Look to the left for the new schedule. Anyway, the most important update is that we’ve flipped Boxing and MMA in the night schedule. From Monday to Thursday MMA is now at 730pm and Boxing at 830pm. Don’t sleep on this!

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! But really…we have a suplex-sized wrestling class at Strong Sports Gym! Sign your ass up for this Saturday!

Simon Herrera recently joined the coaching staff at Strong Sports Gym. He has a long history in boxing. Strong Sports had the opportunity to catch up with him tonight to ask a few questions.

Strong Sports: When and where did you start training?

Simon: I started my serious training when I was about 16 years old in Detroit at the Kronk Gym.

Strong Sports: Tell me about your experience there.

Simon: The environment was “sink or swim.” You didn’t actually get trained. It was more just being thrown into the ring to see what you could handle. If you handled it well they would pay attention to you.

Strong Sports: Do you think that’s a good method to develop young talent?

Simon: Well, I think it’s an interesting method. Not necessarily the best method. I believe if you nurture talent you can get the same or better results.

Strong Sports: Did you fight?

Simon: I fought at the amateur level. I have 41 bouts and I was 35 and 6.

Strong Sports: What kind of fighter were you?

Simon: I was 5’10″ and fought at 135 so I was a long rangy type. I relied heavily on the jab and combination punching on the inside. But I’d say the majority of my fights were won on the jab.

Strong Sports: Who was your trainer?

Simon: I worked with several different guys along the way. The one who gave the the most attention was Taurek Fykes. He was a former Golden Gloves champion himself. And he really understood boxing fundamentals.

Strong Sports: What brought you to LA and Strong Sports?

Simon: I came to LA in the summer of 2007 to further my training career and get into fight promotion. I started amateur events and have begun to structure some entry-level professional events. Look out for the next event on January 25th in San Pedro. I stumbled upon Strong Sports coming up Figueroa Street.

Strong Sports: What do you think of the place?

Simon: I was intrigued by the gym. It;s a unique location and I believe in what Willard and Moe are doing; their philosophy of training and running a gym. As a former gym owner I understand the importance of good people in running a business.

Strong Sports: And the students?

Simon: The students are extremely classy, not the typical run of the mill. It’s a sophisticated group of people and everyone seems to get along which is rare for boxing gyms. It’s a great chance to build a program with good people all around.

Join Simon every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for classes as well as private and small group training during most business hours.

Simon at left with rising professional Victor Castro (8-0).

Everyone hates them so they are gone. As of the beginning of the year, all students will pay by class and not on contract. Sick and need to miss a class? No problem. Injured and need to take a month off? Same deal. How about being transferred to a new job in Dubai? You’re free to go. ¶A new preregistration system will also come into play as of February 1, 2013. This will allow us to offer new classes and also control attendance. Like big groups and feed off the energy, then register for a full class. Prefer more personalized attention and smaller classes? You can now get that as well. The only caveats are that you have to use all classes in your bundle within three (3) months and failure to preregister will result in a $5 upcharge. ¶What this means is that most of you will be saving quite a bit of money. Students previously on a twelve (12) month contract and with an unlimited amount of classes were previously paying $450 for three months. Even the most ambitious students taking seven (7) classes a week will now get similar access for $300. ¶Come to class for rates.

Here’s an up-to-date schedule, for those who don’t have it yet. Click on the image to download.

Wrapping hands for boxing is a mystery to most everyone. Even experienced boxers sometimes have no idea how to do it correctly. Worst is a loose and uneven wrap with wrinkled and smelly wraps. It makes you look like an underwear model on Spartacus. And don’t be that guy who refuses to wrap his hands because, “you don’t have time to wrap your hands in the street.”That guy either punches like a pre-pubescent powder puff or has never punched anything hard in his whole life. Your hands are your tools, so treat them with great care.
In the video below you will see just one of many ways to wrap your hands. This particular method is particularly good for MMA gloves as the palm has low volume and is free to allow better dexterity. The wrap is flat, uniform in tension, even, and mirrored on both sides. It protects knuckles, and reinforces the thumb and wrist; just as it should be. ¶Keep in mind that wraps should be washed after every use and rolled flat before they are put on your hands. Before machine washing, place them in a net bag with Velcro covered, and either hang or machine dry. Hang or machine dry but always remember to hang them up so they remain relatively flat before rolling. Never just bunch your wraps into a ball for storage as they will dry all crumpled and twisted up. ¶To help you all out, I shot the video below to teach you how to do it.
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Welcome to the Strong Sports Gym website. We promise to give you strong opinions mixed with information to make you strong. Come here for the latest about MMA, Submission Wrestling (Catch Wrestling), Western Boxing and Wrestling, Kickboxing (Muay Thai), Brazilian Jui-Jitsu (as they spell it in Sao Paolo), traditional conditioning (like CrossfitTM but without the trademark), Olympic Weightlifting, diet and nutrition, and activities in and around the gym. What makes Strong Sports Gym special is our expert staff, innovative teaching methods, unified curriculum, and ultra clean and professionally maintained facility. We’re also open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Come on down for a free class on Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday. The time is now!
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