- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Mendez Boxing
Category: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Gyms Gyms [Edit]
25 West 26th St5th Fl
(between Broadway & 5th Ave)
New York, NY 10010
Neighborhood: Flatiron
(212) 689-5255
- Nearest Transit:
-
28 St (N, R)
23 St (F, M)
23 St (N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 10 pm
Sat 9 am - 4 pm
Sun 10 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
About This Business:
At 24 Hour Fitness we believe in changing lives through fitness. And we've spent the past 25 years doing so for millions of people across the nation.… read more »
19 reviews for Mendez Boxing
19 reviews in English
-
Review from Meow Mix C.
New York, NY
1/17/2010
My trainer used to take me here when we needed a break from Fighthouse across the street. Although it is much smaller than Fighthouse, the attitude of the staff and the strictly "boxer's atmosphere" makes it much better than its competitor across the street (which is home to all different kind of martial arts). The lady at the front desk will always greet you with a smile, and the rest of the staff is equally as friendly. Franciso himself will always take the time to make eye contact and say hello as well.
The locker room and bathroom is small, but well maintained and clean. Two showers are available in the ladies room, and I have never been afraid to use them (unlike a lot of places where I'd be afraid to step in the shower because of massive amounts of mildew). Keep in mind though that although they do have a few lockers, you probably will not get to use them because they are permanently rented out to resident fighters. Make sure not to take anything valuable with you as you will probably end up leaving your things along the wall. Highly unlikely that the folks here would steal, but it's always better to be safe.
The gym itself is also very tiny, but yet they still manage to have better and more equipment than Fighthouse. They have 2 treadmills (in working order! Yes!), 2 rings, and a whole lotta bags for you to punch on. A good amount of space in front of the mirrors to work on your form and also to jump rope in front of. Hip hop or Spanish music is usually pumping from the speakers and keeps you moving, without being too distracting or loud to the point where you cannot hear your own trainer. Every inch of the walls are covered with posters of legendary boxing greats and historical matches, and a giant Mexican flag hangs on the back wall. Behind the front desk are old pictures of Francisco during his pro career and also of his family. All of this gives Mendez Boxing a very personal touch and contributes to the inspiring atmosphere. After a while, it does start to feel like home and everyone is like family. And while this is considered a "white collar boxing gym" by some people, the atmosphere is still genuine and you will still get a slammin workout.
The hours are accomodating too. They are open at 6am and close at 10pm so the 9-5 crowd can get their workout in. I usually go there during non-peak hours (i.e. 1pm on a weekday) because I like my space. Like I mentioned earlier, the only con about the gym is that it is small so during peak hours, it can get a little packed. You might have to wait for a bag or even share one. Also have to be careful about backing up into other people too. I also avoid weekends for the same reason. I haven't been to Mendez since hiring a personal boxing trainer got too expensive for me, but I hear they opened up another branch somewhere else. This should probably alleviate some of the volume here, so I'd imagine the gym might not be as crowded these days.
I'll be back soon, I hope! -
Review from My Name I.
Brooklyn, NY
1/26/2012
Great gym, horrible bathrooms/Shower.
I have trained in most of the boxing gyms in NY, and yes I am a female. I real liked Mendez and the trainers. I used to go in the mornings and really enjoyed the workouts and was learning and progressing. HOWEVER... as I trained in the mornings I needed to shower before work. The showers are so tiny and there is no reason on earth I need to stare at the same gum ball/hairball stuck on the bathroom wall every day. NO reason that there should be hair in the shower drains first things in the morning! In the end, I just couldn't take the showers there and left.
Like I said,I have never been to regular gyms, only boxing gyms. So I am used to grimy. But when I am paying good $$ I expect the showers and bathroom to be clean. Theres no excuse!!
Mendez-- if you work on your bathrooms I am coming back!! I loved the training hated the showers and bathrooms. -
Review from Jiho S.
New York, NY
12/11/2011
Good gym. Locker room is super-tiny though and lockers are for a monthly fee (you'll probably want to shower at home after your workout after you take a look at the stalls here). I had the benefit of trying out the gym via a Groupon deal. Trainers have been great to work with so far, although I wish I spent more time with the trainers. First few sessions were very personal and informative but as time went on I seemed to be spending too much punching a bag or shadow boxing by myself too often. I noticed the gym caters to both real boxers and the casual athlete or banker/lawyer/etc. looking to get a workout and get in shape so its a diverse clientele. Pretty gritty looking inside so don't come expecting something like an Equinox.
-
Review from Rusty K.
Jersey City, NJ
12/23/2011
I tried out Mendez because I had a groupon. My review is mixed. For the record, I am a female.
1. I had never boxed before. At all. Nothing. I really don't think this gym is for complete noobs like myself. For example, I didn't know the slightest thing - not even about the buzzer. So, everyone in the gym is working out and resting to the signals of the buzzer and this is all unbeknownst to me. Nobody bothered to explain this????!!! I figured it out on my own, eventually, but come on.
2. The workout is done in a circuit format (again never explained). You spend 3 rounds at each station and (if you're lucky) someone who works there will assist you at each station. Not a lot of consistency because you don't have an assigned trainer. Probably not a problem for someone who knows what they're doing, but if you're brand new it's kind of frustrating.
3. THe gym is down and dirty boxing. Smelly, NASTY locker room (just don't go in there, there is really no reason to anyway)
4. THe male to female ratio, if you care, is about 9:1. Probably normal for a boxing gym.
5. The language spoken is predominantly spanish. I speak some spanish but between the noise in the gym and the language limitations of some of the trainers, it was hard. If they're trying to explain a nuance to you and neither of you are completely fluent in the language of the other, a lot gets lost.
Summary: I think this gym is probably good for mid-level amateurs, not the best for novices. They could vastly improve in the way they welcome new people and introduce them to boxing: rather than assume we will figure it out or that we know what we're doing, there needs to be a 5-minute explanation that it's a circuit workout with 3 3-minute rounds at each station and so-and-so will train you throughout your workout. It's simple as that but is easily confusing for a person who knows nothing about boxing. -
Review from gail q.
4/24/2008
I like Mendez. I only go there once a week to have a private training session with someone who isn't on their staff, but I've gathered the following points:
1. Mendez does not smell in the way that many boxing gyms smell like someone took a giant, mildewy bag of never-washed handwraps and shoved them into the ventilation system and then cranked up the heat.
2. I'm not sure what there ringside spit bucket system is, and that's a HUGE bonus, because it means I haven't ever wondered "Sweet Christ, is that smell coming from the spit bucket?"
3. The lady behind the counter is really nice. She smiles at you, makes eye contact, speaks to you, and even says important things like, "You know, the monthly fee is only $90 if you don't want to pay per session." If you've ever been to a boxing gym where the pre-verbal, post-dementia pugilistica waste of carbon behind the counter mouth-breathing-ly eyes you for 7 painful minutes before deciding to "assist" you, you're probably on your way to Mendez right now with a camera, because you don't believe this "politeness" phenomenon exists.
4. It's clean! No, for real! You won't die from a staph infection within 30 seconds of entering the locker room!
5. It's way better than Kingsway. For, like, 600 reasons. You can believe me, or ask all the other Kingsway refugees who are now at Mendez.
6. There's enough room to do things. I go at a weird time, so I probably miss the worst of it, but I've never waited for a bag, and everyone here seems so happy to be somewhere decent that they'll actually share space with you. "Like, hey, friend! You can jump rope next to me." Seriously, it happened yesterday, and it was really touching.
It's like the people who own Mendez actually care about what they're doing, which is a big shock for people like me who are totally used to paying for the use of a filthy dungeon of misogyny and stinking used gloves. No, I mean it - have you ever smelled a laundry cart full of loaner gloves used by people who don't know it's "ok" and "you're still a man" if you WASH your handwraps? It's like sticking your head into a port-a-potty full of corpses and armpits. It's not right. WASH YOUR HANDWRAPS.
You should go to Mendez, especially if you're all about friendly, clean, inexpensive little boxing gyms. It's totally the boxing gym your dad would open if he was some nice guy named Mendez. I love Mendez and I want to hug it. -
Review from Leonard M.
Bronx, NY
8/17/2009
So after looking at a few pictures of myself in years past, I decided it was time to umm...shed a "few" pounds. I tried bally and nysc but for some reason I couldn't find the motivation to keep going. Then my bro told me I should try boxing. (looks easy right....just close your eyes and swing) I started out at church st. and although it is a very good gym it is also very expensive. After a few months layoff a co-worker of mine told me about mendez. After my visit on saturday Im hooked. (actually supposed to be there now, but I had to write this review first) When I first walked in I wasnt intimidated at all although I have some experience, and my trainer Max pushed me harder than ever. So if your looking to get in shape or want to learn a few things for self defense check out mendez.
p.s.
Bring a towel and good sneakers you'll be working hard in them. -
Review from Adam Z.
New York, NY
6/25/2009
Every so often I run into a Yelp dilemma. I find a place that I absolutely love and want to share with the world, only to realize that what I love most is that the place is a well kept secret.
I am just finishing up my first month at Mendez Boxing and am completely hooked (and jabbed). Mendez Boxing is a no-frills boxing gym for those who are serious about learning the sweet science.
Mendez allows you to sign up daily or monthly with or without a trainer. If you sign up with a trainer you are assigned the next available one when you walk in each day. This is great for two reasons 1) it makes Mendez convenient since you are not set to a schedule and 2) each trainer provides a little different spin that keeps everything fresh and really helps you progress. The trainers are fairly consistent among each other so its like having a team of trainers. Each of trainers is knowledgeable, friendly, attentive and (most importantly) patient. They're also not afraid to kick your a$$ if you start slacking off.
The gym is clean and, like Gail said, does not smell like mildewy bag of handwraps. It can get crowded during prime time (6-8PM M-Th) but I've never had a problem getting all my work in. The locker rooms and showers are tiny, but your not in there long enough for it to matter.
It has been a long time since I had as effective a workout as I get at Mendez Boxing. I've lost close to 10 lbs this month and can't wait to get to the gym each day. I'm often shocked when my 90 minute workout is complete despite the fact that I can barely keep my arms up.
If you're tired of NYSC or are bored with your current workout, learn the sweet science at Mendez Boxing. Just try not to tell too many people.
Good to know: A working knowledge of Spanish would be very handy at Mendez. I speak/understand very little Spanish and get along fine, but a little more mastery of the language would be helpful. -
Review from Don Juan F.
San Jose, CA
2/4/2009
I agree with everything Gail said except for the Kingsway part, since I've never been there.
Everyone there is super helpful from the lady working the front desk, to the coaches, to the juice bar guy, to the random aspiring pugilist you meet in the locker room, to Francisco Mendez himself. -
Review from S. S.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2011
The personal-training aspect of this boxing gym is really nice. I signed up and went for about a week... won't be back though (mainly because the commute for me is too far and I don't have that extra 45min everyday)
My 2 complaints are it is EXPENSIVE, but I guess this is new york city... and my other complaint is some of the trainers, while most of them are super nice & helpful (I LOVE HECTOR). But my last time there I was working with one of them who kept complaining about my stance (I'm doing this to workout, not to be a professional boxer... relax) and kept interrupting some 50+ year old woman on the heavy-bag to come show me how to do it... like isn't that your job? Not to mention it's a little insulting as a young 20yr old, it's like getting my mom to come show me how to do some workout (which would never happen). And then says things to me like "is this your first day here? your first time boxing isn't it?" ...and at the time I had been boxing for 8+ months... so it was a little rude/insulting, especially when he smirked when I told him no I just moved back here and had been boxing since last year where I used to live. He is my only complaint though, every other employee I came into contact with always helped, was encouraging and made sure I liked the gym and was doing good. Unfortunately since you cannot control what trainer you work with, I'll save my $185 and not risk getting insulted after I just spent 20min walking super far to the gym. Sorry Mendez, not for me. -
Review from Catherine L.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2011
I am a fan! And as soon as I can move freely again, I'm starting my membership. The guys move like real boxers here (none of that fluffy looking cardio boxing stuff). Trainers are available all day to coach you one on one! It's like you're getting a personal training throughout your hour-hour & half and a physical therapist at the end helping you stretch out. This is by far the BEST boxing class I've taken in my life.
-
Review from Taylor S.
Manhattan, NY
6/9/2011
Simply put, just a great place to get a killer workout and polish up your boxing skills at the same time. The gym itself is pretty small, but they've packed all of the essential equipment in and somehow everyone seems to make it work. The staff is friendly and welcoming and will customize a daily workout to your needs and goals. Mendez is clean - always a plus, and something that can't be said about a lot of the other boxing gyms you'll come across. Go and try it out - you'll come away exhausted, and a bit more skilled in the pugilistic arts.
-
Review from caroline o.
Austin, TX
12/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mendez Boxing is the best! I come here 3 times a week and absolutely love it.
-
Review from Christina F.
New York, NY
Updated - 7/1/2010
Ask for Hector, the best trainer, ever!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/20/2010
Love Mendez Boxing! My pal and I definitely get a good work out in w/ our trainer... despite the… Read more »
-
-
Review from C R.
New York, NY
3/28/2010
i've visited trinity, church st and mendez and if i were to commit to one of them i'd probably choose mendez.
some quick notes, trinity is probably the most pricey in the bunch. i found the gym a little uptight/ostentatious feeling. locker rooms are ok, seems like they put an effort to make them nicer than bare bones.
church st is what i thought a boxing gym would feel like. it's in the basement, or rather in like the 9th level of dante's inferno. it's a big room with equipment that has taken lots of punching and the place def smells like what you'd think a boxing gym would smell like. kinda charming in a way. they have off-hour member pricing which is about 30% cheaper. locker rooms, bring your noseplugs or better yet, wash up at home.
mendez is on a window-ed floor and the staff is friendly. i've met with salvador and have had good workouts using mitts, heavy bag, speed bag, footwork drills. pricing seems reasonable. i'd just be afraid to work out here in the summer cuz i don't think there's a/c. locker rooms are a bit of an afterthought here.
all three gyms are free or charge small fee for 1st time visitors. no need for females to feel intimidated at any of them. personally i think beginners should learn some basic things first before trying the free session so you can get more out of it and understand the equipment available better. i box for exercise, not to train for a fight and all three of these gyms are good for getting an intense workout. if you don't want to punch a ton and get too big, just move around the bag more and practice footwork, move your head. that gets you out of breath a lot too. -
Review from Theo R.
San Francisco, CA
8/12/2010
visited new york for vacation and was looking for a boxing gym nearby to get a workout in. found mendez boxing gym and when i walked in I automatically said to myself this looks and smells like a boxing gym. now don't get me wrong this is exactly what i was look for. a strictly no BS boxing gym. i should've took advantage and worked with one of the trainers, instead i just ended up doing my own circuit and left.
cons- may not be for kids
pros- good place to train if you want to become a fighter. also good place to learn the sweet science of boxing. -
Review from Jenny H.
Brooklyn, NY
8/8/2011
I think the idea behind this place is great... circuits and boxing.. where could you go wrong? Well just like another review... it all comes down to your trainer... my trainer spoke maybe four words of English and it was so loud in there, it was difficult to understand his directions. Secondly, he was so rude! My shirt had scrunched up and he was trying to get me to turn my torso.. he said, turn.... "see get rid of that fat., turn." He tried to grab my sides, but no dice... muscle, jerk! Then he grabbed my face so hard to keep me from turning my head... look I'm no sissy... I practiced tae kwon do for years, kick boxing and had taken one boxing intro prior... I watched my trainer slap the hamstring of the guy next me... then he did the same to me and held onto my hips... I moved away from him and he said: You okay? Yeah, stop touching me! Seriously? He sent me to the ring where I did punches but he did not show me the hook, so then the other trainer had to work with me... next up the speed bag... the other trainer had a thicker accent, spoke English but I could not make it out what he wanted. He tells me to hit with the sides of my hands. I do that for about 5 minutes and this guy comes over... I think he was just a patron, but gave me the most thorough explanation of why and how. I got it and was doing pretty well... After an hour of circuits, I left and honestly have no interest in going back. I do not feel solid in stance or my punching and the last place I trained I understood more in 15 minutes then I did at Mendez in an hour. I'm sure if you have different trainers it wouldn't be as frustrating to get good instruction and clear communication.... or if you are already a boxer... but not sure if I really want to find out. Very disappointed!
-
Review from Neil S.
Waterford, MI
9/26/2009
Great Workout! Everyone there was very helpful and friendly. I am in from out of town so will not be back anytime soon. However, if i lived in NYC I would try to go 1-2 days a week.
-
Review from shilpa p.
New York, NY
8/24/2010
my trainer is the best. love you king. can't wait to fight.
-
Review from Jeff S.
New York, NY
11/14/2010
I've trained at six boxing gyms in NY, among them Times Square, Kingsway, Church Street, and Gleasons. The people at Mendez are the best - the place projects a great mindset and the owner is a gentleman and a responsible business owner. It is CLEAN unlike anywhere else. Everything is well maintained, and a great selection of equipment sold near the entry. This really is the best boxing gym in NY, not the biggest, just the best.
