Your First Combat Sports Class in Brussels

What to bring and what to stop overthinking

Before your first class, ask the club which group fits a beginner and what equipment it requires. Tell the coach about any limitations relevant to the exercises.

• Clothing: Comfortable sportswear, such as a t-shirt, shorts or leggings. For BJJ, longer sleeves and trousers are a good idea.
• Water bottle: Combat sports get sweaty fast.
• Towel: Useful and simple.
• Equipment: Ask whether suitable loan equipment is available for your chosen session before buying or arriving without it.

The gym is at Chaussee de Haecht 1133 in Evere, about 2 minutes from Bordet Station. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early so you can meet the coach and get settled without rushing.

Choosing your first discipline

Davinci Fighting offers four disciplines. The right first choice is the one you are most likely to repeat next week.

• Boxing: the cleanest striking entry point. Great if you want simple structure, cardio and fast technical feedback.
• Kickboxing: like boxing with kicks added. More explosive, more full-body, slightly more demanding from the start.
• MMA: the most complete format, combining striking and grappling. Best if you want the whole picture.
• BJJ: ground grappling with no striking. Ideal if technique appeals to you more than getting hit.

If you are new to Brussels or want a club that is easy to navigate in English, the page on combat sports for expats in Brussels is also worth a look.

What the first class actually feels like

1. You arrive: the coach or front-desk contact points you in the right direction, and you get sorted without guesswork.
2. The session is explained: you know what the class is about before moving.
3. You drill basics: stance, movement or core technical patterns, with corrections that make sense.
4. You do controlled partner work: enough contact to learn, not enough chaos to make the first day stupid.
5. You finish knowing the next step: which class to book again, what to bring, and whether the discipline fits you.

Ask about partner work, contact and alternatives before the session. If an exercise concerns you, stop and discuss it with the coach; a trial is not a test of toughness.

How to tell a club is worth joining

Most beginners ask the wrong question. It is not "was the class hard enough?" It is "was the class clear enough to make me want to come back?"

• The coach can explain the drill in plain language.
• Experienced members do not treat beginners like traffic cones.
• Intensity is managed, not improvised.
• You leave with a clear idea of what happens next.

Use these criteria during your trial at Davinci Fighting. A club's sporting results alone do not prove the quality of its beginner teaching.

Common fears, answered quickly

• "I am not fit enough": ask which exercises and pace can be adapted to your starting point.
• "I will look ridiculous": everyone starts awkwardly. Anyone pretending otherwise is lying.
• "I will get hurt": ask how contact is managed and what alternatives are available. No class can promise zero risk.
• "I am too old": adult beginners start every year. This is not a teen-only club.

How to decide after the trial

After your free first class, there is no pressure to commit on the spot. The useful test is simple:

• Could you follow the class without feeling lost?
• Did you feel safe and coached?
• Is the location realistic after work or on weekends?
• Did the discipline itself make you want to come back?

If the answer is yes, subscriptions start at 49 EUR/month for one discipline or 75 EUR/month for full access.

Practical next step

• Address: Chaussee de Haecht 1133, 1140 Evere, Brussels, Belgium
• Trial request: suppia.be/davincifighting
• Phone: +32 471 69 16 94
• Transport: Bordet Station (STIB buses 21, 59, 64, 65, 69 and 80), about 2 minutes on foot
• First session: Free, no commitment
• Languages: French, English and Dutch