WHY GYM CULTURE SHOULD MATTER TO YOU
There are many reasons why a person would want to begin training at a martial arts gym. When searching for place to train, people are often seeking specific attributes to help them in their choice. We have found the most common to be:
- Location
- Price
- Disciplines/programs offered
- Schedule
- Coaches/staff experience
But there is a critical factor that new students overlook that experienced practicioners put high up on the list when they are seeking a place to train : Culture.
WHAT IS GYM CULTURE?
Gym culture can be defined as the way the students and coaches interact with each other. It’s the way of life inside (and sometimes outside) the gym that has been developed over time. It’s the feel of the room. When trying to assess the culture of your gym you should be paying attention to certain factors:
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How do the coaches and other students treat new students ?
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How do the coaches treat other students?
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How do the more experienced students treat less experienced students?
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Do you feel safe sparring with other students?
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Do you feel pressured into signing up?
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Are there any women/girls training in the classes?
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Are the racial/religious/nationality demographics of your area represented in the staff and student population?
These factors should be just as important, if not more important, to students and parents looking to train at a new martial arts gym.
TOXIC GYM CULTURE
There are, unfortunately, a few gyms out there that have become synonymous with extreme toxic culture. They are the examples of how terrible, and sometimes dangerous, the situation can be for students who choose to sign up with them. As some of the gyms out there will lock you into a contract, it can also sometimes be an expensive choice. Let’s break down some of the more common themes behind a toxic gym culture.
TOXIC TRIBALISM
Tribalism can be a good thing. When it’s used to create a “THEM” that is always wrong, and an “US” that is always right then you are being manipulated. If you’re constantly being told that your gym is the best and everyone else is terrible then you might be in a toxic environment. Here’s a great article on Good vs Toxic Tribalism:
HERO WORSHIP
It’s normal to look up to your coaches or instructors. When they demand it then you got a problem. Hero worship is extremely common in the Martial Arts community. And it’s one that is very difficult to break students out of. If your coach or instructor has a messiah complex and the students fall in line with this, you might want to try a different gym. Here’s a great article on Hero Worship specifically about a famously toxic gym:
https://tim.blog/2013/01/16/the-dangers-of-hero-worship-an-open-letter-from-ryan-hall/
GANG CULTURE
Gang culture is especially rampant in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. Take toxic tribalism, combine it with hero worship and sprinkle in a large helping of toxic masculinity and you get gang culture. Gyms like this try to control everything you do on and off the mats, what you wear, how you talk, who you hang out with. The head coach(es) expect you to do anything to tell you to do. And if you try to leave or go to another gym, physical threats aren’t off the table. A good way to check your gym for this is to see how much diversity it has. Is it all men? Is it all one racial or nationality deomgraphic but you live in an area that is diverse (we are in Norther Virginia so every gym here should be EXTREMELY diverse)?
There are many things about a gym that new students should look at before deciding to sign up. But be sure that you keep an eye out for these and any other issues that you have concers about. Here’s a really good article that dives into issuess that can arise at a Martial Arts gym:
https://undertheropes.com/2022/11/11/toxic-gym-culture-in-muay-thai-other-martial-arts/