The AWCA Gym Environment

Thanks to everyone asking how the re-build of the new gym went. The overall project is completed but there are still a few touch-ups going on that will take a bit while the rest of our equipment is delivered.

As most of you know, I started teaching in 1993 in parks, backyards, garages, etc. Over time I moved us to a commercial location but after approximately 6 months, I realized that the commercial setting was somehow becoming a detriment. Was it just that specific location? Possibly. It was very busy so it was a good spot, and even the occasional challenge fight from walk-ins and rival schools was looked forward to (I’ll save that for another article).

However, the whole environment just never seemed like family to me. It was always cold and became more of a business vs. having fun training, and the rent sky rocketed to a point in such a short time that I would have had to have 35 students just to pay the rent. Add to that the day-to-day workings of a school and you can see how much of a headache it was becoming.

That is why I took us back home. I decided that the home setting was really more to my liking, as well as being reminiscent of how our ancestors trained. And that was one of the best decisions I have ever made for the AWCA. Within a matter of weeks, everyone’s attitude greatly improved, skill levels were increasing at a ridiculous rate, and morale was through the roof.

This is now the third AWCA gym I have built at home. Three houses later, I think I am getting the hang of how to gut a garage and refinish it top to bottom. New walls, new ceiling and a new floor sealed in. The dummy is up and another is on the way. The wallbag is up with two more on the way, for a total of two dummies and 3 wallbags.

Additional equipment here and also on its way consists of two heavy bags, a BOB sparring bag, a small platform for training the plum flower blossom piles footwork, and a special setup for working the pole and knives solo.

Outside will see a “dead” dummy (positioned in the ground vs. wall-mounted), as well as two additional setups for working the pole and knives. Once completed, it will be a very nice gym with everything needed for pure down-and-out hard-core Wing Chun training.

The remaining room is used for all of the video equipment for recording the eBooks, Distance Learning Program curriculums, and our Video of the Month. Lights, stands, backdrops, dolly and track, etc., all have their place, so I am quite proud of the gym we have built thus far.

Some might see this and think they could never afford it or have the time to do it. Well trust me, you can. Remember that none of this happened overnight, and it took me a few times doing it to know what works best in what location. What we now have took almost two years to put together, and it was certainly worth it. You can build a nice little gym, too. It just takes time, patience, and a bit of saving your money for the right equipment.