Everything you need to know before your first boxing class in Scottsdale or Gilbert, AZ. No experience required. USA Boxing certified coaches at both locations. Your first week is $15.
Walking into a boxing gym for the first time can feel intimidating. It shouldn't. Boxing is one of the most accessible fitness activities in the world — and at Onyx Boxing in Scottsdale and Gilbert, Arizona, it's also one of the most beginner-friendly. Every coach at Onyx holds a certified USA Boxing credential — the national governing body's coaching standard. That means every beginner gets the same instruction as a competitive athlete: real technique, real attention, real results.
This guide covers everything a first-timer needs to know — before, during, and after that first class. If you've been thinking about trying boxing and haven't taken the step yet, this is the page that removes every remaining excuse.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of what happens from the moment you walk in the door at Onyx Boxing to the moment you leave after your first class.
Give yourself time to find the studio, park, and check in. Arriving a few minutes before class means you can introduce yourself to the coach without feeling rushed. Let the front desk know it's your first time — they'll take care of everything from there. Both studios have free parking directly in front.
Your coach will introduce themselves and ask about your fitness background and any injuries. This is not a formality — certified USA Boxing coaches use this information to tailor how they coach you through class. No other fitness instructor you'll meet is trained to do this at this level.
The coach or a staff member will show you how to apply hand wraps if you have them, and provide loaner gloves for your first class. Proper wrapping protects your hands and wrists — it takes about 90 seconds and your coach will walk you through it the first time.
Classes begin with a dynamic warm-up and footwork drills. This is where beginners learn the foundational movement patterns that everything else in boxing is built on. Don't skip this part mentally — footwork is what separates good boxers from great ones, and it starts here.
In your first class you'll work on the jab, cross, hook, and possibly the uppercut. The coach will demonstrate each punch with correct form and then work the room helping individuals. Go slow and focus on form — speed follows technique, never the other way around. This is what USA Boxing certified instruction ensures.
You'll move to the heavy bags and apply what you've learned in combination drills. The conditioning component — footwork circuits, bag rounds, core work — will challenge you physically. Go at your own pace. No one in the class will judge you for taking a breather. Everyone started here.
Classes end with a structured cool-down and stretch. After class, stick around. The Onyx community is one of the most welcoming in the Valley — members who connect outside the bag come back far more consistently than those who leave immediately. The culture is part of the value.
Here's the honest breakdown of what you actually need vs. what you can add later as you commit to the sport.
| Item | When You Need It | What to Buy | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic clothesRequired Day 1 | Day 1 — any class | Shorts or leggings + t-shirt. Anything you can move in. | Own it already |
| Athletic shoesRequired Day 1 | Day 1 — any class | Cross-trainers or running shoes work. Boxing shoes later if you want. | Own it already |
| Water bottleRequired Day 1 | Day 1 — every class | Any 20+ oz bottle. You will sweat. | Own it already |
| Loaner glovesProvided Free | First class — Onyx provides these | N/A — provided free for your first class at Onyx Boxing. | $0 (provided) |
| Hand wrapsStrongly Recommended | First class if possible | 180-inch cotton or Mexican-style wraps. Your coach will show you how to use them. | $8 – $15 |
| Boxing gloves (your own)Week 2+ | After your trial week | 12oz for women, 14–16oz for men in group classes. Ask your coach for a brand recommendation based on your goals. | $40 – $120 |
| MouthguardIf Sparring | Only if you do sparring classes | Required for sparring — not required for group bag classes. | $10 – $30 |
| Boxing shoesOptional Later | Months into training | Not necessary early. Regular cross-trainers work fine for group classes. | $60 – $150 |
Every beginner asks this. Here's the honest answer — it's faster than you think, especially with certified coaching.
With uncertified instructors, the timeline is longer and the technique is often wrong in ways you'll have to unlearn later. With USA Boxing certified coaches, the fundamentals are correct from class one — which is why the learning curve at Onyx is faster than at most studios.
You might not notice the difference between a certified and uncertified boxing coach on day one. You will notice it by month three.
Bad habits in boxing create injury and limitation. USA Boxing certified coaches are trained specifically to identify and correct form errors in real time. Personal trainers are not.
Certified coaches understand how to build on fundamentals systematically. Every class at Onyx builds on the last — you're not doing random workouts, you're developing as a boxer.
USA Boxing certification requires safe sport training and knowledge of injury prevention. This is especially important for beginners whose bodies are adapting to new movement patterns and impact.
Not all boxing classes are equal. Understanding the difference helps you choose where to spend your time and money.
| Onyx Boxing — Real Boxing | Typical Fitness Boxing Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Coach Credential | ✓ USA Boxing certified — national governing body standard | NASM, ACE, or no credential — fitness certification only |
| Technique Instruction | ✓ Real footwork, stance, defense, combinations taught correctly | Movements used for cardio — technique secondary or absent |
| Skill Development | ✓ Builds transferable boxing skill you retain and improve on | Workout only — no cumulative skill development |
| Progressive Training | ✓ Classes build on each other systematically | Typically standalone circuits — no boxing progression |
| Fitness Results | ✓ 500–800 calories/hour, full-body conditioning, mental sharpness | Good cardio — but without the skill or mental engagement |
| Community | ✓ Member-first culture built around shared respect for the sport | Varies — often transactional gym atmosphere |
| Trial Offer | ✓ One full week unlimited — $15. Both AZ locations. | Typically single class or first class free |
No experience required. Every class welcomes all fitness levels. Your first session begins with a coach introduction and runs entirely at your pace. The $15 trial week is designed specifically for new members.
Athletic clothes, athletic shoes, and a water bottle. Loaner gloves are provided free for your first class. Hand wraps are recommended — your coach will show you how to use them if you don't know. That's it.
Yes — completely. You control your intensity. Coaches scale every drill to where you are today. Many Onyx members started with zero fitness background and used boxing as their entry point. The only requirement is showing up.
Classes 1–3: orientation — awkward, that's correct. Classes 4–8: combinations click, cardio gets manageable. Classes 9–20: you have a rhythm, you understand the game. With certified coaching, this timeline is faster than at most studios.
One of the best. A 60-minute boxing class burns 500–800 calories depending on intensity — while simultaneously building muscle, improving coordination, and sharpening focus. The combination of technical learning and physical conditioning creates results that pure cardio can't match.
Yes. Onyx Boxing is built for this. Coaches work with complete beginners every day. The trial week is a low-pressure environment designed to give you a real experience of boxing without expectations. If you can show up, you can participate.
At cardio boxing studios, personal trainers use boxing movements as a fitness tool. At Onyx, every coach holds USA Boxing certification — the credential issued by the national governing body for the sport in the United States. You learn real boxing technique, not just a workout. The skill you build at Onyx is cumulative and permanent. The workout at a cardio studio evaporates when you stop going.
Scottsdale: 2200 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite V, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 — (480) 620-9339. Gilbert: 1316 S. Gilbert Rd., Suite D7, Mesa, AZ 85204 — (480) 660-9001. Both locations open Monday–Friday 5:30 AM–7:00 PM, Saturday 7:00 AM–12:00 PM, Sunday 8:00 AM–11:00 AM.
No commitment. No experience needed. Show up to Scottsdale or Gilbert and train with Arizona's most credentialed boxing coaches. You've read the guide — now just go.
Questions? info@boxonyx.com · (480) 620-9339