Richard Lord’s Gym

If you are looking for a gym where you can chat with your friends and text, this is not the gym for you. I am incredibly uncoordinated and never boxed before, so I was terrified to go to this gym for the first time by myself. I felt really out of place, but was determined to get a good workout in. I got what I came for — and more.
Richard has created and maintained a boxing haven. He is focused, hardcore, and straight-​forward, but also very personable and has so much heart for boxing and anyone who shows up to work out. Everyone I came across was more than willing to help with form or any questions I had. My son loves boxing, so I signed him up. Not only has he improved his form, agility, and overall athleticism, he is more confident and mature. Richard sets an example for these young boys — showing them discipline, respect, hard-​work, and good character.

Love it here! Everyone there is nice/​helpful, it has a great vibe, and it’s a good price. Overall a killer gym with everything you need.

Excellent. We had a group of 15 of us for a hands on to go through the basics. Started off with 30 minutes stretch and light cardio. Don’t forget to bring a towel to put over the mats when you are stretching. We had six trainers onsite, so each station went through what to work with focus mitts, speed bag, double bag, and heavy bags. Well worth it as I learned quite a bit about speed bag and double bag (I have been doing it wrong!). I have zero plans to box anyone, but love working out on heavy bags for cardio and strength training. Only regret was 90 minutes went by fast, excellent workout. Thank You to Richard Lord and everyone there.

This gym is not for beginners! If you know your stuff just need a place to work out, this is your place. You aren’t going to learn boxing techniques from their classes. The classes are more like core + ab exercises. They won’t push you, but you will need to get private training sessions to actually learn the sweet science of boxing. Remember to do your research on their trainers before paying for any private sessions. Other than Richard, there are lots of trainers there don’t really know what they are doing.

I have known Richard for almost two decades now so I hope this review carries some weight with whoever is reading it. This gym is not some cardio-​box class in a pretty chain-​store gym — this is Old School, Traditional, REAL Boxing; nothing pretty about it. You may not learn how to dance in this gym, but you will learn how to box. Respect.

I’ve boxed for many years and used to compete for a bit when I lived in Chicago. I looked everywhere trying to find a gym in Austin that would let me just come in and hit bags without taking classes. But, everyone wanted me to pay $ 100 per month or more — and I had to come at scheduled times to take their class (which was often being taught by someone who’d never had a real bout).
But, this place is legit. You can use any bag that isn’t already occupied and everyone there is respectful and cool. They have a lot of equipment to choose from, including some activities to do outside (such as hitting the tire with a sledge hammer or sprints while pulling a sled behind you).
Richard Lord is very likeable, and fair and honest (which is not really common in my experience at boxing gyms). I travel too much to go as often as I’d like, but I leave with a big smile on face every time I go. Boxing has been my favorite workout for many years — very cathartic and develops an amazing mix of strength (especially core), endurance and cardiovascular health.
This place quickly became one of my favorite in Austin. If you go there and you don’t know how to do something, you just have to ask someone. I’ve helped people with technique on stuff many times, but most veterans aren’t going to offer advice that isn’t requested. Just ask any questions in between rounds when they are taking a rest. People love to share their knowledge (that goes for every gym — not just Lords).
If you have an interest in boxing, are looking to lose weight or just want to stay fit — check it out!

This review is for the Boxing Classes only:
This is a decent facility for an experienced boxer. But I am not experienced which is why I signed up for CLASSES. To me «class» means there will be «teaching» or «guidance» of which there was some but not enough for a novice.
The first 30 minutes is devoted to the «warm-​up.» For this I was shown where the jump ropes were and then told to «get my heart rate up.» Uh… okay.
After the warm-​up, everyone enters the ring and is led by Richard through a 25 – 30 minute ab-​workout. This part was good; my abs were pretty sore the next day. Richard offers minimal corrections or explanation but since he is performing the workout as well as leading I could dope out what to do for the most part.
After the ab-​workout you more or less make up your own circuit routine on the speed bag, heavy bag, and whatever other equipment is available. The first day an employee showed us the ropes and provided some tips and guidance. But the second day there was no one available and I felt like I might hurt myself if I continued improvising my routine unsupervised. All I can guess is that by day-​two you are expected to recall everything and/​or figure out how to box organically. But I was there to take a «boxing class» not to figure things out on my own. If I wanted to do that I would buy a book.
Again if you already know what you are doing, this place will probably fit your needs. The vibe is friendly and it seems to have all of the trappings and equipment you would expect in a boxing gym. But if you are looking for a regimented class or someone to teach you about form and technique this class is probably not for you.

Joining Lord’s Gym was a great move on my part. I have made it part of my daily routine. Richard knows everyone by name and I have yet to meet an unfriendly person. Everyone is extremely nice and willing to help you learn. Worth looking into if your ready to get in shape in a great atmosphere!

The MOST legit gym in the ATX. What I love the most is that everyone is in there to get REALLY sweaty! No heaters or AC so you’re toughing it out one way or the other and that is just my style!
Richard Lord is always there pushing me just a little further and encouraging everyone to do just a little more. Let’s be honest, we ALL need that from the owner of the gym! Everyone there is so helpful and really there to work hard.
I’ve recently signed up for the UT informal class which definitely provides more structure than just the gym but both ways have been awesome for me. It is definitely the best workout I’ve ever gotten in my entire life!

One of the most overrated gyms in Austin. The equipment is many years old and falling apart. The double end bags are useless to anyone looking to really train or learn. Only the people that don’t know how to use them think they are in good conditions because they don’t know how to use them. They have people that have only been training for 1 month as instructors and a core trainer that looks and is completely out of shape.
They also have no insurance and don’t cover any injuries whatsoever, even those caused by their own incompetence. Recently a young man got a broken nose while sparring because they didn’t teach him the proper defense technique. When you don’t have a proper defense technique you shouldn’t spar, and yet they had him spar with someone at a much higher level than him.
When you are first learning to box you must learn your footwork and how to jab. This takes a week at the very least. At Richard Lord’s gym, the unprepared trainers start you out with 3 or 4 punch combos with the mitts. Nuff said.
Richard Lord is a good salesman, nothing more.
I cannot recommend this gym to anyone who is serious about learning to box.

This is a gym that is as legitimate as they come — but shouldn’t intimidate any newcomer. There are people training at all levels and degrees of fitness. Please do yourself a favor and train at Richard Lord’s gym, I trained here for three years through junior high and high school and it changed my life.

Well, I did it. I signed up and I’m loving it. Almost all of it. I still have no clue what I’m doing and have had the opportunity to get some help from some some pros when they’re not too busy. I really enjoy what I’m learning and will keep coming back! Early, that is. I’m a little turned off by the large amount of people here. I guess I just like things a little more intimate and less crowded.
Not being part of the UT class, and coming in independantly has been a little difficult. As friendly as they say everyone is, I don’t agree quite so much… yet. I’ll give it more time, I’m sure I’ll see improvements to myself very soon. One of the toughest ab workouts I’ve ever had!

If you know what a boxing gym is, then you don’t have to read any further. You know that this is the only place in town that’s worth training at.
If you don’t know, then take a hint that I used the word training and not «working out». That’s what you do here. You train. You don’t come here to stand around looking cool. You don’t come here to find a hookup for Saturday night. You come here to work.
There is no air condition, there is no heat. There is a dark little dressing room with a broken shower. The place is grimy, dirty, and you might even say «rustic» if you were trying to be diplomatic, but I’m not.
Richard, Lori, are top notch trainers and will whip you into shape. If you want to fight, they’ll help you fight. If you want to just get into shape, they’ll help you get into the best shape of your life. You’ll only go as far as YOU want to.
The people there range from pro fighters to dentists and software designers to UPS employees to UT students (thankfully not too many of the latter). But everyone gets along. No one will try to get to do anything you’re not comfortable with.
So why not 5 stars?
Wildcard in Los Angeles is my 5 star gym, and I’ll never betray Freddie and the gang :)

Yes, this is a cut and pasting of my citysearch review… Its my review, I can do whatever the hell I want. I will just say this before you see the review: Im not sure if I believe in ADD, but if I do, I have it. Given that, I change my mind about interests VERY often. I trained at Richard Lord’s boxing gym for 15 years until this year only because I converted my garage (with richard’s help) into a smaller version of his gym.
Anyway, here is the review:
I hate gyms in Austin. Either they are full of guys with fake tans in spandex, strippers, or girls in makeup looking for a date. This is a real gym: no makeup. No fake tans. No air conditioning. You come in, you work out hard, you leave. You are not going to find a date for Friday. You are not going to find friends with whom to play poker. You are going to work out until everything hurts and you can’t take it anymore. And then, you are going to go home, look in the mirror, and be very, very pleased with the results.

Richard Lord is an Austin institution as a fitness guru and martial artist. He is inspirational to train with and very knowledgeable of his discipline. He has trained world champions (Jesus Chavez) and celebrities (David Bowie). He has a system wide approach to training including flexibility, strength, endurance and agility.