Everyone deserves to fight for: These are the words that define and represent the winning spirit that carries the local Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness business. Owner and Virginia Tech alumnus (class of 2011) Kevin Bowen has given insight into why his gym has won the Collegiate Times’ Best of Blacksburg for five consecutive years, expressing gratitude for winning another year.
“It’s a great feeling, for the fifth year in a row, and every year is a blessing,” Bowen said.
Bowen described how his philosophy of fitness made Blacksburg Boxing & Fitness what it is today.
Our motto is “Everyone is worth fighting for.”And the“And we mean everyone,” Bowen said. “We have kids from 4 to 80 so it’s a really good mix of everyone. We try to get to know everyone on a first name basis so we can cater to their needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all program.”
Bowen founded Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness in 2015 with his wife Augusta Bowen, another Hokie graduate. He talked about the difficulty of starting a business in Blacksburg, but he also talked about the pride it brings to him.
“This is the third business I’ve started, and the first two were definitely learning experiences, and you know what they say, the third time is magic,” Bowen said. “We opened six years ago as a fresh graduate, and I have my wife with me who’s a hockey player too. What it means to be Hokie is still with us – ‘Ut Prosim’ and all – we love being in a city like Blacksburg and still being successful here.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a difficult time for local businesses in New River Valley, affecting places like Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness. However, Bowen applied the combative mindset with which he runs his business to persevere and come out on top.
“When we first opened, we had 1,000 square feet in the lower left corner of the building we were in, with 15 people,” Bowen said. “Right before COVID (started) March 2020, we had our best January and February since opening. We expanded to 4,500 square feet, with 20 employees plus 450 members. When COVID started, it all went really fast, and we are fortunate to have survived COVID. From It’s hard to sell gym memberships when you’re closed.”
Bowen went on to explain why Blacksburg’s continued success in boxing and fitness during the height of the pandemic.
“We started the virtual classes, then the outdoor rehearsals, and we got a lot of support from the Hokies and the city,” Bowen said. “Most people have some affiliation with the university, whether they are students or employees, but we really bounced back. 2022 is our best year ever – wood roads.”
Focusing on mental health was a big part of getting through the pandemic, and Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness turned out to be a safe haven for members who struggled during this time.
“I don’t think so, I know that,” Bowen said when asked if he thought his work could have a positive effect on his organs. “I won’t read any of the letters because it’s personal, but people opened their doors and wrote letters that made me cry, because of the dark places some people were in, and Blacksburg Boxing was their saving grace. These are powerful things – that’s what makes my job worth it. Everyone has it. His own fights, and a place like Blacksburg Boxing is great for your physical and mental health and a great way to relieve stress.”
Bowen has expanded his approach to other disciplines of athletics to create a holistic experience for members who may not want to box, while detailing the number of programs the gym has implemented recently.
“We’re always doing new things,” Bowen said. “Our bread and butter is our style of boxing, but recently, we’ve started offering lift zumba and yoga (and) to women. We have outdoor training camps starting in a month. We have weight rooms fully stocked, we have boxers that are starting to go to tournaments and win belts, And for ages 8-14, two summer camp sessions in June and July. We’re still rocking and rocking with our online classes, and I don’t want to say anything good about COVID, but it made us creative about not just being a boxing gym.”
With so many gyms in the area, there’s a reason Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness won Best of Blacksburg, and Bowen is confident he knows what makes his gym special.
“Go back to the people: it’s a place where you pass through the door, and we only know everyone’s first name,” Bowen said. “When you go to McComas or Planet Fitness, you scan, but when you show up here, we know you belong and you’ve paid your dues. We try to treat people like family and (make) people feel special, and when we talk about community, we mean it. Share At Relay for Life, The Big Event, the packaged food campaigns, and fundraisers for members in need. People really make it for us, which is why we’ve been so successful.”
Not everyone is a boxer, but that doesn’t stop Bowen from welcoming everyone to his gym. Part of what makes his gym special is the community that Bowen has built around fitness and wellness.
“Try it,” Bowen said. “We have a one-week free trial, and we encourage beginners. We have Boxing 101. You don’t feel silly about throwing some punches and hitting something and not getting into trouble – it makes you feel good. Everyone should take care of their bodies and minds, and boxing is great at doing that. No It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to become the next heavyweight champion or throw some punches, you’re welcome here. We have a lot of people who hate the idea of going to bigger gyms. Everyone cheers here instead of bending over in the mirror, and that feels great. You won’t feel like It doesn’t belong in our gym.”
Bowen has big plans for the future of Blacksburgh boxing and fitness and doesn’t see them slowing down. Specifically, Bowen envisions enhancing the competitive spirit in the programs from training to the tournaments they offer, as a way to keep people coming back.
“I hope we can continue to grow and maintain personal contact,” Bowen said. “I don’t want to be anywhere other than Blacksburg and I like to be hands-on with the people who walk into our gym. I hope we can continue to grow with the kind of classes we offer. The only place I hope to grow is our competitive athletes. Right before COVID We were on our way to our first championship, and now that we’re back in full training, I want to help the young athletes see how far they can go.”
With everything Bowen has said about the gym and the community, it’s clear he cares about his members and the Blacksburg and Virginia Tech community. He concluded the interview with one last idea to persuade people to join Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness.
“If you’re on the fence, sign up for the free trial and I promise you won’t regret it, and of course Go Hokies,” Bowen said.
Blacksburg Boxing and Fitness is located at 115 S. Hill Drive in Blacksburg, Virginia. The gym is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
