Do I need to be fit to start striking?
No. You take part at your own pace and the warm-up is built so you can stop whenever you want. The conditioning comes from showing up, not before it.
Striking
Striking classes
Striking is everything that happens standing up: punches, kicks, knees, guard and footwork. At Ruthless the class is called Striking because we do not follow one single sport. The base is kickboxing, with boxing added to it and with the techniques you need the moment someone starts wrestling, the way they are used in MMA.
You do not need any experience to start. In your first class you learn one combination and you drill it until it sticks. In the beginners group you train alongside other people who have just taken that first step, and you learn the basics at your own pace. If you mainly want to get fitter and a regular gym does little for you, this is a good place to be: you build conditioning while you drill combinations and pick up new techniques. Already have experience and want to go further? In the advanced group you sharpen your technique and train at a higher level.
Striking schedule
Monday
[[rooster:striking]]
Tuesday
09:30 - 10:30
Wednesday
18:00 - 19:00
Learning striking in Rotterdam
In the same room you will find someone who came for the first time last week standing next to someone preparing for a fight. That works, because you train with someone at your own level and because the coach asks different things of each group.
Striking for beginners
If you have never trained before, this is where you belong. You learn the basic stance, the four basic punches and the first kicks, and you work the pads with a partner who is just as new as you are. Beginners and advanced students train in the same class, but you get your own instruction and you are paired with someone at your level.
Striking for advanced students
For anyone who has the basics and wants to work on combinations, timing and tactics. Higher pace, longer rounds, more freedom in sparring.
Striking for women
Women train in the regular striking groups. If you would rather start in a class of your own first, there is the women's class: heavy bag training, without a partner and without sparring.
Striking for competition
If you want to step into the ring one day, you train towards a fight under guidance. You tell your coach; together you look at whether this is the right moment and what still needs work.
Your coaches
The striking classes are taught by Coach Billy. You can find every Ruthless coach and their background on About us.
Book a free striking trial class
Your first class is free and you are not tied to anything afterwards. You sign up through the form and hear back within one working day about when you can come in.
Arrive a quarter of an hour early, so you have time to change and look around.
What to expect
A class lasts an hour. You start with a warm-up, then you learn one combination and drill it on the pads with a partner, and you finish with bag work or conditioning and a cool-down.
You take part at your own pace. If you cannot go on halfway through, you stop for a moment. That happens in every class, to everyone, and nobody thinks anything of it. Sparring is not part of your first classes. You work on the pads and on the bag, not on each other's heads.
About sparring: it does not just happen here, and certainly not in your first classes. There is a separate sparring class on Thursday evening at 20:30, and you only go there once your coach says you are ready. Nobody ends up facing you uninvited, and you never have to take part to belong.
If you do want to spar hard or step into the ring, that is possible too. The advanced group spars seriously and there is a competition group working towards fights. Have a word with your coach after class.
What striking costs at Ruthless
At Ruthless you pay one amount per month and train in every discipline: heavy bag training, striking, BJJ, grappling, wrestling, MMA and strength and conditioning. If you come for one class and want to try another six months from now, there is nothing extra to pay. Cannot make it every week? There is also a 10-class card.
There is no registration fee. You choose a six-month or a one-year membership; after that a one-month notice period applies.
Frequently asked questions about striking
The questions we are asked most often about the striking classes.
Can I join if I have never fought before?
Yes, and that goes for most people in the beginners group. You learn one combination per class, demonstrated and guided.
Do I have to spar in my first class?
No. Sparring only comes once your coach thinks you are ready, and it always stays voluntary. There is a separate sparring class on Thursday evening and you only go there if you want to.
What is the difference between kickboxing and boxing?
In boxing you only use your hands. Kickboxing adds kicks and knees, plus defending against low kicks. Boxing is quicker to learn; kickboxing is more complete. See the striking classes
What is the difference between striking, kickboxing and muay thai?
Striking is the name of the class at Ruthless. The base is kickboxing: punches and kicks. Muay Thai adds the clinch and elbows to that. From a distance they look alike; up close it is a different fight. Muay Thai is not on the schedule as a separate class; what you need from it is in the striking classes.
What should I bring to my first class?
Sportswear, a towel and water. You can borrow gloves.
Are there classes specifically for women?
Yes: the women's class at Ruthless is heavy bag training, on the bag, without a partner and without sparring. In the striking classes themselves women train in the regular groups; usually five to ten per class.
How often a week should I train to make progress?
Twice a week is the point where techniques start to stick. Once a week works too, it just goes more slowly.
What does striking cost at Ruthless?
One membership gives access to every discipline, so you do not pay per sport. The current amounts are on the prices page, so you never read a price here that is already out of date.
Can I also do BJJ or MMA on the same membership?
Yes. Plenty of members combine striking with a ground sport. That is exactly what the membership is for.
Is the trial class really free, and am I tied to anything afterwards?
Your first class is free and without obligation; after that you choose a membership. All amounts and conditions are together on the prices page. The notice period is one month, starting at the end of your six-month or one-year membership.
Can children join too?
Yes, through Ruthless Kids. There children train kickboxing, BJJ and grappling side by side. See Ruthless Kids
Other disciplines at Ruthless
- Boxing: hands only, the quickest way to learn the basics.
- Heavy bag training: if you would rather train without a partner. Nobody touches you.
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: ground fighting where technique beats strength.
- MMA: everything combined.
It is all included in the same membership. See all programs
Want to try a class?
Come and join one of our training sessions, no strings attached, and see for yourself