Ivan Salaverry MMA — Local services in Seattle

Living in Belltown I wanted something close by, and looked around a bit. Ivan's was not the closest place, but the other one I found, really felt more like a fitness gym using Martial Arts/Combat Sports as a way to get in shape and not for combat purposes.

After being at Ivan's once, I immediately liked it and enrolled. For what it's worth, I have taken classes in Boxing Beginner, Kickboxing intermediate and Kickboxing Sparring. I haven't taken any BBJ/Wresting class so I cannot comment on anything there.

The teachers are usually nice and friendly (one of the boxing teacher can be a little military style, but that is because he wants us to be the best we can be... it might not be for everyone so I thought I would mention it, but he also wouldn't be like this with someone with less than a month of experience).

The owner is there as well and teaches BBJ/Wrestling classes , so you know they're not just using his name for show. He's also very friendly which is always great.

The students are nice people, ranging from not in shape at all to models-like. It was very interesting seeing that the physically strongest people were not usually the ones actually delivering the strongest hits, technique is indeed everything.

Being a beginner, I honestly don't have much to compare the teachers to... but they seem legit to me, and I certainly wouldn't want to have a real fight with any of them (or some of the students).

A class is usually divided in 3 parts: Warmup (jump roping, shadow boxing, running around, stretching, etc) The technique training (hitting the bags, hitting mitts with a partner, etc) Conditioning (pushups, crunches, squats, etc). No matter how hard the first 2 parts are, the worse one is always the last one, luckily it doesn't last more than 8 minutes max :) Conditioning is really a big part of it, I've been an amateur bodybuilder for a decade, and I could barely stand up and walk home after my first hour of boxing beginner in the beginning, IT IS THAT TOUGH (granted I've always had low stamina and muscle endurance). After a month it gets a bit easier, just a bit. I've been there for a few months now and slowly I was able to sort of handle taking 2-3 classes in a row. It's still a major beating by the end and all I want is to lay down/sleep :)

Pros: They have a ring and we are free to train in it if it's not used. They have some lifting equipment although not enough for me to not have a gym membership. I like the teachers Boxing classes are rarely packed Good location (for me) Plenty of free gear you can use if you don't have yours (gloves, helmets, mitts, etc) Cons: The ground can be pretty dirty, I always leave with black feet full of dust or so... it gets even worse once it's also full of students' sweat (but I don't know what they could about that with one class right after the other..) I hate most of their jumping ropes, they're like in leather and it hurts a lot when you miss and hit your toes (no shoes..) Kickboxing classes can get packed sometimes, that's the cost of success. The class schedule is not perfect for me, I'd like to go 3 days a week, but not 2 days in a row, which is not possible (classes are from Monday to Thursday, open mat Friday and Saturday). Also, I'd like to eventually take Wrestling on top of my current Boxing and Kickboxing classes, but it is at the same time as KB both days so it is not possible.

All in all I'm happy, and I hope...

Ivan Salaverry gym is one of the greatest gyms in the entire region. I have been training and competing for 8 years and teaching for 5 and I STILL find myself learning every single day. The gym itself has every single amenity you could ever want including but not limited to, showers,multiple bathrooms, lockerrooms, scales, a complete weight room area, multiple rooms for training, an entire boxing ring, every bag available for every combat sport,body dummies, I could keep going but I have more to say about the staff. Besides having UFC veterans and active competitors of every level taking classes and teaching them, they are top notch as it gets. Like I said, I have been competing for 8 years and when I first came here I was shocked at how well they explain and get hands on with you. Every person regardless of whether or not you have ever even thrown a punch or are a professional fighter, can and WILL learn oodles of techniques and get in killer shape to boot! Ivan's will be my gym, my home really for the rest of my life. If I could give them more than 5 stars I would...

I have been training martial arts for 10+ years and have visited many gyms in the US. Ivan Salaverrys mma is hands down one of the best I’ve ever visited, great technique and instruction along with welcoming and understanding energy. It keeps the hard nose intensity of a fight gym with the new age training techniques that make it possible for anyone to join and jump right in to classes. Ivan is one of the warmest welcomes I’ve ever had into a gym and I have seen no special treatment in this regard he is truly great...