The importance of open gym

I get asked a lot of questions about our open gym periods. What are they? What should I do? Is it needed? What’s the point of open gym if I attend class?

First let me address what an open gym period is. It’s just time that the gym is open but there are no classes going on. So what’s the reasoning behind having these periods? They are so you can work on what you want or need to work on.

Classes are designed for me to help the collective. Open gyms are the time you can work on your weaknesses…work on techniques you need more time on or just want to add to your game. Or maybe you’re having the kind of day that can only be made better by putting on your headphones and lifting weights. Not getting enough sparring/pad work/bag work? Open gym is the answer. 

I know it can be daunting coming up with your own training program for open gyms. I’m always here to help in that regard, but I also encourage you to take on that challenge. There’s always the talk about how martial arts teaches discipline. I (and many others) would argue that nothing teaches you discipline but instead provides you opportunities to exhibit discipline. These open gyms are a great example of that. Anyone can work hard with a coach screaming at them in a class. Disciplined people are ones that can also do it with no one around watching them.

Now it also doesn’t have to be as extreme as that last paragraph maybe made it sound. Open gyms are also the best times to spar with your friends. Or maybe you and your gym bff want to start challenging each other to some Muay Thai-related challenges (100 kicks a day for 1 month anyone?). The options are endless so it’s hard to tell you every way to use an open gym. I just want to express that you should be using open gym periods for your own growth and enjoyment if your schedule allows. 

Here’s something else I want to express. Anytime we are open can be an open gym. If there is a class going on, you do not have to partake. You can use the other parts of the gym if you’re just feeling anti-social, injured, tired of my voice, whatever. Maybe you can make a 6pm class but have to leave at 7:30pm so you don’t want to jump into the 7pm class. That’s fine, use that 30 minutes for extra solo training instead of just leaving. We here at The Clinic just want to see you training! 

I say this all the time at the gym, but I’m always around during open gym. I’m always trying to answer questions, hold pads, spar, talk about fights, etc. Sometimes I don’t do all of those things based on my sleep and health for that week, but I’m always cool with you all asking me for help. 

Hope I start seeing more and more of you at the open gym putting in that work. It’s already getting larger, and I love seeing all of the extra work. Keep it up!