Safety is the question that decides whether someone joins a gym, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a sales pitch.
Most beginners spend their first classes on bags and pads. Contact sparring is available but never required. The rest is about how the class is run, who is watching, and whether the gym has a plan for the people who are new.
What to ask any gym
Before you sign anything, ask these questions. A good gym answers them without hesitating.
- Are coaches first-aid certified?
- How many people are in a class, and who is supervising?
- Is sparring optional, and who decides when someone is ready?
- How are injuries recorded and followed up?
- Are beginners separated from advanced contact work?
How we run it here
Classes are capped at 20 so a coach can actually watch. Sparring is opt-in, supervised and geared. Coaches are first-aid certified, and the mats are cleaned between sessions. If something hurts, you say so and the drill changes.
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
What is the most common injury?
Bumps, bruises and the occasional sprained finger — usually from uncontrolled contact, which is why we control it.
Do I need a doctor’s note?
Not for a normal class. If you have a heart condition, recent surgery or a pregnancy, check with your doctor first and tell the coach.
Is it safe for older adults?
Yes, with scaled drills. We have members training in their fifties and sixties.
Written by the coaching team at ARC MMA. Questions about this guide? Send us a message or call (416) 450-8020.
Related reading
- What Gear You Actually Need for Kickboxing — October 2026 — What gear you actually need for kickboxing and what can wait — a no-pressure buying guide from the coaches at .
- 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.