fight because there were no other women working out there when I went. Rough and focused workout, not misogynistic or held to any double standards. You're tired? Too bad. You need some water? Sweat enough so you deserve some. Very respectable gym. I feel like my toughness quotient went up after only a couple times training here. Monthly and daily rates are super affordable. No fuss, no gimmicks. Can you say Andre Ward? *drops mic* *feels dumb and picks mic back up* Ask for Frosty! He's very vocal and motivational, as well as being responsible for working me out so hard that I vomit, which is pretty much indicative of an awesome workout. He wraps your hands really well and makes sure you don't sustain any injuries while hitting or sparring. Former pro boxer, trained Deon Sanders, MC Hammer and the like, but generally he's mostly just a great standup kinda guy. read more

This gym is great, as "old school" as it gets. There are no towel/sauna services, no organic fragrances of citrus oil and luxurious amenities. Its straight up sweat, blood, guts, tears, pain of gain and hard work and thats what it smells like (well, it smells better than that in reality). There are posters of boxing greatness & gym's friends all over the walls. The clientele there is very mixed: women, men, kids, young & old folk. Various ethnic backgrounds & origins. The atmosphere in this gym is super friendly & non-hostile. A real family atmosphere! The gym is rather small, so you get to know the people there a little better after a while and you get to know the regulars. The gym gets rather packed during evening hours. Gym fees are super affordable. In fact, the fees are super low: only $40 per month (without trainer time). The gym also has lockers available for only $10 per month. This gym has a big significance for the local community: Mr. and Mrs. King work hard to give at-risk kids a safe environment to keep them off the streets and develop life skills to aid them in their future through the sport of boxing. In summary: A gritty, bare bones, no non-sense real deal boxing atmosphere. If you want to be pampered and spoiled, I would say this is not the best place for you. read more

I don't care where it is located.... I don't care that the parking stinks.... The is the BEST boxing gym on the WEST COAST. Period. These people train PROFESSIONAL boxers, yet they treat every member like family. read more

UPDATE*** They are now also open on Fridays A true old school gym. It's in the ghettos of Oakland, but that's exactly where a gym should be. Inside you'll find an area for weights, bags, and a ring. It looks and smells like a gym. Everyone that I've met so far is really friendly and helpful. You'll find a mix from the weekend warrior, people trying to lose a few pounds, to the serious amateur/pro boxer. It's a good mix of people. One thing I really like about this gym is the monthly fee of $55 with NO CONTRACT. So tired of all these gyms that make you "commit" for a year or longer. Hey, I'm just trying to get a workout I'm not looking for a long term relationship here. Included is your own personal trainer. Another flexible bonus is that there are no official classes, so you start when you show up! You come in and let your trainer know you are there, and you do some warm up drills and then begin. They are currently open M-Th from 12-10 pm. Get into shape and have blast while doing it. I actually look forward to getting my workout in. read more

I came here to be trained by Henry. Henry is the man! My best friend was going here long before I did and King's turned him into a great boxer. I was here mainly to cross train for soccer, track and cross-country. It is a great old school boxing gym: rugged, tough and has plenty of character. The prices are unbeatable and well worth the price for the level of workouts you get. It's a complete body workout from head to toes, literally. You need to move your head and stay on your toes and everything in between is finessed. Don't be scared and make the drive down there to work your ass off and the always useful skill of boxing if the occasion for it arises. read more

Good gym. If you want to get good at fighting, this is where you want to go. It has a good old school vibe and good gym atmosphere. Everything you need to become an elite boxer is here at kings. read more

I didn't stay long here because we moved from Oakland. However, this place is solid. It's your typical neighborhood, old skool boxing gym . .. it's rugged, it gets used, it's got personality. The trainers are good and the prices are very, very, very fair. Compared to the jacked-up rates that places like Crunch, Equinox, etc... charge (granted they are uppity type gyms) or even other boxing gyms i've frequented that charge close to $80 per month sans training sessions . . . King's got all those places beat. I'm biased towards mom & pop businesses and it's great to see this place has the feel and reputation that only a mom & pop shop can offer. read more

I've been a member of 24 hour fitness and Bladium, but never was able to get into the groove of going there and working out everyday like I do at King's. If you are serious and really want to work out and get healthy, this is the place to go, there is no BS. You work out, hard, sweat equity, and trust me you will sweat. I've been going to King's since September 15, 2008 and don't see any reason to stop going to King's, or go any where else. Everyone at King's, the members, trainers, Mr. and Mrs. King are family, I could never see myself leaving my family! read more

Never been to this gym but I was turned off by the biased prices they offered me and my boyfriend over the phone. I called asking for bare bones class price and was told upwards of $70 a month but when my boyfriend called he was offered $55 a month. Now we both asked for the same thing yet received very different rates...not cool! read more

This place RULES. No weekend cardio kickboxers, no strip mall MMA douchebaggery, just real Boxers (pro or otherwise) doing their thing. Like others have said, the environment may be lacking refinement - the bags are taped up, the equipment is worn, the floor is warped in spots, the smell is questionable, but that's cause Boxers WORK here. If aesthetics are a problem then don't box, ya know? The rates went up some, but the King's and their trainers put everything they have into this place simply for the love of the Sweet Science, so they deserve it. Ten Stars. read more

Love this place and love my trainer Frosty! I get a great work out each time I go and everyone there is friendly and it is such a positive environment. I'm a beginner in boxing and am much older than most of the guys in my group. However, I don't feel like everyone is judging me or smirking at me when I mess up or am not using proper technique. In fact, others will actually give you pointers to help you improve! The rates for gym membership and training are phenomenal compared to 24. I'm hoping to get in shape, relieve my stress, and just have fun! Frosty is motivational and pushes you to your limit. I can't say enough about this place. The only flipside is the parking. read more

King's Boxing Gym - The best trainers! Frosty is on the right - Boxing Near Me - Oakland, California

There is nothing bad to say about King's Gym -Family atmosphere, everyone is respectful -Mr and Mrs King are great people, who treat you very kindly -old school no nonsense feel -great, good, average, and beginning fighters -you can feel the history -great prices read more

This Gym is AWESOME Mr and Mrs. King are always around with smile and will remember your name. Ruben from phight club i think personally is one of the BEST trainers I've ever had. He really personalizes the workout for you and watches everything from your breathing to your stance really takes the time to make sure you get it right read more

Excellent old school gym. If I had no choice but to train to have serious striking hands as a pro fighter in the Bay Area, this is the nice rock-solid humble gym that can level up your game big-time. You're surrounded by very serious boxers who really focus on functional strength and proper techniques. Don't expect this place to have any distracting "luxuries". read more

I train at this gym regularly and love it here. No frills...just put your head down and get to work. Great folks, great trainers, and home of Andre Ward the Champ. Go here. read more

You're not going to find another boxing gym in the US with more character, experienced trainers and motivation oozing out of the walls from all of the greats that have trained there prior. From George Foreman to the current champ Andre Ward. You may come close in Philly... My two sons have been going for 3 years and I myself, on and off, for 1 year. This is the place to get it in. The feel is hard work and family. An occasional nod or fist bump from a stranger for noticeably pushing yourself. read more

I don't want to overstae it.But this is quite simply one of the best decisions I've ever made..If you really want to get in shape and work out with a real Boxing trainer This is the place..I've only been working out a month and I lost 8 lbs.This after working out 5 days a week at 24 hour fitness for months and losing very little.I can't stress enough of how good I feel.This is what I've been missing.Real Deal,Real Talk..Check it out!! read more

Perfect no bullshit boxing gym to work out. It's clean, full of friendly people, and you can grunt as loudly as you want, or not if you don't want to. Equipment is from the 80s. Music is from the 80s as well, blared through the one big speaker, disco, funk, soul, Michael Jackson, the works. Walls are covered from floor to ceiling with boxing posters from famous fights, and signed photos from legends, ranging from Muhammad Ali to Bob Dylan. Mr. King is the nicest guy you'll ever meet, and he's more than happy to share tips and tricks with you. This is the place where boxing champions were raised. Only drawback is it is not open on weekends. read more

This boxing gym is legendary. This place trains professional fighters, and has produced excellent fighters. Parking sucks during primetime hours. In East Oakland (the hood), right where a boxing gym should be. read more

Been going here about a week... Amazing place everyone has been friendly and the little training I've gotten so far has been top notch. I definitely recommend this place to everyone and anyone who is serious about boxing. read more

I say this without any exaggeration; I have never encountered an establishment where you are treated so kindly right from the moment you speak to someone. Mr. and Mrs. King are the nicest, most down-to-earth and professional people you will ever meet. Every member there will treat you as if you have been a member there for many years. If you want to learn how to box, even if just casually as in my case, this is the place to go. This is an old school boxing gym at its finest. If you've never stepped foot into a boxing gym, then this is everything you would expect from a hard nose, no frills gym. The 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and current WBA Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward trains here. Yet even the most beginner of boxers are welcomed with open arms. If you're serious about getting a great workout and learning the proper techniques of boxing, check this place out and speak with Mr or Mrs. King. read more

Great gym. Very reasonable rates and no contract. The instruction is top notch. Its what you expect a boxing gym to be like. You'll get out of it what you put in here thats for sure. read more

Mr. King is the best. I haven't been there in a while, but while I trained there, I got the best education. He is courteous and serious. If you are serious about boxing or working out, he and the other trainers will really show you the way. Each trainer has their own rate, but all reasonable. You can also just go there to work out also, but I recommend getting a trainer. This is a great place for men, women, and kids. Other big named gyn ain't got nothin' on Mr. King's place. I miss going there. The only reason I had to stop going was because I moved further away from Oakland. read more

This place is awesome! Very active and busy gym. I trained here a few years ago. I've been thinking about returning. Does anyone know if Robert Salinas still a trainer here? If not does anyone know where he is training now? read more

I have a few friends that went through King's and they became really good boxers. I went for a couple of months (summer before school) and really enjoyed it too. Good facility, not corporatish at all, mixed levels of abilities + ages + genders, extremely reasonable price (although I have no idea what the prices are any more), and opportunity for one-on-one training (and ultimately sparring) if you want. One caveat: King's offers other fight sports other than boxing, where the trainer might be a current fighter. A friend said that his trainer was too busy thinking about his own matches to pay him much attention. read more

Incredible place! The owner is such a gracious gentleman. I am going to join in a couple of weeks as that's when my schedule will allow. Excitedly looking forward to becoming more adept at the sweet science! read more

This gym is awesome. These people are real. No egos, no fakes. Old equipment and it's great.. Home of champions. Charles king is a cool guy too and walks around smiling and shaking hands. read more