Back 2 Basics Boxing

I always want to learn some boxing and here it is — a perfect place and location for me to learn. The coach is nice and wonderful. He not only gives boxing lessons but also gives instructions on cardio work out which is essential.
Here, you can lend boxing wraps and boxing gloves and all you need for each class is to be there and get ready to punch some bags.
Highly recommend!

I no longer attend Back 2 Basics Boxing, primarily due to a new job whose commute makes stopping by after work very inconvenient, but I still highly recommend it.

I was excited to start a new membership at a boxing gym recently, and after doing some research I decided Back 2 Basics was a good fit. I called them multiple times during business hours, and left multiple messages and never received a response. Apparently they aren’t interested in new customers.

B2B is not your typical gym, and Coach Harold Cook is not your typical trainer. The gym is, as the name suggests, basic. This is old school training and there’s nothing like it. No elliptical machines here, just hard work.
Each session is slightly different, but consists of a warm up with intense body weight exercises. The second half is boxing: bag work, footwork, and learning the fundamentals and proper technique. Cook adjusts his instruction and the purpose of each session depending on the crowd and the experience level to keep the workouts engaging.
Cook, a former professional who knows the sport inside and out, is in fact the type of person we need more of in our communities. He keeps a focus on his clients’ fitness and also the bigger picture of their goals. Moreover, it’s not unusual to find Cook working with his younger athletes on their schoolwork between training sessions.
Whether you’re interested in sparring, competing, or just improving your fitness and learning a new sport, B2B is the right place. Check it out.

So I’m sitting here beside a bag of Nestle chocolate chips, watching the umpteenth episode of SYTYCD, probably slowing undoing everything I’ve accomplished here in the last year…
Sorry, Coach!
Since my last review B2B has actually moved locations. The downside, for me, is that it’s a further commute which often winds up translating into me being late for class. But there are far more upsides. The new space, while similar in size, is much cheerier, with bright white walls and sunlight filtering in. It also has AC, which not only makes a more comfortable gym environment, also allows for class to keep schedule even in these hellacious 110-​degree months. Harold has added a lot of additional equipment over time, including double-​end bags, speed-​bags that size down as small as a grapefruit, and some bane-​of-​my-​existance ab wheels.
And I still love coming here. From mitt-​work to footwork, weight lifting to interval training, heavy-​bag speed drills to track, it seems like we’ve done it all. But as soon as I start thinking that, Harold introduces something new and challenging and interesting.
And it’s effective. I’ve dropped weight, gained muscle, and really seen myself grow. In a recent push-​up challenge to failure, I completed 81! Eighty-​one push-​ups, ya’ll. From not being able to do a single chin-​up, I can now knock out 3. Harold’s been a big component of helping me reach my potential, but also to keep looking beyond that and strive for more.
If you’re looking for a truly unique workout in an intimate environment where you’re sure to benefit from a personal approach to workouts, from an instructor who meets you where you are fitness-​wise, do yourself a favor and check out a class here.
A few quirks: no music & no mirrors (so no distractions; though sometimes I wonder about my form without being able to see it). Also no water cooler, so remember to pack a big bottle because you WILL sweat.

Everyone should experience a training session or fitness program with Harold Cook, the owner and trainer at Back2Basics boxing. I’ve attended a few daily workouts at the gym and really enjoyed them. They consist of a warm-​up, dynamic strength and conditioning exercises (e.g. mountain climbers, push-​ups, burpies, lunges, etc), and boxing work with the heavy bags. These are whole body workouts that build your strength, balance, and endurance – be ready to sweat and work hard. Typical workout attire is fine, and boxing gloves and wraps are available if you don’t have your own. Bring water, too.
Harold also offers personal training sessions, which I highly recommend if you’re looking for a more individualized experience. His rates are incredibly reasonable compared to other trainers in the area, and you get so much more. I’ve been searching for a personal trainer for years, and I felt like I struck gold when I found Harold. In addition to being an experienced athlete and trainer, he’s someone who is genuinely interested in helping you reach your fitness goals. His philosophy is to start from where you’re at as an individual, and build on that each session. I’ve been working with him for almost two months now, and I’ve found him to be a great coach – dependable, encouraging, intense when necessary, knowledgeable, and fun.
A word about the gym itself… It’s anything but a typical gym, and I mean that in a good way. Back to basics is really the best way to describe it (no TV’s, no music, no mirrors). I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a no frills place to work hard and get fit.

My wife and I joined this gym after moving to the downtown Durham area. We use to train with the owner (Harold) at LA Boxing in South Durham and when he opened this gym we followed him here. We checked out several of the downtown/​central Durham gyms and none of them were quite what we were looking for. CrossFit was probably the closest but it’s much more expensive. When we stopped in at Danny Daniels Fitness Studio we found the owner to be disinterested. The YMCA seemed very crowded. There were other gyms further away and many of those seem to change owners every year.
What I like about this boxing gym is that you get to learn technique and you also get a great workout. Nearly every muscle in your body gets exercised. The warmup and cool-​down routines usually incorporate exercises such as squats, push-​ups, pull-​ups, jump rope, etc. The main boxing routine usually includes different combos on a heavy bag. Some of the drills are more focused on speed and others strength. Since this gym is new, classes are generally small — which I really appreciate.
Right now we do just boxing but Harold plans to begin offering kickboxing routines as well. As for the facilities, they have 6 heavy bags and various equipment such as pull-​up bar, jump rope, and dumb bells. There is no A/​C but this has not been bothering me (think of it as Bikram boxing). I’ve been working out in the evenings when the outside temperature has reached the 90s. The fans do a nice job of keeping the air circulating.