Bloor Street Boxing and Fitness
Bloor Street Boxing and Fitness is one of Toronto's most iconic gyms. Founded by former lightweight National Champion Paul Ryan as a non profit to get kids off the streets, the gym started as a boxing gym with the ring, the bags and the facilities to train local youth into champions. That was back in 1993.
Since that time Bloor Boxing and Fitness has not only become a leading boxing training facility for competitive men and women fighters but it has also transformed into a full service fitness facility. The main floor boasts a good selection of machines, free weights and cardio equipment while the boxing ring and classes have moved upstairs.
Boxing classes take place every day of the week except Sunday. There are lots of punching bags to go around, but the real centerpiece is the ring itself - it's the same one that Mohammed Ali and Rocky Marciano battled in New York's Times Square.
The overall vibe seems pretty casual, in keeping with the no-attitude aesthetic the owner is looking for. Here it's all about the work-out and members tend to be drawn from the surrounding neighbourhoods - Parkdale, Roncesvalles and The Junction. Most people working out here are in their 20's or 30's but the actual membership spans from 16 to 75 years young. Music tends to be of the standard satellite radio variety and satellite TV's are embedded into most cardio machines.
Rates and Initiation Fee
The cost to join is fairly reasonable and will work out, on average, to be around $40. An initiation fee may apply depending on the length of the membership. The kicker is probably the mandatory $30 Fitness Assessment with a personal trainer. While this might be beneficial to some, the gym should really just do away with it and make it optional. Otherwise, it just stinks as a hidden initiation fee.
Towels, Lockers and Showers
For rates at this price point don't expect too many frills. This gym is strictly BYOT (Bring Your Own Towel) which works for some people but I'm probably not one of them. If I don't plan correctly I might be forced to occasionally dry myself with something a bit on the soggy and crusty side. The locker room is also bare bones and could use an update. An overnight locker costs $10 a month but day use is free. On the bright side, at least the showers aren't communal.
Personal Training, Yoga and Spin
The focus here is boxing which means don't join this gym for a wide range of other classes. They do offer yoga twice a week (it's included in the price) but there aren't any spinning bikes or classes. Personal training is available. Rates vary as there are several packages to choose from.
Food and Juice
The gym doesn't offer much to re-fuel at the moment but apparently they're planning to add a juice bar soon.
Worth Mentioning
The gym has boxing every day but Sundays. There's also salsa and Muay Thai.
Days and Hours of Operation
At the time of this post the gym is open Monday to Friday, 6:30am - 10pm; Saturday from 10am - 6pm and Sundays from 9am - 6pm. It's always best to check the web site for the most up to date info.
Discussion
25 Comments
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This gym is crap, a 300lb fat chick who can't even touch her feet is teaching a Boxing Class.No clue.
The equipment is Ok but 4 treadmills for a whole lot of people? The ring c'mon is a ring from goodwill and is not a pro ring. As a member I feel that the instructors suck an the owner is only out for a buck so once your a member you mean nothing.Do not join this gym for classes.
I am a member, and I think the class instructors not only motivate you to strive for your best performance, they actually take the time to talk to you about your technique as well as others in the class. I feel the problem is with some of the other "picky", disgruntled gym membes who often power trip over the equipment (i.e. "I know you've been using the treadmill for 15 minutes, but I signed my name on the reservation sheet 5 minutes ago...so please get off!").
It's so obvious management wrote the the third comment.
hahaha, you're hilarious. It's so obvious that Good Life fitness wrote that last one; and it's so obvious that you need to give people the benefit of the doubt. But I could be lying, and be an assistent manager, or manager, or maybe...just maybe, quite possibly, maybemaybemaybe, someone who genuinely digs the gym.
I'm a member at Bloor Street Boxing. I'm not a gym person particularly, but decided to finally do something about my interest in learning a new set of sport skills and how to punch, and I use the gym almost exclusively for classes.
In class situations, I find I get what I put into it. Some instructors are not big on technique, so in those classes, I take it on myself.
I have attended the early Saturday morning class a few times, and consider that instructor well qualified. She runs a very challenging class that is both physically and mentally demanding. There is significant focus on technique, and when you are not achieving the correct form, she is able to break down the movements to explain where and how you need to improve.
If you are considering joining and have doubts, I suggest you consider the times that you will likely be using the gym, and scope the place out at those times (not just one day). There is a free day pass available, and in the past there have been guest passes that last for one week. You need to be sure that this is a good fit for you, so I figure the staff should accept that you need more than a single visit to make the decision. It's just due diligence.
Perhaps since I've never joined a gym before, not having towel service, and having a tiny change room (women's anyway) is not a problem. I need to change, I need to shower. I don't want to pay for extras.
Well said, well said indeed! Regarding some of the more negative comments: I mean, what are you people looking for, a gym...or a spa?
I am a member and NOT part of their staff.
It all depends on why you're joining. Are you doing more weight training, are you looking to do classes, cardio, etc? For strictly weight training, it's really not that bad. My only complaint is that they have mostly 1 set of everything so this means you have to wait sometimes to get your turn. having said that, suprisingly it doesn't happen too often.
As for the classes, it's hit and miss, but mostly a miss. I'm sure there are some qualified instructors, but from my experience, it's not up to par for a gym that has BOXING in their company name. This gives off the illusion that this is a legit boxing facility, which it is not!! It's like signing up to Extreme Couture and finding out that it's his wife's brother's friend's cousin that's running classes instead of Couture himself or people he trains with.
I think this place has some potential, but at the moment, it seems like it's poorly run and maintained. I get the feeling that upper management doesn't really care about the gym at all.
Conclusion, if you're looking for a place to just lift some weights and bulk up, it's not so bad. However, anything beyond this, like classes, technique training, etc, you might want to look elsewhere. If you're looking to train as a boxer, this place is definately NOT the place to do it. Although it's hard to find other boxing facilities, do not sign up if you're serious about boxing.
I have been going to gyms for years. I just switched to this gym approx 2 months ago because I just moved close by. For me, I do alot of cardio and free weights and I ALWAYS can get on a cardio machine type of my choice at most any time of day. The free weights are standard. The classes I have gone to are few but I agree that the Saturday morning class is one of the most challenging workouts I've experienced. I'm not sure how it compares to technical boxing because I am not in it for the boxing part of it. On that note, I wish there were more types of classes in the evenings and on weekends. They just put together a new schedule and added some seemingly interesting classes but they are all during the day when most of us are at work. Overall though, if you are open to trying new stuff, the boxing works for a generally tough workout. And you're not gonna get all the "pretty" perks because you're not PAYING for it which is why the gym is cheaper than most others! Anyway, they gave me a free 5 day trial prior to making my decision about joining... just ask.
Same as Ports, I have been going to different gyms for years and just switched to Bloor boxing 4 months ago. So far, I like the gym and the classes. The staff are nice and friendly. As for the classes, I don't think they are aimed for the professional boxer but it's a tough work out.
People got disappointed when it didn't meet their expectation. I would suggest to get 7 day pass to try the classes and the gym before signing.
Don't expect a high-end gym for $30 a month.
I have a interest in boxing and the upstairs of this gym provides professional coaching for all interested. There is a ring upstairs and series of punching bags. Most importantly, the boxing trainers are very friendly, helpful. The treadmills may not be abundant however they are in brand new conditions equipped with individual television sets and radio. It is a great place to work out for people in the neighborhood. Highly recommend this gym to all.
The prices are now $41-50/mth. The billing system is so sketchy it seems they have no problem asking you to mail a cheque to a mailbox in Colorado. Without telling members they decided to cut back hours from 6:30am to 10pm to 9:30am-10pm - you thought they were 24 hours? They are if you pay an extra $30. The floor is always messy and the equipment is not well taken care of. Of 6 or so elliptical machines with LCD TVs, only 2 tvs are ever working, at least one of the elliptical machines is out-of-order.
I have been looking for a gym close to home for some time now and I came across Bloor Boxing. I noticed after reading all the comments that there are various opinions about this gym and it's equipments, class and trainers. I plan on going on in for the next couple of days and giving it a try. I'll post what I think once I give it a try.
Great gym! Great people! The gym is nor for everyone so try it out first!
Great post. I was going to write something similar. Will check this blog more often I think.
I have tried the Gym on a freebe trial. It is okay, simple layout, not very large, but also not busy so it does not feel crouded. It is a 24hr swipe system which is nice when you join, but if you are on tial, the staffed hours are harder to work around (for me at least). The membership is a little bit less then others, which is good because the equipment is in rough shape, most of the padded seats are split, some equipment is rusted and in need of tuning. I have not tried the boxing classes so I cannot comment on that, they have Muay Thai which I like, but that is supposed to be done with bare feed and the area where the bags are is dirty hardwood, so no solo kicking drills.
The best deal for membership is $200 one time payement (initiation i guess) then $25 a month after that. Aparently you never have to pay the $200 ever again, if true, $25/mth is good for what it is
Anyways, it is good for a quick and dirty Gym
The standard opening times have been cut from 6.30am to a ludicrous 12pm with the standard membership. this applies to existing members toowho joined and paid for the old hours. You are expected to pay for a 24hr pass just so that you can come at the time you did for the same price the week before. This has more punch bags than other gyms but that stinks. not recommended.
The gym is great for the buck they have a trainer by the name of jumar he is incredible probably the most compassionate teacher i have ever met he pushes u in ways that i have never reached before, overall every gym does need improvement but I find for the money u are spendind its great .
ps. My personal opinion.
I've been a member of BSB for SEVERAL years now, on and off. When i first joined over 6 years ago, the staff who gave me a tour boasted of all the many changes & renovations they were going to do to make it a competitive gym. 3 years later, those changes had not yet taken place and the changes they were working on were very slow moving. HOWEVER, after a year and a half hiatus, i came back to find new equipment, much better customer service, the roof top rockwall is not yet in place, but the gym seems to be running much smoother more professional and better equipment. Sad part is, i know the classes are not as good as they could be. 3 years ago there was a bonified boxing instructor named Peter who had tuesday and thursday morning classes that would kick your ass hardcore - the most difficult class i've ever taken and definitely the most difficult class of all the instructors. He had GREAT technique, pushed you further than you could possibly go and made you love the pain! Unfortunately, he left to pursue yoga and it's not been the same since.
So, in 2010, giving it another try...i'm so attached to this gym for nastalgic reasons but i do love working out and i hope that the classes have improved...
I just wanted to let everybody know that the cards are given out free its kinda obsurd when i hear members that are still active complain about miscelanious charges that are not effective upon new members and current. I really do enjoy the classes and the staff are very profesional! This gym looks for results wich is great.
This gym could have potential but right now it's not great.
It's 24 hours but, It's only staffed half the day and rarely on the weekends. This means that if you have trouble with a machine not working (which often happens) or the TV not working (they were broken for about a month) there is no one to go to. Also the gym gets pretty messy with no one around to clean up. The garbage overflows sometimes on the weekend and there have been times when there is no toilette paper in the bathroom!
Also, there is limited cardio equipment so if you go at a busy hour, you may spend long time waiting and you have to watch to get a machine (there is no sign up schedule)
The staff are friendly when they happen to be in, but they are pretty slow responding to questions or complaints.
This gym is about 5/10
now it's not great.
It's 24 hours but, It's only staffed half the day and rarely on the weekends. This means that if you have trouble with a machine not working (which often happens) or the TV not working (they were broken for about a month) there is no one to go to. Also the gym gets pretty messy with no one around to clean up. The garbage overflows sometimes on the weekend and there have been times when there is no toilette paper in the bathroom!
Also, there is limited cardio equipment so if you go at a busy hour, you may spend long time waiting and you have to watch to get a machine (there is no sign up schedule)
The staff are friendly when they happen to be in, but they are pretty slow responding to questions or complaints.
This gym is about 5/10
now it's not great.
It's 24 hours but, It's only staffed half the day and rarely on the weekends. This means that if you have trouble with a machine not working (which often happens) or the TV not working (they were broken for about a month) there is no one to go to. Also the gym gets pretty messy with no one around to clean up. The garbage overflows sometimes on the weekend and there have been times when there is no toilette paper in the bathroom!
Also, there is limited cardio equipment so if you go at a busy hour, you may spend long time waiting and you have to watch to get a machine (there is no sign up schedule)
The staff are friendly when they happen to be in, but they are pretty slow responding to questions or complaints.
This gym is about 5/10
I Really Enjoy both locations, It has a real good feel to it.
The machine are kept maintained and the staff are very outgoing. I have been a member here for the past 4 years and it keeps on getting better. Every gym does take critisim and I feel they have really tried to make improvements on every aspect.
The owners are very dishonest. I've heard horror stories from people about this gym. Can't believe they opened another location to rip off more people. STAY AWAY.