The Lion Pit - Te Aro

good HUMANS; GREAT FIGHTERS.

TLP is, has and will always be a fight gym. Our story began on 100sqm of mat space and quickly evolved into a fully-kitted-out fight gym across two levels. We offer you boxing, kickboxing, MMA and self-defence classes with 24/7 access and a functional training area.

We’ve welcomed fighters through our doors for years. Many have competed and earned title belts and many more have shown up to class to help them through life’s battles because we know that the fighting isn’t just about the physical, it is a very personal journey too.

These personal fight journeys are the ones where we have seen the greatest examples of growth. Where there has been a purpose and ‘why’ attached to the fight and where the inner fighter is worked just as much as the fitness or technique.

While we’re so proud of the fight record and champions our club has built; it is witnessing the transformations from inner fight journeys that keep us going.

When we think of why our club exists; we think of the moments that took place when no one was watching. The conversation at a red light with a fighter who was washing windows for cash that evolved into an inner fight journey through TLP, this fighter became more self-aware, healed and grew into a more involved parent to their children. There was the time a fighter walked in our doors having been cast out from their community and looking for a place to belong. With grace and space to heal and grow this fighter found whānau and now shares their story of change to lead others away from harm. There are countless times where we’ve fought behind the scenes for talent to be acknowledged on national stages that would otherwise be looked over. A battle so tough we built our own fight shows to make sure that young, kiwi and excellent talent would always be recognized no matter their background or story.

In our classes, you can expect to learn proper footwork, stance, and how to pack a punch or kick with real power while you sweat. You won’t find any rinse-repeat sessions of bag smashing around here. We fight properly and we teach you to do the same. How far you want to take your skills is completely up to you. Whether you’re a bucket-list fighter, title-belt fighter or prefer to be in the audience cheering others on— we’re here to corner you. At TLP you’ll have access to the fight systems, trainers and connections to meet your goals. All you need to do is show up to class, be humble, teachable, and willing to rumble with us when things get tough.

We get that choosing a gym to call home is a big decision. Everyone has their own story, experience or barrier to walking in new doors. What we say to you is: try us. We’re confident that you’ll be treated like a fighter the moment you walk in. You’ll feel like a fighter in your first class as you learn to throw right-hooks and jabs with confidence and sharp technique. And if you’re here to grow your fight profile and show the world just how good you are; you only need to look at our track record of champions, title belts and wins to know this is the place to start.