Rough Kids in Gyms

[Coreano]

I live in Honolulu which is a major city with about 900,000 people on my island but we only have a handfull of gyms on the island. I really want to start training at a gym and transition over from just roadwork and weights. There are a few really nice gyms in my city which offer free training and have many of the state champs and golden glove types training there, all you need is equipment.

However from what I've seen (i went to a gym to train/check it out), and heard from people, these gyms mainly attract really rough kids from bad neighborhoods/situations. Now this is fine but I've heard that they are alot of kids who act really tough and even want to take the fights outside the gym sometimes. I come from Middle/Upperclass and go to a private school so I'd likely have a hard time getting respect from them. I mean I'm not scared, but I'm not sure if it will be the best training environment.

My question is should I just tough it out and go there or go to a combo fitness/boxing or martial arts/boxing place that will be more structured, but probably a better environment?

[PunchDrunk]

Try out the real gym first. You'll soon find out if you're cut out for boxing.

[Coreano]

thats what im leaing towards, im pretty sure i'm going to have to work extra hard to earn any respect. im from a different area, different skin color, and go to a private school.

[In The Heart]

thats what im leaing towards, im pretty sure i'm going to have to work extra hard to earn any respect. im from a different area, different skin color, and go to a private school.

Can you not get picked up by a parent outside the gym? If you do come along trouble with one of the guys just tell the rest to respect and let you and that guy have a box and ask the guy your about to box if thats fair. If any of them jump in you take your beating you aint gonna die and that means they aint got respect for what you asked which makes the guy you were gonna fight look like a ***** to be honest. Go for it as i quote from muhammad ali “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

[Ringo]

The respect issue is overrated. Anyone worth their salt will have a respect for you (silent or otherwise) just for showing up and working when other people don't, so long as you are respectful to others as well. If anyone doesn't, or tries to act like a hardass, ignore them. No one respects them either. Also to note, though...Hawaii is famous for MMA gyms. I mean..the PIT is there, so its big. Be careful about asking the wrong questions to the wrong people. Just do your research and stick to your guns and you should be good.

[Banderivets]

What does it mater how you where raised? With money or not.

It's your personality and how you carry yourself.

Just be confident, take no **** from no one. If someone wants to **** with you then dont be afraid to knock a mother ****er out the first time it happens and no one will bother you.

[NJFighter91]

Man. In my gym, there's a few kids that have gotten into jail for a few weeks more than once for assault, drug, etc whatever. But really, once you get to know them, they're good and I've actually become good friends with some of them that I thought I never would.

Go to the real gym.

[j]

i'll add my 2 cents here - take it or leave it.

find a gym that is comfortable for you. shop around. you don't want to train at a gym where it is all about beating someone's ass. meaning, that you should want to go to a gym to train, learn, not just to get into fights with people(whether they be in the ring or outside it).

kids from bad neighborhoods may(or may not) be involveed in some messed up **** - maybe ****in' or down with a click of ppl that are on the wrong direction. these are people that you want to avoid. making friends with bad company will only **** you up and draw you into that misdirection.

another thing, like ringo said, respect is due just for showing up and trying your hardest to achieve what you want to. you don't have to be the best boxer to be respected as one.

as for martial arts, it's really the best way to go for personal self defence. however, you want to make sure that you're not getting caught up in a bull**** school or club. this is where i can help. if you find something you think is interesting, PM me and i can ask some ppl about it or do the necessary research for you.

good luck!

[Coreano]

yeah we have some of the best MMA gyms here The Pit, HMC, Grapplers Unlimited, Bulls Pen, Etc. Unforutunatly the same cant be said for boxing gyms.

[fraidycat]

thats what im leaing towards, im pretty sure i'm going to have to work extra hard to earn any respect. im from a different area, different skin color, and go to a private school.

Welcome to my world, mother****er. Some of the guys in my gym have diamonds in their teeth and gang tattoos. One guy wears a house arrest bracelet on his ankle -- they only let him out one night a week and he uses it to come beat the **** out of someone. I live uptown and drive a Saturn. Six months ago I'd have crossed the street to get away from these guys.

But you know what I've found? These are some fundamentally good guys. The serious ones, anyway. After a few months of showing up and working hard, I was blown away when some of the "hom33z" invited me out to a neighborhood bar.

Someone else here said it: "Show them you're strong on the inside and they'll show you how to be strong on the outside."