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Vanguard Defense
5 ★★★★★ 16 Google reviews · Kickboxing gym in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all fitness levels welcome, including total beginners — no experience needed, and you get in shape by training, not before
- Kids & teen classes kids and teen kickboxing classes — built around confidence, focus, and fun
- Private lessons one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule vanguarddefensear.wixsite.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (501) 991-4849
Hours
| Monday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“She even tried to arrange for some of the other kids to be there so our daughter would have training partners.”
“The instruction is top-notch and the community feels welcoming for all levels.”
Other martial arts here
“If you’re visiting Hot Springs and looking for a place to train, I can’t recommend Vanguard Jiu Jitsu enough.”
What members say
“Excellent environment, great coaching and useful training!”
“The instruction is top-notch and the community feels welcoming for all levels.”
“The instruction is top-notch and the community feels welcoming for all levels.”
From the reviews
If you’re visiting Hot Springs and looking for a place to train, I can’t recommend Vanguard Jiu Jitsu enough. While we were on vacation, my husband took our daughter to a class, and it ended up being an incredible experience. Vanguard was the only gym in town that welcomed them to drop in and train.
I stopped by during a conference trip to get a few rounds in. The instructors and students were incredibly warm and welcoming! They have solid jiu-jitsu skills and good instruction. If you’re living in hot springs, or just passing through, you should definitely pay them a visit!
This place is something special and the people are welcoming. You will gain confidence under the instruction of Felix and Chad that you can overcome any obstacles put before you. If you're in Hot Springs looking fir a school to try out BJJ or kickboxing this is the place.
10/10 the best gym culture I've ever experienced. The instructors are beyond competent and qualified, and it is a legitimately safe place for women to train martial arts. Highly recommend for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.
New to kickboxing? Start at Vanguard Defense
Vanguard Defense comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners class is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or coordinated to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale every drill to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable gyms build the basics (stance, footwork, and punches and kicks on pads and bags) first, and any contact eases in gradually under a coach's control. Third, all fitness levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first kickboxing class at Vanguard Defense
Nervous about walking into a kickboxing gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics — stance, footwork, and punches and kicks on pads or a heavy bag — not hard sparring. Go at your own pace and rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: comfortable athletic clothes you can move and sweat in, and supportive trainers. What to bring: water, and hand wraps and gloves if you have them — many gyms lend loaner gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves and wraps (and shin guards once you start sparring). Sparring is optional and eases in gradually, once your basics are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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