WHAT started in a backyard has grown into Bendigo\u2019s newest fight gym.<\/p>\n
The Bendigo Fight Centre recently took over the Hit Factory Boxing gym in Golden Square, and the new owners are ready to make their mark.<\/p>\n
Head coach and fighter Lucas Allen said he and his friends had been running BFC in a shed with a home-made ring, before building a mixed martial arts cage.<\/p>\n
When the City of Greater Bendigo told Allen he couldn\u2019t have the cage in the backyard, he and his three co-owners Dariean Menchini, Kaleb Heffernan and Hamish Catto went gym shopping.<\/p>\n
As luck would have it, the owner of the Hit Factory Boxing gym was just about to put the site up for sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same day we were looking for a gym and we couldn\u2019t believe the biggest fight gym in Bendigo was up for sale,\u201d Allen said. \u201cIt was destined, it certainly felt it and it has felt it since being here.\u201d<\/p>\n
For $80,000, the new owners took over the space and equipment, including two boxing rings, punching bags and various weights and cardio equipment.<\/p>\n
They also inherited Hit Factory\u2019s members and range of classes, including the popular youth boxing sessions, but also offer Muay Thai and grappling training.<\/p>\n
Allen relocated to Melbourne to learn kickboxing when he was 17, and when he moved back to Bendigo to be closer to family, he realised fight facilities were lacking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was just training, all I wanted was a gym that was 24\/7 and had as many classes as possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are gyms in Melbourne that do that and that\u2019s what I was used to. Now we can give that to people and it\u2019s starting to pop off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen said sessions aimed at younger people are a big focus for BFC, as fight gyms can provide a positive outlet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you happen to be a bit of a bully, you can only be a bully for so long when you\u2019re in a fight gym,\u201d he said. \u201cBullies tend to not be a bully after a while when training, they get humbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor younger kids to come into a gym, a humble, warm environment but still a disciplined, hard, training environment\u2026 we\u2019re convinced the more they are here the less likely they are going to start causing trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHAT started in a backyard has grown into Bendigo\u2019s newest fight gym. The Bendigo Fight Centre recently took over the Hit Factory Boxing gym in Golden Square, and the new owners are ready to make their mark. Head coach and fighter Lucas Allen said he and his friends had been running BFC in a shed […]<\/p>\n