Regular training under the supervision of a professional coach has a lot of advantages, regardless of whether you opt for group training sessions or one-on-one training. However, we are all different in physical needs and personality; you have to figure out what is right for you. Choosing between group training and individual training-or choosing the right combination of the two can help you realize your potential sooner.

Group Training

Your first memories of group training may be of gym class, which can either be filled with nostalgia or horror. Group training has progressed tremendously over the years to include a wide variety of classes, for everyone of all skill levels.  You can get a group training class for almost anything these days with a selection of classes for different fitness levels, and boxing is no different.
Like anything, group training has benefits and challenges. Here are some things to consider:

Benefits of Group Training

• Motivating energy from a crowd: A large crowd can really liven up the atmosphere and spur your workout. This, mixed with energetic music and an enthusiastic coach, can almost make it feel like a party, grueling exercises aside!

•  Creates an opportunity to make friends and build your tribe: Building a great tribe of fitness enthusiasts can take your training to another level. Group fitness classes are a great way to meet people with the same interests as you.

• More cost-effective: If your training budget is tight, group training classes do cost significantly less than one-on-one training.

Drawbacks of Group Training

• You will receive less personal attention. A group coach will try to keep an eye on everyone throughout the class to ensure that everyone is coping and ok. However, it is impossible for any coach to monitor every single movement of every single class member at every second. This means you may not have perfect form throughout every exercise, without anyone to correct you. It is entirely up to you to follow instructions well.

• Less control over training schedule: Group training classes occur at set times and locations, so you will have to adjust your schedule to be able to make attend them or you will miss out.

One-on-One Training

One-on-one coaching is not as elite and exclusive as you may think.It is not just celebrities and professional athletes who hire personal coaches anymore, but everyday individuals are seeing the benefits of professional, personalized attention in their training.

Benefits of One-on-One Training

·         Tailor-made plans: Everyone is unique in terms of body type, fitness and other individual needs and considerations. This is why having a plan that is tailor-made for you and executed under the supervision of a professional coach will get results much faster than a more general group fitness class.

·        Perfect form and less chance of injury: Having a professional coach monitor and correct your every move throughout your workout should ensure perfect form-which means better results and almost no chance of injuries.

·         More learning opportunities: Having a professional to yourself means you get to ask as many questions about your training and performance as you need.

·         More accountability: You will be much less likely to cancel a training session when you have a one-on-one appointment that you are paying for.

·         Pushing past your limits: A coach can push you to train harder than you might train on your own.

·         Your coach can form part of a positive support system in your life and training: It is your coach’s job to motivate you, mentor you and help you to address your weaknesses. Throughout your training journey, they will see you at your best and worst, both mentally and physically, and will always have your best interests at heart. It can be a real comfort to know that you have this form of consistent, positive support from your coach.

Drawbacks of One-on-One Training

• Higher Cost: One-on-one training will obviously cost more than group training due to the extreme individual attention is given.

• Can be intimidating: The thought of having a professional supervise and critique your every move, pushing you harder, can be scary for some people, who prefer to ease into training at their own pace.

How to Determine Which Type Of Training is Right for You

• At the beginning of your training journey: You do not need to have one-on-one training all throughout your fitness journey. Many opt to start their training with some personal coaching to get them properly orientated and to learn correct form. After this, they may feel confident that they no longer need a coach, as they now know how to do it on their own.

• Special physical/temporary needs:  Training may need special care and modifications at certain times: such as during pregnancy or while recovering from injury or illness. Under these conditions, it is sometimes better to have direct professional supervision when training.

• Special Event: An upcoming competition or event that requires you to be in good shape may warrant the need for more personal coaching to get improvements fast, with minimal risk of injury from more intense training.  

• Specific Goals: Group or solo training may be great for overall fitness. However, it can sometimes be a bit more challenging to achieve those very specific performance goals you may be aiming for without a more targeted training plan. A professional coach can help devise and guide you through a training program that is tailor-made for you and your goals.

• Introversion or Extroversion: Your personality will have a lot to do with the type of training with which you respond better. If you are energized by being around people and love being part of a group, then you may benefit more from group fitness. However, if you find crowds somewhat draining and distracting, you may prefer one-on-one coaching.

• Intrinsic or Extrinsic Motivation: Some people may need a bit more of a push from the outside (extrinsic motivation) as they struggle to stay motivated. A personal coaching approach can help those who struggle to push themselves.

Know Your Goals

People get into boxing for numerous reasons. For some, it can be a great place to make friends and de-stress while others are looking for something more serious like competing and becoming a professional. These varying goals will determine the type and level of training you need.

Know Your Lifestyle

Your schedule and budget can do a lot to determine which type of training is best for you.  Group training will require you to adapt your schedule to make every predetermined class on time, while one-on-one coaches can adapt to your schedule a bit more easily.

It is all about finding out what is right for you and when. Try our Gloveworx Quiz to determine what is right for you.