From the class floor to the ring
Shin Kick Fight Team — Your Pathway From Class to Competition
If you've caught the bug and started wondering whether you could actually fight, this is the door. The Fight Team is a real, coached route from your regular classes to the ring — open by application to committed members.
- Good for
- Competing · pushing your limits
- Levels
- Experienced & committed
- Ages
- Members
- From
- By application
Most people who walk into Shin Kick never plan to compete, and that is completely fine. But for some, somewhere along the way, training stops being just fitness. You start staying late. You start wanting more rounds. You start quietly asking yourself whether you've got it in you. If that's you, this page is where you find out what's possible.
The Fight Team isn't a separate, sealed-off club for a chosen few. It's the next rung on the same ladder you're already climbing. The same coaches who teach the beginner classes are the ones who corner fighters, and several of them make regular training trips to Thailand to keep learning at the source. What you get here is an honest, structured pathway — not a fantasy, and not a sink-or-swim ordeal.
It is by application, and that's on purpose. Stepping toward competition is a real commitment, so we'd rather have a proper conversation with you than tick a box. You don't need to be a natural or already be winning. You need to be willing to put the work in and turn up. The rest, we coach.
New to this?
The pathway, step by step
Nobody goes from their first class to a bout overnight, and we'd never ask you to. The route is built as clear, achievable steps so a big leap becomes a series of small ones. First, you train consistently in regular classes and build a solid base — coaches notice the people who keep showing up. From there you can apply, or be invited, into the Fighters Only sessions, where the work gets sharper and more focused.
Before anyone competes outside the gym, there's the Shin Kick Interclub — friendly, in-house, controlled matchups against your own gym-mates. It's the safest possible first taste of competing: real nerves and real pressure, but among people who want you to do well, with coaches right there. For many, it's the moment they realise they can actually do this.
When you and your coaches agree you're ready, there's a "Want to Fight" assessment with Jesse to talk honestly about where you are and what's next. Only then comes a sanctioned amateur bout — and you never walk to the ring alone. You go with full Shin Kick corner support behind you, the same coaches who got you there. At every stage you can pause, take your time, or simply stay training. There's no obligation to fight.
Why you'll love it
- A real, named pathway from regular class to your first bout — not a vague promise
- The Shin Kick Interclub: a low-stakes, in-house way to test yourself before any sanctioned show
- Coaching led by Jesse Saunders, with coaches who train regularly in Thailand
- Full corner support on fight night — game plan, your coaches in your corner, the lot
- Fighters Only sessions to sharpen up once you're ready for more
- An honest, by-application process so you know exactly where you stand
This is for you if…
- You've been training a while, caught the bug, and quietly wonder if you could compete
- You're already training elsewhere and want a serious, supportive fight gym in Guildford
- You want to test yourself at an Interclub before ever stepping into a real bout
- You're a woman, or an older member, and want to know competing is genuinely open to you too
- You're happy to put the work in and turn up — you don't need to be a natural
On the timetable
Fight Team & Competition Pathway this week
Times can change — check the full timetable or call us to confirm before your first visit.
- Monday6:00–7:00pm
- Monday6:00–7:00pm
- Tuesday6:00–7:00pm
- Wednesday6:00–7:00pm
- Thursday6:00–7:00pm
Your coaches
Who teaches Fight Team & Competition Pathway
Good to know
Common questions
Do I need to be a member or already experienced to apply?
The Fight Team is for committed members who've built a base in regular classes, so the honest first step is to be training consistently. If you're brand new, that's no problem — start with a free first class or the intro offer, get some sessions in, and the pathway opens up from there. New here? You can begin with the intro offer and grow into it.
Is this only for young men?
No. The Fight Team is open to committed members of any age and either sex. Women compete and older members compete — what matters is the commitment, not your age or background. If you want to test yourself, this is for you.
What is the Shin Kick Interclub?
It's a friendly, in-house event where members face controlled, matched-up rounds against their own gym-mates, with coaches right there. Think of it as the safe first taste of competing: real pressure, but among your own people. For most fighters it's the bridge between training and a proper sanctioned bout.
How do I apply and what happens next?
You send a short application telling us your name, your contact details, your current experience and why you want to fight. Jesse or one of the coaches will then be in touch to arrange an assessment and a proper chat. There's no wrong answer on the form — it just helps us place you and plan your next steps.
How fit or good do I need to be before I apply?
You don't need to be a prodigy or already winning. You need to be willing to put the work in and train regularly. The whole point of the pathway and the assessment is to meet you where you are and build from there, at a pace that's right for you.
What's the time commitment, and is there extra cost?
Competing asks more of you than general training — more sessions, more focus, and attention to things like diet and weight as a bout gets closer. Any additional cost and the exact expectations are something we'll talk through honestly at your assessment, so you can decide if it's the right time for you. There's no fixed obligation to fight once you've applied.
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No experience needed, no contract to try. Come and see why beginners feel at home here — book a free trial or just give us a call.