8 Lessons From Boxing on How to Build A Fitness Business that will Outlast the Fads

How can we create fitness centers that stand the test of time? Boxing is trending right now, but people were turning to boxing far before the rise in boutique fitness. We believe boxing will stay popular long after the next trend pops up too - because the pillars of boxing training are not fads and will always be relevant.?

There’s a lot to be learned from looking at what has stayed constant over the years. People will always desire safe places, effective workouts, fun experiences, and feeling a sense of accomplishment. Just as important as looking at history is having our finger on the pulse of what’s important to clients today - from personal transformation to community building. At Craft Boxing, we address these needs by implementing the time-tested pillars of an authentic boxing gym. Regardless of the modality you’re teaching, these pillars may spark ideas about how to create an experience that will keep your current members engaged and attract new faces, even as the trend cycle keeps moving.?

The Eight Pillars of Authentic Boxing Gyms

1. Authentic Trainers (Community Leadership): Find trainers who understand the difference between, teaching, training, and coaching your clients. And know when each approach is appropriate. This practical knowledge, coupled with belief in your organization's core values and a passion for the modality they are instructing, is the gold standard when it comes to community leadership.

2. Authentic Community: Encourage members to forge real friendships in the gym, and create organic opportunities for them to do so.?This is easier said than done. It CANNOT be an afterthought and your trainers MUST be bought in. It starts at the top.

3. Mentorship: Help your members connect with mentors within your community to learn from and look up to.?Peer to peer mentorship is powerful, but must be supported by liaisons (trainers) who understand how to match people properly.

4. Sense of Achievement: Show your members they are making progress, highlight this progress, and encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Before this can be important to them, you must show them that it is important to you as a gym owner. This cannot be token. Commit or don't do it at all.

5. The Space for Growth: Demonstrate the power of manifestation to your members through your team and your content. Fitness must be the by-product of a journey to achieving and maintaining confidence & emotional strength. Keep this motivation at the forefront of everything you do.

6. Giving Back: Create opportunities for members to give back to their peers and the community at large. There is no Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, or Sugar Ray Leonard, without a trainer who donated their time to give them a second chance at life. Giving back is contagious and one of the most powerful ways to strengthen the ties in your community.

7. Music & Rhythm: In boxing, rhythm is everything, and this doesn't mean just punching to the beat (which I find fun). Every space in your facility deserves it's own "theme music" and of course thoughtful music selection can take the atmosphere in your classes to the next level. Just like an authentic focus on community, music that connects with people and elevates their experience must not be an afterthought.

8. Space Matters: Cultivate a physical space that challenges, motivates, and provides a safe space for members. Do your members want to be there even when they have no desire to workout? They should.?Use this as your litmus test.

These pillars have helped us build a boxing experience that prioritizes members’ personal journeys and growth, and we hope you can use them to cultivate your next workout experience too. You can learn more about these pillars in our full article here, and watch out for our next article about how we activate these pillars at Craft Boxing.

What are the tenets of your gym that you think are most essential? Drop a comment below to let us know what you’d add to this list, or what you’re going to take with you.?