You can spend a fortune on kickboxing equipment before your first class. You do not need to.
Here is what is genuinely useful in your first three months, in the order we recommend buying it.
Buy in this order
Start with the things that protect you and your training partners. Everything else can wait until you know you are staying.
- 1. 12oz or 14oz gloves.
- 2. Hand wraps.
- 3. Shin guards if you plan to kick.
- 4. A towel, because you will need it.
What to skip for now
Fancy brand-name gloves, custom shorts and a bag full of accessories will not make you better. A clean pair of wraps and a coach's correction will.
Fall training notes
Fall is the busiest season for new members — schools restart, work routines settle and people finally book the class they have been thinking about all summer.
- Book your classes for the week on Sunday night, not on the day.
- Warm up for two extra minutes if you have been sitting at a desk all day.
- Keep one rest day after your hardest session — recovery is part of the programme.
Common mistakes we see every week
- Throwing arm punches. Power starts at the floor. If your rear heel stays down and your hip does not turn, you are pushing, not punching.
- Standing square. A bladed stance gives you reach and something to hide behind.
- Bouncing with no purpose. Move with a reason: in, out, or to an angle.
- Skipping the jab. The jab sets everything up. It is also the punch you can throw all night.
A drill you can try between classes
Jab-and-move ladder. You do not need a partner or a bag for most of this, and it takes about fifteen minutes:
- Three minutes: jab, step out at an angle.
- Three minutes: jab, cross, pivot.
- Three minutes: jab, cross, lead hook, reset.
- One minute rest between rounds. Keep your hands up when you are tired — that is the actual training.
Training at ARC MMA in Toronto
We run Kickboxing classes at 382 Yonge St in downtown Toronto, two minutes from College Station. Classes are capped at 20 people, coached from start to finish, and open to complete beginners. If you want to see whether it fits, book a free 1-on-1 trial — you will get a coach, a pair of loaner gloves and no sales pitch.
You can see the full timetable on the classes and pricing page, meet the coaches on the trainers page, and check upcoming seminars on the events page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I borrow gear for my first class?
Yes. Ask at the desk and we will fit you with loaner gloves and wraps.
Do I need a mouthguard?
Not for drilling. Yes, once sparring starts.
How much should a beginner spend?
Around $150–$250 covers the essentials for most people, depending on the program.
Written by the coaching team at ARC MMA. Questions about this guide? Send us a message or call (416) 450-8020.
Related reading
- Is Kickboxing Safe? Questions Worth Asking Before You Start — October 2026 — Is kickboxing safe for a complete beginner? A straight answer from ARC MMA coaches in Toronto, plus the questi.
- Kickboxing Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Fix Them) — October 2026 — The mistakes almost every kickboxing beginner makes in the first few months, and the simple fixes our coaches .
- The First Kickboxing Techniques You'll Learn (and Why) — October 2026 — The first kickboxing techniques our Toronto coaches teach beginners, in the order you learn them, and why they.
Where to go next
Have a look at classes and pricing or book a free trial if you want to try a session. For a wider view of the discipline, the Olympic kickboxing programme is worth following: the Olympic kickboxing programme.