Near Taft Avenue is this old building that no one seems to notice is a training center of…read moreworld-class martial arts athletes. The Wushu Federation Philippines is a 5-storey building that houses the Philippine Wushu Team, who have been representing the country and winning medals left and right. On the top floor is the training ground for the team, with carpeted floors and dormitories for the athletes, most of whom have little funding for housing. The Wushu Federation also offers classes year-round for those interested in learning the art of wushu (fire-bending, in geek speak) and tai ji (water-bending). Their trainers and coaches are among the top in the world, making the athletes in the Philippines among the top in the international competition scene. One has to wonder then... Why do they have this decrepit and barely noticeable building? :(

Returned yesterday after too much time away, and I'm happy to say that the place is a lot nicer…read morenow! One, there is an actual floor. Two, it doesn't reek of sweat. Three, the ventilation has improved significantly, which is a blessing in this tropical country. Four, the bathroom is a lot cleaner now and one shower stall even has a curtain. Because I badly need to relax and get a change of pace for vacation, I went to inquire about the free trial classes. The lady at the front desk who gave me a tour of the renovated gym and explained the payment options and package deals was really nice. And, as expected, the teachers are the best of the best. Oh god, I nearly had a heart attack from awe and terror when I learned the muay thai coach is Red Romero, the current URCC featherweight champion (he'll be defending his title in July!). My fears were unfounded though, as he's very nice too. The workout he gave the class was hell, but that's what I signed up for. This summer is gonna be fun. Fun side note: the boxing coach remembered me from when I used to take capoeira here!

I have nothing but positive remarks about FIST GYM. The atmosphere screams hard work and…read morededication will get you results. The coaching staff are patient and considerate. They will breakdown techniques for you and help you step by step. As a foreigner looking for a BJJ gym to continue my training I couldn't have found a better spot. This is the gym for anyone who wants to work hard. I look forward to training at FIST GYM when I go back to Manila.

Best Muay Thai gym in Metro Manila! They have a syllabus from beginners to advance. Other Muay Thai…read moregyms just teach you how to do jab-straight-kick and it becomes a monotonous routine. Fist Gym trainers adhere to a set of standards that really teaches you the art of Muay Thai. Great for fitness enthusiasts and for competitive athletes as well!

Wonderful gym when visiting Manila. 700 pesos for a pad workout and tips from talented instructors…read more The instructors are knowledgeable fighters with tips to increase speed and power. Have visited gyms globally for over 45 years and I like fitting a quick daily workout in during visits to Manila. Nice people focused on the art of fighting.

Great place to train. Coach and students were very welcoming. I'll be training here whenever I…read moretravel. Added bonus: showers!!!!

I love Muay Thai. Doesnt matter that it kicks my ass all the time and my lungs cant take the…read morepressure. I love the fact that it's a deadly dance that uses the art of eight limbs to inflict maximum damage. But. I cant train anywhere else. Or with any other Kru for that matter. I get real shyyyyy. For real. I will always be indebted to Kru Dante for showing me the art of the dance, the grace that comes with delivering a well-placed roundhouse, and the strength needed to endure the pain that comes with it. I am forever grateful to Kru Dante for his patience, training, discipline. Each session is a world of learning and even if i go home battered and bruised after sparring with large men with ripped chests, thick limbs, and a grin like a black eye waiting to happen, it will always be fun. Sa King's Den, bawal ang pagod! No pain no gain!

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.

I got mugged one time while riding a jeep, and that memory of having a knife pressed to my cheek is…read morestill one of the most haunting experiences that I have ever had. That incident gave me a little bit of a trauma, and I felt helpless and defenseless for a while. I posted about it on my Facebook, and then days later, I got an invite to a self-defense class that was organized by a friend's mom. It turns out that friend was almost abducted by a gang while she was heading to her car in a parking garage. These are scary times that we are living in, and it is always a comfort to be able to rest in the fact that you know how to defend yourself in case ill fortune has it that you will encounter bad forces in this rather gritty city of ours. The self defense class that I attended was taught by the members of IKMF. I had karate when I was little, but that was about it. I was glad that IKMF taught basics, and in that two-hour class, I was able to learn a lot about the basics of safety and self defense. I appreciated the fact that they taught us to read the situation and not get into defense mode if you clearly can't overpower your attacker. Krav maga, the Israeli martial art and self defense discipline is wonderful in that it uses your body's natural instincts as a foundation for defending yourself during an attack. Basically, they have developed it in a way that it weaponizes your primal reactions to certain stimuli. In a span of two hours, the IKMF staff taught the class the basics of blocking and self-defense when attacked from different approaches. I don't ever hope to get mugged or attacked in the streets again, but at least now I know how to keep myself relatively safe just in case. I strongly urge everyone, especially women to take at least a basic self-defense course because you can never be too complacent. IKMF's basic class is enjoyable and fun, and you don't even have to have a background in any sport or martial art. It is also good exercise, and the IKMF staff can help you if you want to make a hobby or a sport out of it.

My husband wanted to practice some martial art here in Manila, but the classes should be close to…read moreour place. After some research, he discovered a fitness center just a walking distance from here (FTX Gym) that offers Krav Maga classes. Well, when he asked my opinion, the only think I knew about it is that it's an israeli self-defense technique. I had no idea it was possible to practice it inside a fitness center, so we both got curious and excited about that. The fact the classes are offered by the International Krav Maga Federation in the Philippines made us even more confident about the instructor's competence. Krav Maga is actually one of the most effective self-defense system offered today. It was originally created for military purposes in the early 50's and nowadays provides self-defense solutions also for the civil sector. Hubby enrolled in the class and practiced it for one month. He just quit it when our baby was born, but he intends to return as soon as possible. What I could notice is that Krav Maga training is never-ending and constantly improving. He told me classes are really amazing. First the instructor teach a set of self-defense tools and hen you're invited to put it in practice with your fellow classmates. Besides being an excellent technique to protect yourself, it's an awesome working out session as well. And the best part of it: instructors have always in mind that safety comes first!

Awesome and spacious! Great trainers but I think they can…read moreget a little distracted with the television. Since its new, the vicinity is clean. The bathroom is well maintained but I think they should have added an area where the clients can change into and out of attire. It's breezy and not so congested and hot inside unlike other gyms. They do NOT provide free water so take note on that, you will have to buy your hydration which makes sense business wise. Other than that, I would go back again and train with Kuya Pao for boxing!