Apex Jiu Jitsu & MMA teaches boxing, built on footwork, head movement, and clean combinations, at its Ashburn and Sterling academies in Virginia. Teens 14–17 and Adults 18+ train at both, Kids 6–9 and Youth 10–13 box on Saturdays at Ashburn, and your first class is free.
What it is
Boxing is the sweet science: two fists, two feet, and the skill of hitting without getting hit. At Apex it is taught as a technical sport first. You learn a stance you can move from, a jab that finds its range, a guard that holds up under pressure, and footwork that keeps you balanced while you punch. Combinations come next, and defense is built into them, so slipping, rolling, and stepping off the line become part of how you throw instead of an afterthought.
Classes use the tools every serious boxing room relies on. Shadowboxing grooves the mechanics. Bag work builds power, timing, and the conditioning that only honest rounds produce. Pad rounds with a partner or coach sharpen accuracy and teach you to punch at a moving target. Controlled sparring is there for students who want it, and it is never a requirement. Boxing does not use the jiu-jitsu belt system; like every striking program at Apex, progress follows skill milestones, with coaches giving verbal feedback and regular check-ins along the way.
Apex runs boxing at both of its academies, with one coaching standard across both academies and two schedules to choose from. John Brattelli, Head Coach for No-Gi and striking at the Ashburn academy, brings more than 25 years of boxing experience and a 2015 world title to the room, and he coaches at both locations.
If you are deciding between punching only and adding kicks, our guide to Muay Thai vs. boxing lays out the tradeoffs. You can also compare the Muay Thai and Kickboxing pages, and if the long game is mixed martial arts, boxing is the hands half of MMA.
Who it is for
Boxing at Apex welcomes every skill level, from a first day in gloves to a boxer preparing for competition. Nobody needs to arrive fit; the class builds that.
- Adults 18+: classes at both academies, with weekday and Saturday times on each schedule.
- Teens 14–17: classes at both academies. Teens box during the adult class times, and the coach splits the room so teens get age-appropriate intensity and partners.
- Kids 6–9 and Youth 10–13: a Saturday class at the Ashburn academy covering punches, footwork, and pad work, with coordination, discipline, and respect taught alongside. Youth share the time slot with Kids, and the coach runs each group at its own level.
Saturday late morning at the Ashburn academy is a family hour for boxing: the Kids, Youth, Teens, and Adult classes all meet at the same time, so a parent can train while a child boxes with their own age group.
Age bands are guidance rather than walls. The coach places each student where they will do best, based on size, maturity, and experience.
What a first class looks like
Book your free class online, pick a time, and plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. You will sign a short waiver if you have not already, and the coach will ask two things: whether you have trained anything before, and whether there is anything physical they should know about.
Class follows a clear shape: a warm-up, technique instruction, drilling with a partner, and then live work. Sparring is always optional, including for a first-timer. Technique comes before intensity, always, so the work starts with stance, the jab, the cross, and footwork, the base every later combination sits on. If you would rather keep drilling than try a live round, that is your choice, and the coach will ask rather than assume. Most new boxers also learn to wrap their hands in the first few weeks, since wraps protect the small bones of the hand and wrist.
Wear athletic clothing and bring water and a towel. After class, the coach will talk with you about which times fit your week.
At Apex Jiu Jitsu & MMA Ashburn
22 classes a week
- Adult Boxing · Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30 AM; Mon, Wed, Fri 6:00 PM; Tue, Thu 6:00 AM; Sat 9:00 AM; Sat 11:15 AM
- Teens Boxing · Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30 AM; Mon, Wed, Fri 6:00 PM; Tue, Thu 6:00 AM; Sat 9:00 AM; Sat 11:15 AM
- Kids Boxing · Sat 11:15 AM
- Youth Boxing · Sat 11:15 AM
Age bands: Adults 18+, Kids 6-9, Youth 10-13, Teens 14-17
At Apex Jiu Jitsu & MMA Sterling
4 classes a week
- Adult Boxing · Fri 5:30 PM; Sat 11:15 AM
- Teens Boxing · Fri 5:30 PM; Sat 11:15 AM
Age bands: Adults 18+, Teens 14-17
Questions about Boxing Classes
Will I get punched in my first boxing class?
Sparring is always optional at Apex, including on your first day. Tell the coach that you are new and whether you want to avoid live contact. The coach controls the class plan and can keep your work focused on stance, footwork, technique, bags, pads, and partner drills without requiring sparring.
Do I need my own gloves and hand wraps for the first class?
No. No gear is required for your first class. Wear comfortable athletic clothes with no zippers or pockets, and bring a water bottle and a towel. If you decide to keep training, ask the coach which gloves and wraps to get before you buy anything, since there is a pro shop on-site at both academies when you are ready for your own equipment.
Is there boxing for kids younger than 14?
Yes, at the Ashburn academy. Kids 6–9 and Youth 10–13 have a Saturday boxing class, and the coach splits the room so each age group gets its own pace and partners. At the Sterling academy, boxing begins in the Teens 14–17 band, and younger strikers there start in Kickboxing & Muay Thai from age 6.
Can I train boxing if my goal is fitness and not competition?
Absolutely. Boxing is serious cardio, and a round on the heavy bag works your legs, core, shoulders, and lungs at the same time. Competition is optional, sparring is optional, and nobody is pushed toward either. Tell the coach what you want out of training, and you will still learn real technique, because good form is what makes the workout safe and worth doing.
Can one membership cover boxing and another discipline?
Yes. Both academies offer discipline-specific memberships and all-inclusive options that let you cross-train, so boxing can sit alongside Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, MMA, or wrestling. Apex does not publish a price menu. After your free class, a coach walks you through the options and helps you find a plan that fits your budget and goals, with no high-pressure sales.
Train at either Apex academy
Choose Ashburn or Sterling, and find the schedule that fits your week.