Contenders Training Studio

Great gym. Good mix of boxing & fitness focused classes. The members are welcoming and range from amateur competitors to people just looking to get a good workout.
I’ve been going here on and off for about 4 years now and never had a boring workout.

I’ve worked out at most of the boxing gyms in Vancouver at one time or another but I hadn’t yet tried Contenders (mainly because it’s the most expensive). But I guess the adage ‘you get what you pay for,’ holds true here.
At first I was worried this was just another glorified boxercise gym, based more on their setting (behind a squash club in Bentall Centre) than any first hand experience.
However this is a boxer owned gym and almost all of the trainers are serious boxers and they DO have very effective skills development drills. Their classes are unusual in that people of all skill and fitness levels can get a good workout and work on improving their boxing.
Some of their fitness classes comprise of boxers calisthenics that you will find in boxing gyms around the world (yes I speak from experience) mixed in with more imaginative drills of their own devising.
Most importantly though is the sense of camaraderie and fun the instructors bring to all of the various workouts. They push you hard but with a sense of humour and friendly helpful demeanour. As other reviewers have pointed out the trainers, impressively, seem to remember everyone who passes through their doors and greet them by their names. The gym also provides all equipment (including wraps, which very few gyms will do).
If you want to learn how to box and get in great shape you can do no better than Contenders. I’ve only docked them a star due to their downtown location, which makes parking hard to find and expensive.

I am genuinely pleased that I found this place
All the Instructors are very friendly and willing to help anyone
What really surprised me was that the most of Instructors remember most of members’ name
Considering the schedule, prices, skill sets the instructors have, I would certainly give them more than 5 stars without doubt
Want to give thanks to all the instructors running an amazing training studio!

This place is badass. Awesome instructors.

Probably the best place to box in Vancouver. More expensive (a lot more) than Sugarray’s but that place is a dump. Everywhere else is just boxercise. Which isn’t to say that there’s no boxercise here, but there’s also serious boxing — there are a number of active boxers fighting out of this gym.

A long time ago, I was wandering around downtown and happened to randomly stumble into this place.
The instructors (Kevin, Richard, Teddy, Yo, Sebastian) were super nice and friendly. They really know boxing and teach you the correct stance and punches.
The place is at Bentall and they have awesome lockers with shower room, blow dryers, water, towels, etc. The place is clean.
Initiation fee and membership is on the pricey side, but the place will definitely whip you in shape. There is a 2 week membership trial period and you can also do drop in, if you want. Classes are nice and leveled where they have the fundamental boxing, to beginner, and intermediate boxing. The two downside is parking is hard since it’s at Dunsmuir and classes can become super full where you can be bumping into each other.

Thoroughly impressed by the staff at Contenders. Treat you with respect and work with you to improve your skill. The boxing workout is a great work-​out. Classes tend to get a bit full, but there’s more than enough room to learn. Couldn’t ask for more.
Cheers to Teddy, Sabastian, Kevin and Richard for running a great gym.

I’ve been boxing at the Contenders for about 6 months: I know the instructors (kevin, richard, teddy, yo, sebastian.) and they know me.
Sure, the price is steep ($ 110/​month, for me, is steep). but you get unlimited boxing classes with real boxers (it’s Kevin’s studio and he’s a pro boxer).
You also get towel service, a fully decked out shower room (hair straighteners, blow dryers, shampoo, conditioner, etc. you don’t need to bring a thing!); a wide range of classes and a lot of personal attention.
If that’s not enough — they have white-​collar fight nights (think Fight Club) and a bar inside the gym!

Hello boxing studio!
Started by a bunch of boxers, real tough guys this place offers some of the best workouts in the city! There is a huge ring where you can fight and burn off those calories, the basics are offered: gloves, sauna, towels, but you can also get personal training sessions and bootcamp type of classes. Meeting and checking out really cute boys is also prescribed. From $ 130 initiation fee to a deluxe package of $ 240 including gloves, it’s a cool way to break a sweat.