Long Beach United Boxing Club

Great work out! Owners are also friendly.

LOVE this gym. Look forward to getting my ass kicked in class on the regular. I haven’t been able to get in here as much as I would like lately due to school and work but I can not wait to back in a regular groove. Great vibe here and I really feel like I’m challenging my body to be stronger. Makes me feel more confident. You can tell a lot of work went into the details here to make this place feel unique but also down to Earth. Your local gym — sort of like the Cheers of gyms. Great energy here and excellent conditioning for anyone, young and old and all levels are welcomed. Inspiring place. Facility is clean and staff is very knowledgeable.

Looking to supplement my usual workout, I decided to try out a Muay Thai class at LBUBC. A month later and I’m hooked! LBUBC has made me excited to workout for the first time in my life. Every instructor is very personable and they each provide a different style of teaching, which helps aid in muscle confusion. I have been a competitive swimmer, soccer player, runner, and roller derby girl but never did I develop the strength that I am currently gaining through boxing at LBUBC. The classes are legitimate, unlike cardio kickboxing classes offered at corporate gyms. 30 minutes into every class, my body is begging for the workout to end. However, once it’s over, all I want is to stay for more. Not only do the workouts help to alleviate daily stress, they help to fatigue the mind and calm the thoughts that plague most everybody. One of the aspects I appreciate the most is LBUBC’s understanding of their clientele. As a 9 to 5er, and a non-​morning person, evening classes are the most accommodating to my busy schedule. Most corporate gyms do not understand this and provide few (if any) classes after 6pm. LBUBC, however, offers several classes, after 6pm, Monday-​Friday. The music playing inside is always loud, fast, and of good quality, which I love because if I have to listen to Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ again, while working out, I might mentally snap. Lastly, as a woman, I understand how intimidating this gym might look from the outside, but do not let that stop you. Liz and Taryn (and all the male instructors for that matter) are sweethearts and, if you attend on a Tuesday or Thursday night, LBUBC is full of women, just in case you need help easing into the surroundings. LBUBC is the only gym I now need and I plan on happily going home every night, wringing out the sweat from my clothes (this is not an exaggeration), and anxiously awaiting my next session for months to come.

I love this boxing club! I started here as an absolute beginner who knew nothing about anything. I had tried other gyms and clubs but was always very intimidated as a newbie. At LBUBC, I felt the very opposite since day 1. Liz, Doug, and all the other trainers are so knowledgeable and talented. I learn so much! They are all so friendly and encouraging and the atmosphere is very motivating! I have never felt overwhelmed as a beginner in a professional’s world. They are patient and will break things down to your level without making you feel dumb. When you get it right, they make you feel like a star! It’s done wonders not only for my physical fitness but for my mental fitness too. I am able to take out life’s daily stresses and leave feeling exhilarated. The classes aren’t so easy I’m bored and they aren’t so challenging I feel frustrated more than satisfied. I was tired of cardio kickboxing classes where you dance around and throw terribly formed punches. I wanted to hit something real, get a total body workout while swinging punches and kicks in proper form. (Or as close to it as I can get so far) my self esteem has improved and if it wasn’t for LBUBC being so welcoming and truly good at what they do, I never would have stuck around long enough to experience all the other benefits aside from getting fit. No other place can compare!

I had liz train a friend and I in boxing. We got the 10 session deal and honestly, it has been the best thing i’ve done this year.
liz is very supportive, serious in wanting to make you better, and a great coach. Her boxing skills are second to none as she was a golden gloves champion and a member of the USA team.
The gym is very cozy, with a boxing ring, workout equipment, heavy bags, speed bag, etc. i highly recommend this gym to anyone who wants to get in better shape and to have fun doing it.

Doug & Liz run a really great Gym. Really laid back but the workout classes even work out someone like me who has been boxing a long time. Gyms run on vibe — Doug and Liz are never to busy to say hello and have a chat and that vibe flows down throughout the gym.
I went there after a month layoff of basic hedonism i was able to get myself in reasonable shape by the end of the month with them.
Technical instruction was spot on and it was even cool to learn some Mexican style boxing drills /​moves from Liz that i had never com across during my training in Australia.
For the beginner they have some great programs — you won’t have to fight people and you will be easily guided through everything boxing and kickboxing related.
They run a GREAT kids program and it was cool to see kids doing something in the afternoons rather than wasting away of video games. The kids were always happy and enjoying themselves and there always seems to be a sense of fun in their classes.
Rates were more than fair and equipment was well kept and adequate — Some nice actual heavy bags and all the boxing staples (i never found a slip bag tho but i improvised so i prob just didn’t look hard enough)
Thanks guys i’ll see you again eventually ;)
DH

I belong full time to another martial arts studio but wanted to learn more technical skills when it came to punching. This place is great and if I lived closer I would become a full time member.
Full membership is a great deal but their drop in rates are reasonable too especially if you buy 10 at a time. Doug, the owner, put a lot of effort into this place and it shows. There are plenty of bags to punch on during a group class and other specialty equipment I can’t get at my other studio.
I can’t review the other instructors really because what drew me here especially is that THEY HAVE CLASSES AT NOON! I love the instructor, Liz. She teaches Monday, Wednesday, and Friday boxing class in a pretty cool format and Tuesday and Thursday Cross Training. My punches have gotten so much stronger and my foot work better because of her although I still have a long ways to go. She is extremely patient and will not let you feel lost in her class if you don’t understand what to do.
I love their taste in music (old punk rocker here) and they play old school hip hop (which I adore too). The company dog, Finn, is a plus too as a happy wagging tail is always a nice thing to be greeted with when you show up for a work out.
During my time here I don’t think I have ran into one rude person while working out and people in the classes are willing to help you too if you seem lost or forget what to do. I HIGHLY recommend this place. Not only your technique and strength will get better but you will meet pretty cool people like Liz, Doug, and the other members!

Kickboxing classes oh how I’ve missed you. Went in for a free trial today during their 11am Sat sessions and it was great getting back into it all again. I’ve been taking kickboxing classes at other gyms for the past 2 years on and off, but my last gym moved so LA Fitness it was until now. Can’t wait until my training sessions at LA Fitness ends so I can join up here monthly. The 10 pack class sessions for $ 170 aren’t bad and $ 99 for unlimited classes + use of the other parts of the gym is a pretty great price, trust me I’ve shopped around. The instructor for the class Masai (hope I spelled that right) was awesome at making sure we had our techniques down. Can’t wait for the next class =)

I live next door and walk by almost every day. The classes are tough but nothing that’ll kill you. Doug is amazing with the kids and really cares about every person who walks through the door. Liz is a doll and Finn (the dog) is a mega sweetie. It’s awesome to have a gym run by seriously talented and passionate people who pump up their class with none other than punk or old school LB hip hop.
LOVE this gym!

I love the classes and the environment. Great workout every time. The instructors are great and qualified and the workout is intense and fun.

Best way to describe is an old school vibe with up to date gear. Equipped with plenty of free weights, kettle bells, speed bag, heavy bags, open mats, and friendly company.
Doug the owner is a legit martial artist and will motivate you to train.
The kickboxing classes will push you while making sure you learn technique. Also a good price for unlimited classes, very few gyms will come this inexpensive.

I like chubby kids… chubby baby pandas… chubby candy bars… I do NOT LIKE chubby me.
I have been coming here since July 2013 and I’ve dropped a cool 10 lbs (a good solid mix of eating somewhat decent and getting my ass kicked here).
I prefer kickboxing sessions here but I’ve done a few boxing sessions as well and they are fantastic. It’s a serious workout with tons of sweat and a lot of moments of «jesus…I just wanna go home… now!“However, you don’t drop 10 lbs off a 5’3 frame sitting on your ass.
I always survive my hour workout here and maybe I’m not the best at remembering combos, and yeah, sometimes, that’s really not a push-​up I just did, and you burpee can go eff yourself… but hell If I’m gonna stop.
Doug and Liz are the best coaches around. They just motivate you and are always willing to help. They know its tough work but they make you want to do it and do it well.
I couldn’t have asked for better.
Cheers to a new you,
Coco

I’ve been coming to this gym for about 5 months now and after my 1 month LivingSocial deal ended I decided to get locked in for a year. Unfortunately, for my $ 80 and change per month, I don’t get to utilize everything that the gym has to offer (I usually only come in for a 1 hour class, 5 times a week, sometimes twice on one of my days off but having the privilege to learn from 3 different trainers with their own different style makes every cent worth it and more).
My training alternates daily from boxing to kickboxing and if I didn’t get out of work so late I would definitely take the jiu-​jitsu class and also put my skills to the test in one of the sparring sessions.

I swear, it’s like someone built this place to my specifications.
The classes are incredibly challenging and varied (you’d be surprised how many ways you can practice punching things). Every trainer has their own style, and tests you in different ways.
As someone who’s done P90X, I think I would say that LBUBC is on par, or harder. I’ve never had an easy class here, and usually I really have to push myself through the last 10 minutes.
The atmosphere is about as anti-​gym as it gets. Expect lots of punk and hard rock, and a good number of tattooed guys who you’d hate to end up in bar brawl with. That’s not to say that this place is in any way hostile or discouraging; everyone I’ve talked to is equal parts chill and badass. Between the trainers and my classmates, I have plenty of great people inspiring me to train my ass off. And if that is your goal, brother/​sister/​other, this is the place to be.
That said though, I wouldn’t recommend this place to total beginners or people who «work out» by casually reading magazines on ellipticals. The classes put you through routines that require A) a basic knowledge of striking, B) focus and C) willpower.

Working out at Long Beach United Boxing Club has been a great way to put a fire under my mundane cardio routine. (Light jogging and power walking just wasn’t cutting it anymore!) At first, given that I was very new to boxing –and that I’m no spring chicken– I naturally felt awkward and weak punching at the bag; but after a few months of taking classes at LBUBC, I became a lot stronger and more at ease with these movements. Why, kicking ass is simply second nature to me now.
I’ve taken boxing/​kickboxing classes with Doug, Liz Q. Parr, and Emanuel Newton who are all very good instructors and knowledgeable about their craft. They each have their own style of teaching, but are equally dedicated to pushing you beyond your comfort zone. I’m always left in an energized sweat after every class! Taryn, who teaches their Muay Thai class, is also a very good instructor and offers a challenging and fun class. I especially love the challenging warm ups before each boxing/​kickboxing class and the hardcore ab workouts after. I know that it’s mostly due to these little pre & post workouts that I lost one pants size, so far!
In addition, I really feel that my yoga practice –which I have been very dedicated to the past two plus years– has benefited from the new strength I’ve developed at LB United. For example, I just recently moved on to a level 3 yoga class and am able to do upper body strength and abdominal core postures that I couldn’t do before joining LB United.
*For beginners: I would highly recommend taking Liz Parr’s technical boxing class as a starter in order to learn basic boxing moves that will make the routines in the other classes easier to do. Liz is a cool gal and knows her stuff! She’s patient yet tough and always gives equitable attention to every individual taking her class.
Oh, and of course, the music: It’s all about the music for me and I really appreciate the music choice that LBUBC plays to help power you through your workouts. I especially love it when Doug throws in some classic Cuban beats between the metal and punk!
I (heart) Long Beach United Boxing and I know that you will too!

Have to admit I was scared stiff when I walked in to take my first class. The Unilocal reviews had me scared that I was going to throw up. Pretty proud to say I made it through their hardest class (cross training) without getting sick. Not sure I’d recommend this class to a newcomer. It’s pretty tough and the circuit training moves at the end were damn near impossible for me to do. Now, their boxing class was definitely right up my alley and I’m excited to go back for more. This isn’t to say that it was easy, it was just doable.
If you plan on taking a class, here’s what you need to bring:
— Towel to wipe the sweat because you will definitely be sweating.
— Water to stay hydrated because you will get thirsty.
— Gloves and hand wraps (They’ll let you borrow them for your first class, but after that you need to bring your own or rent theirs)
— For boxing — Bring a big towel to place on the mat for the mat work they do at the end. You can also bring your own mat if you don’t want to use theirs.
P. S. Ladies, don’t be intimidated by the fact that this place definitely looks like a guy’s type of gym. There were just as many women as there were men in the classes I took. Also, don’t feel like you need to keep up if your a newbie. I modified some of the exercise and also took a few breathers.

If you want the Home Depot-​sized mega gym where you can listen to Katy Perry while doing hundred-​person Stairmaster classes, watching The View, and flexing at yourself in the mirror all at once, this may not be the spot for you.
What you will get for $ 75 a month is complete access to a carefully-​planned and even aesthetically pleasing neighborhood gym which caters to your every training and conditioning need. Once you’re a member, you’re in for all the equipment and facilities, plus every class. Saying it’s worth every penny is dramatically understating its value.
The classes are really something special. They’re where the real work gets done. There’s Boxing, Technical boxing, Kickboxing and Muay Thai, MMA, Grappling, Kids’ classes, Cross-​training, and sparring on Friday nights. They’re open Monday through Saturday.
Training here is no joke. I thought I was in shape, but five minutes into my first warmup I was about ready to puke. I stuck it out, though, and eight weeks later, I’m leaner, stronger, throwing cleaner combos, and (most importantly for me) motivated to get to the gym everyday without ever being bored.
The trainers’ respective pedigrees are nothing to sneeze at. Doug MacKinnon, in addition to having a musical background that leaves someone like me a little starstruck, is an accomplished boxer and Muay Thai fighter with extensive training experience. He’s also a really cool guy who cares about the progress and health of his trainees, the chief operator of this wonderful place, and the compiler of the best workout playlists I’ve ever heard at any gym, ever, period, end of discussion. Liz Q. Parr is a four time National Gold Medal winner, an incredible instructor, and an all-​around nice and pleasant person (a nice and pleasant person who can seriously kick your ass). I haven’t had the honor of working with Emanuel Newton or Ashlee Evans-​Smith yet, but you can Google their names and check their recent accomplishments if you need convincing that they’re the real damn deal.
Did you Google them? Pretty impressive, right? I wouldn’t lie to you.
LBUBC is not just some gym – this place is building a culture for itself. When you attend the classes here, you can expect motivation from playlists including (just off the top of my head here) Wu-​Tang, Pharcyde, Eric B and Rakim, Tribe Called Quest, KRS-​One, Public Enemy, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, WAR, Parliament, Los Autenticos Decadentes, La Mano Negra, Jimmy Cliff, NOFX, The Clash, Dropkick Murphys, Minor Threat, The Misfits, The Stooges, The Ramones… and tons more. It’s so, so good. Plus everyone there is there for the right reasons. Fellow gym-​goers run the gamut from experienced fighters to people with little or no athletic background, and that combination comes with ZERO judgment. All according to their abilities, but the trainers WILL push you (that’s why you’re there, right?). No idiots checking themselves out in the mirror for hours at a time. If you’re there, you’re there to do work.
Finally, location. If you’re anywhere around Retro Row, it’s walkable. There’s a bus stop right out front. Parking can be a pain in this area, but it’s definitely to be found within a block of the place during business hours. Best of all, though, is that you’re within walking distance of some killer restaurants for when you’ve got that metabolism up after a workout. And don’t worry about appearances. If you roll up to Lola’s covered in sweat, they know where you’re coming from.
Honestly, I don’t even know what you’re waiting for. Stop reading this and get your ass to the gym.

I have been coming to LBUBC for about 6 weeks now, and they are the best! I had been going to a private gym in HB for boxing/​kickboxing/​training, and I felt like I wasn’t getting the results I wanted, wasn’t really being pushed, had a trainer that was phoning in the basics, AND I was paying and arm and a leg! You won’t get any of that at LB United Boxing Club! Doug is a great trainer and motivator, not only does he push you to turn your «can’t into «can,» he teaches you how to perfect your technique, while having fun, and listening to great music?! I mean, whats more motivating that listening to «the Warriors Code» by the Dropkicks, and beating the shit out of the heavy bag? You leave soaked wet with sweat, sore, and feeling amazing! Not to mention, using all I have learned, I am pretty sure I could hold my own in a bar fight!
Now for the really important stuff, the gym fee is $ 75 a month, for unlimited classes and gym access?!! That is unheard of for a private gym! You do need wrist wraps and gloves, which you can rent or buy. (I suggest buying, cause who wants to use someones sweating gloves?! They offer great package deals for wraps/​gloves too!)
They offer a nice selection of classes at various times, so I can always make it there after work or on the weekends. The classes are never too full, you can always find a spot and still feel like you are getting the personal attention that you definitely do not get at 24 hour fitness! The best part? I have already lost weight and can see the tone and definition in my arms, and stomach, and I have built muscle and feel stronger.
Boxing gyms can be a little intimidating, but if you have no knowledge of boxing or kickboxing and have always wanted to try it, or if you are a seasoned veteran, they got you covered. Everyone there is friendly and knowledgeable, you aren’t just a number, you are a friend and part of the family!

Awesome gym! No douchers!!! All local Long Beach peeps. I’m so glad that I stopped by while walking to the Pike to check it out. Talked to Doug for a minute and was pretty much sold. I’ve been coming for the past 3 weeks now and I am absolutely loving it. The prices are awesome (only$ 75/​mo). I have done Muay Thai before (about 10 years ago) and most of the other gyms don’t really have a good warm up, but Doug really works you before you hit the bags!!! Oh yeah AWESOME tunes playing while working out. Just saying.

My new favorite thing to do in my neighborhood.
One of my besties has been trying to convince me to join a gym, and I ALMOST went for it, even though I hate gyms;
and then, while driving home from work, I saw the Long Beach United Boxing Club, and that was the end of all that gym talk.
For $ 15, you get your ass handed to you all day, and it feels AWESOME.
So awesome you wanna go back for more…
Well…worth…every…dollar.
Yes, the $ 15 fee is for the WHOLE day of classes, so you can get yr ass handed to you early in the day, and then again in the eve…