SGP Fight Club: Building Strong, Confident Women Through Combat Sports

SGP Fight Club stands as a beacon for women seeking strength, confidence, and community through combat sports. This female-only gym offers specialized training in boxing, traditional kickboxing, Kenpo karate, and Muay Thai, cultivating an environment where women can thrive, whether for self-defense or competitive fighting. Owned by Sarah and featuring instructor and fighter Emily, SGP Fight Club not only hones physical prowess but also champions mental resilience and a supportive sisterhood.

The Genesis of a Female-Only Fight Club

Sarah's journey into combat sports began at age five, following her brother into martial arts. Despite training her entire life and achieving a second-degree black belt in Kenpo, she faced a persistent challenge: being the only female in adult programs. This meant sparring primarily with men, making it difficult to accurately gauge her skills against female opponents. This firsthand experience fueled her vision for a dedicated space where women could train and compete together, a place where women could truly see where they stood in combat.

During the pandemic, Sarah seized the opportunity to launch SGP Fight Club. Initially offering virtual cardio kickboxing classes that attracted members from as far as Australia, the gym transitioned to outdoor sessions before securing its current physical location in North Syracuse. Emily, an instructor and fighter, joined during these early outdoor days, becoming a vital part of the team. The gym emphasizes various combat styles, focusing on striking arts for K1 style kickboxing and Muay Thai competitions. While they incorporate ground and pound on bags, they do not engage in grappling or MMA.

Inside SGP Fight Club's Rigorous Training Regimen

For those aspiring to compete, SGP Fight Club offers an intensive eight-week fight camp, largely conducted outside the gym. Emily describes much of the training as "bullshit but necessary bullshit," indicating the demanding nature of the preparation. This structured program demands significant independent motivation, with a brutal workload designed to build comprehensive physical and mental readiness.

• Strength training six times a week, typically split into three arm and three leg days.
• Road work, progressing from jump rope to four-mile runs.
• Sprinting and hill training.
• Utilizing equipment like air bikes.
• Extensive extra bag work and incessant shadow boxing to sharpen skills.

Fighting is substantially more mental than it is physical. 100% without a shadow of a doubt.

Emily highlights the profound mental demands of fight camp. Balancing life, family, and intense training while maintaining mental focus is crucial. While some who initially express interest in fighting ultimately withdraw, others, like Courtney and Jess, started unsure but have since found success, demonstrating the transformative power of the program. Adhering to the program provides significant health benefits, even for those not competing.

Sparring, Strategy, and Support in Combat Sports

SGP Fight Club hosts open sparring sessions monthly or every two months, inviting participants from four to five different gyms. These sessions are mixed gender and expose fighters to diverse styles, allowing SGP members to adapt their techniques and prepare for a range of opponents. While sparring is controlled, instructors often intervene with "energy talk" to ensure the practice remains beneficial and respectful, preventing it from escalating into an uncontrolled fight.

Matching female fighters for competition presents unique challenges. Sarah explains that the pool of available female fighters is significantly smaller than for males, requiring careful consideration of weight classes and experience levels. As a "very picky coach," Sarah will decline fights if they are not fair, prioritizing her fighters' safety and development. Matches are typically arranged anywhere between five to eight weeks out from fight day.

The gym maintains collaborative relationships with other coaches and gyms, including Water's Edge Martial Arts and Hydra Muay Thai. These collaborations involve joint sparring sessions and mutual coaching advice, fostering a collective learning environment within the combat sports community. These partnerships allow SGP fighters to experience different training methodologies and opponents.

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