The Ring Boxing Club

A recent update to the Ring’s cancellation policy and now they are taking care of cancellations in house so it’ll be much easier than going through a third-​party vendor. Two thumbs up to the Ring for doing this!

I’ll be simple and objective to my experience at The Ring and am still a member there. By objective, I mean I will try my best to eliminate things that you could do better such as go to a gym on a regular basis, approaching coaches with your questions, etc.
The Pros:
The Ring has a great Groupon program which attracts lots of people (if you’re there to meet people, which I’m not a big fan of).
They have really good coaches to work with you (by good, I mostly mean fun which helps with motivation).
A place to park at nights and weekends.
Now the Cons:
If you’re not a Grouponer, think carefully before you sign up for a membership or you’ll be in a world of hurt attempting to cancel as the gym does not handle cancellation but it’s through a third-​party credit company.
It can get very crowded by Grouponers or newcomers.
Since most of the classes are back to back, it’s hard to find time to approach the coaches unless you time it correctly.
Lack of a functional/​comfortable water fountain (Yes, bring your own water).

It seems that most of these reviews are from people who do the groupon for a month, which is great but you’re getting the wrong perspective. I was part of the gym for a year and while paying the groupon price was great and those group classes were great at first down the line you realize this isn’t worth the price. There is a small section of the gym which is an actual gym with the weights and cardio equipment, but the gym gets so incredibly crowded with the grouponers that it’s impossible to use sometimes. The same goes for punching bags and speed bags, there are so many people it becomes impossible to use anything.
The trainers are all great, they’ll provide you with any advice or techniques IF you ask them, so it’s really on you to seek their advice. They also allow you to spar, it’s rough but really the best way to learn. If the groupon price was the actual price for year as opposed to the $ 149.99 monthly price.

I don’t know about you but to me, The Ring seems pretty commercialized and expensive. Here is what it came down to for me:
The Ring: $ 149 /​mo for unlimited access. Don’t think that the Groupons will take you far… you can only use them once at the Ring.
Boston Boxing and Fitness: $ 79 /​mo for unlimited access and classes. Also, the 3-​month boot camp is available to all members. At the end, you can participate in a boxing bout against other members. I have not looked for Groupons, but I don’t think there are any.
Anyways, The Ring loses even more points for me because I e-​mailed them through their website inquiring about the availability of student discounts. As a college student, my budget is limited and I just wanted to hear something from them. It’s now about one month later and I have yet to hear from The Ring.
So instead I checked out Boston Boxing & Fitness. It’s located in Brighton, which places both The Ring and Boston Boxing & Fitness at about the same distance from my home. Boston Boxing & Fitness is way more affordable at $ 79 per month for unlimited access to their classes and gym. The classes are awesome too… After only three weeks, I can already see results with more defined muscle and increased endurance. Not to mention that the exercise is super fun as you’re punching a bag. Boston Boxing seems like a better choice for me as a college student. Also, kudos to the owner who is super friendly and teaches classes there too.

I love boxing, and I read the reviews about The Ring and wanted to check it out. Fortunately, I found a Groupon deal for 5 classes for $ 35, and you get gloves and wraps with the deal! I got the Groupon and reserved my first Free Trial class.
I went to the Free Trial, and a former boxer «Kil» (one L, not two) was teaching. He was awesome. I really enjoyed his intensity, sarcasm and teaching style. And what was awesome was that once you completed your free trial class, you would get a week free… so I basically had about 2 weeks worth of visits which was perfect!
I came back the next day for a 12-​round class, and again, Kil was teaching it so it was super intense but so much fun. Now other people’s reviews about it being run-​down, stinky, etc… well, its a boxing gym, so that less luxury feel didn’t bother me at all. I don’t necessarily care if I can’t shower at the gym, as I prefer to shower in my own tub anyway. Also, maybe I’m just used to exorbitant gym fees, but I think their membership rates are super reasonable. And yes, the instructors do seem to do their own thing when you’re doing the exercise, and I can understand how that could annoy some people, but for me, it wasn’t the deal breaker.
Now heres the issue I had with this place, and this is what was the absolute deal breaker for me. Upon coming to my second 12-​round class, there was another male instructor… not sure what his name was, but it doesn’t matter at this point because I won’t be returning. We did a series of intense exercises, which I totally enjoyed, but I have a series of injuries that require me to modify certain moves, and for some reason, this wasn’t acceptable.
I’m a former barre instructor, and as a barre instructor form is the most important thing about an exercise. And when I would teach a class, if my clients had injuries, I would provide modifications so as to allow them an opportunity to still do a move without hurting themselves.
During the 12-​round class, we were told to do two sets of 50 pushups. I have a really bad back, and I get awful nerve pain in my shoulders, so if I’m required to do pushups, I often do them on my knees. The instructor saw this from across the gym (yes, he had walked away and gone to the other side), yelled at me for doing my pushups on my knees, and when I told him I had injuries and needed to modify, he told me to do elevated pushups against the ring. Uh, HELLO!!! I think I know my own body and I know what I can and can’t do. Tip #1 — try listening to your clients.
Next, he had us doing leg throws… this is where you lie on your back, hold onto the ankles of a person straddling your head, you lift both your legs and they throw your legs down towards the ground. You’re basically supposed to resist the force and bring your legs back up before they hit the ground. Again, this is fine for someone who doesn’t have nerve damage in their lower back. I told the girl I was working with about my back issue, and I proceeded to do leg lifts on my own, while supporting my lower back with my hands under my hips. The instructor comes by, asks what I’m doing, both the girl and I told him that my lower back hurts and I couldn’t do the move as instructed… this guy had nerve to look annoyed at me and shake his head. Tip #2 — don’t be a jerk.
My final issue with this place is that a lot of the exercises are extremely dangerous. Every gym has its inherent dangers, hence the reason you sign a waiver when you join. But in this particular class, this instructor had one of us doing sit-​ups while the other threw a 10lb medicine ball at our head — requiring us to catch the ball and throw it back. Now I’m not the most coordinated person, but I don’t care who you are, having a 10lb medicine ball thrown towards your head/​face as you’re lying down on the floor is not safe. Even if you end up catching it, the gravitational force on the ball may cause it to slip from your hands and BAM, your face is broken.
At the end of the day, I get that it’s a boxing gym, but not everyone is training to be Laila/​Muhammad Ali. How about just boxing for fitness, or just for fun? You don’t need to skimp on the intensity, but safety should be a concern! I do think they’re a great gym if you’re looking to become a fighter at some point in your life. But if you’re just a person trying to get in shape, you may be getting more (or less) than you bargained for!
Needless to say I never went back and forfeited my free Groupon classes. I don’t care though. It wasn’t worth it to me to be treated that way again, or potentially getting hurt. At least I got gloves/​wraps that I can use at the boxing classes at my current gym.
I really wanted to like this place, but after all that, I couldn’t. I’ll just stay at BFX (which is amazing). It costs more, but I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you get what you pay for… so I’m willing to do it!

The only tidbits you need to know:
John, the Irish expat super-​trainer will kick your ass.
There’s a guy named Kil («one L, not two», as he proudly reminded me) who will also kick your ass.
…but only in the best ways.
I’m a girl who pretty much has coasted on the «I’m a girl, I have crappy upper body strength, and boxing intimidates the f*ck out of me» for years… I’m a runner, a yoga + salsa dancing lover, and luckily, someone who will try pretty much anything once, be it Zumba, FlyWheel, Barre, tag football, or some variety of Bollywood dancing. Mostly trademark stuff with 99% female attendance.
But a few months ago, I thought, «Hey, I’m really stressed out and want to hit some shit.» Enter, The Ring.
They offer a 2 week trial, which is a great test of a) how much you like boxing, and b) how much you’ll actually come back. I took as many classes as possible to test the variety they offer, and I was pretty hooked with how much this kicked my ass every time.
They have 12-​round-​workout classes that pretty much put you through the ringer and really work your cardio and endurance. I’ve never sweated so much in my life. The trainers here are hard on you, but are insanely good at what they do – it’s kind of tough love. Yeah, they’ll make you do 100 of everything — sit-​ups, push-​ups, etc., and they’ll make you collectively do it all over again if someone in the group slacks/​cheats, but that’s the mentality you need to do anything as tough as boxing.
Then there’s the techniques class. Yes, my technique still sucks. But they know that. And they’re fixing it, slowly:).
John is a force to be reckoned with — he normally gives private lessons and intro classes, and took me into the ring once when it was a slow night. Had me WORKING — he moved around the ring a lot to help me improve my stance and agility and work that muscle memory of how to stay defensive, while on the offense at the same time. Somehow, I left that really wanting to watch the Rocky series all over again.
Needless to say, this place has turned me from a wuss to a pretty Bring It On, I’ve Got a Mean Right Hook girl. And I’ve got major #girlcrush on all the badass women who regularly train here — there are some serious forces to be reckoned with.

Did the one day free trial and received one week free… When first arriving it was chaotic, crowded and nosy … The first trial class was a great workout, however, it was hard to hear the instructor and follow what was going on… Learned the basics of boxing, did core work and leg work and definitely felt it the next day … Went back the next day and did the technique class with Rod (I highly recommend taking a class with him… It’s intense and he’ll make sure to push u to the max while making u laugh and sweat ur ass off)
Things to note: parking is limited and if u do drive, bring quarters for the meters or come on Sundays… They do have parking lots around that they recommend. Call and ask (if they even pick up the phone)…
— best to just take the trolley since it let’s u off right in front
— the ring stinks really bad but once u workout u get use to it (sometimes not)
— if u don’t have ur own hand wraps u can buy from them ($ 5 if u like their Facebook page And $ 10 if u don’t…so in reality the free week isn’t 100% free considering u NEED handwraps to workout with them during the free week… they do however let u use their handwraps on the first day
— bring a friend b. c u will get partnered off and to make it less awkward
— they let u use their boxing gloves (they are used and worn and smelly too)
— bring hand sanitizer, water and a towel
Overall I didn’t take advantage of the entire free week … But the experience was cool… Not paying for the membership and don’t plan on it… but I would definitely recommend anyone wanting to learn the basics of boxing and to get an effective workout to give it a try

Great fun workout, unfortunately they’re billing company sucks when it comes to canceling (they have an external company who handles everything), but once I called the ring, Owen was very helpful in canceling my membership.

My favorite activity at The Ring is watching ripped, 23-​year-​old college students whose primary athletic pastime is lifting heavy objects puke out their intestines during the cardio portion of 12-​round classes.
I’ve been going to The Ring for about four years. Before then, I tried Planet Fitness, the YMCA, and BSC in search of a worthwhile workout, but nothing really compares. Let’s face it, what your fat ass needs is a one-​armed man hitting you with a plastic bat while you run up and down very unsafe concrete staircases for an hour. This is what The Ring offers.
The Ring is basically a sweat mill where ex-​boxers teach an hour-​long class, every hour. The varieties are technique, 12-​round, sparring, and strength training, spread throughout the day. They all include extreme cardio workouts mixed with heavy bag or pad work, such as burpees, jump rope, mountain climbers, leg lifts, etc. Each trainer has his/​her own style, but all are very good at causing you pain.
In terms of layout, the place has two full-​sized rings, rows of those lame electronic bikes, a number of useless treadmills, two dozen heavy bags, three speed bags, and a small weights area with the usual array of boring exercise machines. Lots of long mirrors to observe your body failing at basic exercise. You don’t have to have any equipment other than wraps (they have grimy baskets of gloves, jump rope, and mats) but if you don’t like wearing other strangers’ sweat, you should bring your own. Get a Groupon that comes with gloves and wraps when you sign up to save money.
The Ring is about as clean as it can be given the constant rotation of sweating bodies. It is dirtier than BSC and Planet Fitness, but not as dirty as the YMCA in Central Square. The bathrooms are gross and should be avoided. No showers. Showers are for babies who can barely defeat the force of gravity. Are you a baby? Do you wear bright neon Nikes and a trendy tank top to the gym? *Baby.* Do not wear anything but a blood-​stained T-​shirt from high school and ratty shorts to the Ring. Anything else would be gauche.
The Ring costs around $ 130 a month if you want to go any day, or $ 99 a month for weekends. I know, that’s expensive. But then again, don’t you pay $ 130 a month to play CandyCrush on your cellphone? Priorities, layabout! This is America. Vanity comes first.
Speaking of vanity, there are as many ladies at The Ring as dudes. The Ring is not a frat house. But the ladies are more like Charlize Theron in Mad Max than pre-​law-​school Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, so don’t fuck with them. They have places to go and people to punch.
You don’t have to spar with people if you don’t want to (sparring has its own class that you have to deliberately decide to drop into), but don’t be a wimp! The worst that will happen is a bloody nose, and then you’ll have your wardrobe all set. Technique classes involve pad work, which means you use mitts with a partner. Strength training and 12-​round classes are basically the same, depending on who you train with.
As far as trainers go, they’re generally good-​natured and capable and only make fun of you because you suck and everyone knows it. When you get better they’ll eventually acknowledge you as something other than a sack of flab, but 90% of them are not actively competing and The Ring isn’t their full-​time job. So unless you want to shell out $ 100 an hour for one-​on-​one training, don’t expect them to care about you specifically. I did a one-​on-​one package with Jeff – the one-​armed bat-​wielding trainer who doesn’t give a crap if you need a drink of water after doing a hundred leg lifts – and it was fun. I still suck though.
So, to recap, cons of The Ring:
— It’s in Allston. (Like, who even wants to go there?)
— It costs a lot. (You CandyCrush slob!)
— It’s not super pristine like a bougie Vim Fitness gym that’s at the same price point. (But how many people there can jump rope for 30 minutes straight?)
— No matter how in shape you get from working out here, people will still say incredulously *You* box? because all they’ve ever seen of boxing champions is Stallone on steroids.
And the pros:
— You get intense, drop-​in classes every hour taught by ex-​boxers.
— It has all the basic exercise equipment you’d get at a regular gym, plus heavy bags.
— The workouts are varied, fun, and directed by professionals who will yell at you if you slack off, so you are motivated to come in and kick ass.
— You learn how to fight while you get in shape.
Get off the couch and go to Allston. The Ring will help you fend off the mutant hordes that live there. Always a plus.

I recently took advantage of the Free Trial offered on their website (
). All you need to do is sign up online, show up (sign a waiver and a staff member will wrap your hands) and follow directions from the instructor! I’d recommend arriving 10−15minutes prior to the scheduled class to get all set-​up. Along with the free trial, you get a free week membership to their gym.
This was my first experience boxing. I was expecting to ‘punch a bag’ for an hour, but it was so much more! It was a great workout! My instructor was John — he was great! He had a full hour workout planned for us including push-​ups, jumping jacks, skipping rope, high knees, and of course, punching a bag! He keeps you moving the entire time. He made sure to go around to each individual to correct their posture or technique and give them tips. When it came time to punching/​boxing, he went through the techniques step by step. It’s easy to follow along if you’ve never been exposed to it.
I took his class again today because I enjoyed it so much the first time. I thought I had the hang of it, but it kicked my ass again! I was drenched in sweat within the first 15 minutes. I would highly recommend giving it a try — you certainly won’t regret it after John’s class. As hard as it is, it motivates you to come back for more. They have a variety of regular scheduled workout classes throughout the week to suit your interest and work schedules.
If you are seeking a new gym, give this one a try! They also have regular workout equipment that you would find in any other gym.

This place is kind of intimidating at first, especially going alone as a woman, but I learned to love it. At first you are required to take an intro class, where you learn how to put on wraps, the basic punches, and do a bit of boxer conditioning training. After completing this, I only came for the 12 round workouts, which I highly recommend. They will kick your *ss! The first one I did was so intense I was sore for like a week after. No pain no gain, right?! The 12 round class is a mixture of boxing and conditioning (think cardio drills-​jump rope, sprints, hiit, mixed with bodyweight exercises and some weight use). Once you get the hang of the punches and sequences, it gets a lot easier. The instructors will push you and ensure you have a great workout.

I got a Groupon for 5 classes and thought it was pretty awesome. I hope they have a class-​pack option so I can come back (can’t financially commit to a second yearly gym membership)!
I especially loved classes with Jeff and Danny, but Jen and the other trainers also give you a great workout. There’s nothing like it. Everyone is there to work hard and get sweaty, and unlike some other, more trendy boxing gyms – you get what you pay for. They’re friendly and helpful to beginners, but at the same time push you to your personal best. The staff is always available to help confused newbies (me included) wrap hands, or improve technique.
My only complaint with the Groupon is that it expires two weeks after activation – BUT you do get a free week of unlimited before that 14 days kicks in. If you plan to get it when you know you’ll have time to make it there, go for it. You also get gloves and wraps with the deal, which is worth the $ 40 in itself! You won’t be disappointed!

Pow! Pow! Pow!
This gym is awesome. The one thing that I love most about it is the staff are very helpful and answer any and all questions. You must go through the Free Trial class first, which teaches you the correct formation, stance and vocabulary which are very important to know so you don’t end up hurting yourself or someone else. After that, you have free range to take whichever class your little fists desire.
After you learn the different punches/​jabs, you get the workout of all time utilizing a kettlebell and your own body strength. For this class I had Danny as an instructor and he was awesome. Very encouraging, motivating, friendly and easy on the eyes (yes, typical groupie comment, but its true and I wouldn’t be surprised if half the ladies in there were there just to see Danny).
The gym is very spacious with two rings and other equipment like treadmills, elliptical, bikes, etc. there’s plenty of room to have a few classes going on at once. It’s a great workout space.
Other notes:
Cubbies to store your belongings in during class.
Individual changing area with curtains.
Plenty of street parking on Comm. Ave.
The trainers let you go at your own speed. They don’t push you and start screaming/​spitting in your face like other places.

No showers. No lockers. Toilet is nasty; but a good gym. Good people. Good workout.

The place rocks. There’s no cooler workout than boxing and no cooler place to do it than The Ring. The coaches are legit boxers, unlike other places that use aerobic teachers, so you know your workout is for real. As you can imagine they’re colorful characters so you’re getting entertained at the same time which makes it go by quick. Like everyone says the T-​stop out front is the icing on the cake.

BACKGROUND & SUMMARY
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I purchased a Groupon for $ 70 or $ 80, which includes 1-​month unlimited use plus gloves & wraps.
I highly recommend trying this gym for at least one month and dedicating yourself to it during that time. It’s a great change of pace to the regular gym. Their classes will definitely test your stamina, endurance, and conditioning. The boxing experience is not one to be missed. However, I remain unconvinced it is worthwhile at their full price on a regular basis. It may be worthwhile to pay for one month at full price on an infrequent basis to take a break from your regular gym and keep your workouts varied. You will have to be proactive with asking questions or talking with the instructors to make sure you’re throwing your punches and doing exercises correctly, or you risk injury.
THE GOOD NEWS
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It’s a great change of pace from the usual running outside or going to the gym. The instructors are motivating and the workouts are intense. Each instructor bring something new to the table. The workouts are hard in the sense that it will likely be something your body is not used to, and thus be effective in improving endurance and strength as they push you from one workout to the next.
Additionally, they have a few treadmills and ellipticals, along with a decent set of free weights. Old-​fashioned solo gym time is always an option.
CONCERNS & CONSIDERATIONS
==========================
Peak Hours naturally happen during weekdays after work: classes are packed, and it’s always a mix of new and experienced people. The problem is the instructors are rarely as clear as they should be to the new folk about what exercise you’re supposed to do next, and how to do it. They also are not always attentive to making sure you’re doing the exercise correctly, which leads to inefficiency, bad habits, and possible injury.
My hypothesis for lack of attentiveness is the following: The cause is due to the owner’s business model, where newcomers are given one week free, and Groupons are reasonably available if you wait a little bit. People generally want to know that the work they put in will result in a tangible or visible return/​growth. In this case, coaches/​instructors see that return in growth in the improved performance of the students that go to learn boxing. It’s tough to see that when the gym is always flooded with temporary folks that they know will likely only come back for a couple more sessions before they never see them again. As a result, instructors can become disengaged. This is on top of the fact that it’s increasingly difficult for any single instructor to effectively teach larger classes.
Unlike other gyms (Boston Sports Club, Equinox, FitCorp) there are no lockers, showers, or towels. There are open cubs and two changing rooms.
TIPS & SUGGESTIONS
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(1) Vary your workout by changing instructors, even if it’s the same class. They have great instructors that each have their own idea of what types of workouts take priority.
(2) If you can, go during the early afternoon (and maybe the weekend? but I’ve never been) where fewer people go. This is important, especially for their Technique class. During those times, the instructors are much more willing to pay attention and make sure you’re doing things correctly.
(3) If you want to earn their respect and ultimately increase the chances that they will PAY ATTENTION TO AND HELP/​MOTIVATE YOU, then make sure you NEVER HALF-​ASS A WORKOUT. Always put your best attempt into each exercise you have to do. For example, if they tell you do 25 push-​ups but you can’t do it, then do as many as you can, take a short break, then do more. It’s better to do 20 push-​ups where you go all the way to the ground rather than 25 push-​ups where you only bring yourself half-​way to the ground. The instructors notice things like that. Besides, it’s to your benefit that you never half-​ass a workout, anyway. ;-)
(4) Be quick to identify which instructors phone in their classes and which will work to help you improve in both a class setting and a one-​on-​one conversation. Ask around. I may call out some of the instructors later on, but right now I’m going to keep an open mind.
(5) Be selective with who you partner with. Some workouts require that you partner up with another person. This can either be good or bad news for you. It’s not simply a matter of what level they are at relative to you. Some people just go through the motions, are always paying attention to the clock, or try to «cheat» to meet the instructor’s goal rather than focusing on getting the most efficient and effective workout.
(6) If you’re interested in self-​defense, take their «Intro to Sparring» class at least once. Do not think for a moment that taking a few classes learning how to throw a punch against a bag counts. You need to have the threat of a real punch for it to matter.

This is a 5-​star gym IF you go in with the correct expectation of getting a professional boxer’s level workout and joining to «get in the best shape of your life.» It is female friendly, there is workout equipment if you don’t want to be in a class, you show up for what you want and when you want without any barriers, you don’t need to buy your own gloves and the workouts are intense. The environment is clean, a lot of open space, and plenty of bags and tall mirrors. One intro lesson and you are off — no rising through the ranks, you pace your own attendance and the coaches push your workout. If you want to be coached into getting in great shape and need scheduling flexibility, this is THE gym.
I notice some of the bum reviews are focused on what this gym is not. If you’re looking for a highly technique-​focused boxing gym then you’d be a fool to sign up for The Ring and then complain. Come on… 90% of a class is using a communal supply for gloves and the website marketing banner is «Need an excuse to drink more beer?» I agree with Unilocalers that there isn’t a lot of directed technical instruction on boxing, but that is like bashing a strip club for a lack of family-​friendly décor. The Ring is not focused on turning your uncoordinated flabby thighs into the next Ali, it is focused on getting you in shape via boxing and it does a top-​notch, amazing job at this!
Things that didn’t sync with me but may not bother other people: Only once did an instructor (a blond female) ever walk the walk and participate with the class in the warm-​up, cool-​down exercises. Jeff is a fantastic people-​person, but is sometimes fantastic with people not in the class he is training — it comes off as inattentive. The staff is nice, but the front desk counter is high, and that staff is usually preoccupied with the computer screen. I can’t tell if they can’t see people coming in or just don’t greet customers, but you have to work a bit to catch their attention.

I came here recently for a free trial workout and totally loved it! I went with some friends who were a little more interested in the idea of boxing– I didn’t think punching things sounded particularly exciting or challenging. I was wrong, okay? Who’s perfect.
I consider myself to be in pretty good shape. I go to the gym a couple times a week, I’ve got reasonable endurance– but the beginners class really kicked my butt. Aside from the actual boxing, we did a bunch of other bootcamp-​style exercises that fit a whole lot of workout in a really short span of time. And of course, we boxed. That part was way more challenging than I thought, and also a wicked rush. Turns out, punching things IS really fun. I left the class real sweaty and my whole body was sore (in a good way, you know the feel). Twice the workout in half the time, complete with a crazy adrenaline rush!
I went on a weekend, late morning (my favorite time to work out), and the place wasn’t crowded at all. I got a great vibe both from the instructor and the other people in the class. I definitely plan to return soon, and can’t wait to see the results!

I had never considered going to a boxing gym before, I just pictured a bunch of big guys punching each other in the face (like a scene from Rocky). I was very surprised to see that half the members at The Ring are women! The trainers are very nice, helpful, and always put me through a really tough workout. They make working out fun and it’s a great way to relieve stress!
While I’ve been here, they’ve made a bunch of cool changes. They added this thing where members get to do some 1-​on-​1 training every week. Having a trainer do pads with me has made a huge difference in my boxing technique; now I feel like I know what I’m doing!
I am sure that some may think it’s expensive (it isn’t cheap) but its the best workout I’ve ever done! The classes are great, the environment is fun, plus it’s right across from the T!

I bought a Groupon for The Ring Boxing Club: $ 75 for one month unlimited plus gloves and wraps.
The idea of the gym is great; it is a small but nice looking gym with some killer work-​outs. I’m someone who enjoys getting my butt kicked so I was happy to say it’s been helpful in that aspect. I will go there until I finish my Groupon but there is no way I’m paying their membership fees.
Besides that, I can’t say I’m fully impressed. There is only one trainer that I loved (I can’t think of his name right now) but the others I’ve experienced just seem bored and would rather be elsewhere. Usually on their cellphones, speaking with people in the actual rings, and looking disinterested beyond belief.
Helping individual practitioners assure they are punching correctly is not a concern of the gym; they don’t have many safety cues or find importance in the progress of good boxing techniques. They just tell you what to do and expect that you’ll be fine. Lucky enough, I have been a group fitness instructor before and have a good idea of what to expect — but I’ve seen many people hurt themselves and wonder why because they think they are going through the motions correctly.
There is one woman at the front desk who is super nice and attentive. The past few men I’ve met at the front desk often let out a big sigh and a look of sincere disinterest before saying «give me your papers.» There is no «Hi» or «hey, how ya doin’?» Although, if you doll-​up before going to that gym, though, you will have their full attention. I, myself, am looking for a workout — not attention.
I don’t hate the place; they have a decent program and have the ability to make massive and positive jumps in gym improvements (working with the students, attention to details and progress, capping class sizes for introductions, safety cues and allowing room for group classes) but they need to jump on that bandwagon first — and considering their title of being such a great gym, I worry they will not make those changes any time soon.

If you want your ass kicked and want to get in shape, this place is for you.
If you are looking for a fancy, pristine gym that hands you towels or have other expectations, go elsewhere.
I hate working out. I hate treadmills, I hate running, and if we’re being honest here, I hate sweating. Somehow, I came to LOVE working out at The Ring. To say the classes are challenging would be an understatement. Seeing meatheads whimper as they try to finish a class is… entertaining. The coaches are… interesting. They flirt with the pretty girls and hit you with plastic bats and talk on their phones and mumble to themselves, but hey, that adds to the charm and doesn’t detract from getting your ass handed to you.
One downside: a lot of the coaches are too busy flirting/​texting/​mumbling to correct your form. I’ve had to ask the coach if I was doing something correct before, after which they stopped to watch me and point out what I was doing right/​wrong. So, if you want feedback, ask for it. They offer private instruction but it’s pricey. Inconvenient and not great training — but I’ll deal.
That being said, the front desk people are stellar. Owen in particular is a sweetheart and really helpful. Tip: be friends with him, he’s awesome. Don’t befriend the owner, though. He’s trouble.
As the name — BOXING CLUB — suggests, this is not a fancy, fully-​equipped gym. Apart from the rings and the boxing classes, there are a couple treadmills, some bikes, and a weightlifting area. Yes, the mats smell like guy sweat (and who knows how often they clean those). Classes get packed from around 6:30 — 8:30. The membership rates are EXPENSIVE, and there are several other boxing gyms in the area that provide the same classes (if not more). Regardless, it was one of the best investments I’ve made. So if you’re looking for somewhere you can get in the best shape of your life while learning useful boxing skills, look no further.

I finally found time in Jan/​Feb to use my Groupon, $ 69 for 1 month of unlimited classes at The Ring + gloves + hand wraps. Great deal for a taste of boxing but can’t justify the price of a long-​term membership.
I’d like to think I’m pretty fit and well, the classes still kicked my ass; I always left sweating, and sore the next day. In one month’s time (3 classes per week), I learned the basics, including punch combos 1 – 5, shadow boxing (in front of the mirror), mitt work, footwork, and even a little weaving. The classes always started off with skipping rope and ended with ab exercises. I took several classes with Jen, Big Tom, Nick, and Rod — all nice people and I believe two of them have fighting experience. I did not take any sparring classes with Tommy because I was not interested in getting a bloody nose or mouth (I saw a few of his students left the class with this nice present from him). Bring your own mouth guard if you plan to spar.
What I appreciate most: the genuinely nice trainers. Example: I was trying to teach myself to hit the speed bag and of course, it is flying all over the place. Thanks to them for approaching me and correcting my form, I don’t look like a fool anymore and can actually hit the damn thing at a steady beat.
Pros: They have cardio machines (treadmills and bikes) while most boxing gyms do not. Heavy bags everywhere and 3 speed bags. Lots of natural sunlight. Fairly clean environment. Street parking was never a problem and it’s T-​accessible. Female/​male ratio 40:60, not bad. Plus, great upbeat music.
Cons: Tiny lockers, several of which were broken. The individual mats were gross and reeked of sweat and bad b.o. No showers/​towels. Weeknight classes (esp. @6:30pm) were so packed that you’d have to share heavy bags with someone, who probably hates you already b/​c you accidentally whipped him with your jump rope.
Yes, the classes were a great workout, many calories were burned and I love boxing now. But in the end, I can and have repeated the entire workout on my own at my regular gym (which has a heavy bag and a speed bag) for half the price. There was minimal correction to form, limited contact with partners, not enough technique instruction, and zero self-​defense lessons. I attended a variety of classes and was never taught how to properly block an opponent’s jabs. I guess if you’re looking for boot camp style fitness classes where someone will push you with boxing drill commands, The Ring does the job, at a stiff price. For technical boxing skills — personal training or classes at a primarily fighter’s gym is the answer.

I came here with a groupon deal a while back. I wanted to join a gym but was unsure which one. I decided to do the one month at The Ring and see if I liked it.
The workouts are challenging. They have different classes that help you develop certain skills. I found all the employees to be friendly and always left there drenched in sweat and sore for a few days. Those are my kind of workouts. At the end of my trial period I was considering joining but the package I needed (which included weekends since I work during the week) was something like $ 139 a month. Wayyyy over my budget. Also from where I live/​work it’s inconvenient to to get here.
There aren’t a lot of cardio machines which kinda sucks, but then again the focus here is boxing. Honestly if The Ring were closer to me and cheaper I definitely would join because boxing is a lot of fun and such a good workout