The Gym That’s Not About Winning—It’s About Getting Better
Why BARCH Richmond is the Least Competitive Gym in the World
Since we opened our doors seven years ago, we’ve told every new enquiry the same thing: BARCH Richmond is the least competitive gym in the world. And we stand by that. But what does it actually mean, and why is it so important to us?
No Ego. No Pressure. Just Training.
From day one, our ethos has been built on no ego training. We believe that fitness should be challenging but never intimidating. That’s why you won’t find cliques, egos, or people flexing in the mirror at BARCH. Instead, you’ll find a group of like-minded individuals who just want to get stronger, feel better, and enjoy training without the pressure of ‘beating’ anyone else.
We’re Not Here to Compete With Each Other
A lot of gyms thrive on competition. They push members to race against each other, post leaderboards, and chase ‘winning.’ That’s not us. Our philosophy is simple: you vs. you.
Progress at BARCH is about getting better on your own terms. Whether that’s lifting heavier, moving pain-free, or just showing up consistently, we care about what you need.
Sure, we track progress (because improvement matters), but we do it to help you see how far you’ve come—not to compare you to anyone else.
We’re Not a Gym for Everyone—And That’s Okay
If you’re at the stage in your training life where you want to beat other people, we aren’t the gym for you. And that’s fine. We know who we are and what we stand for.
We tell new people this upfront, and they either love it or hate it. But the more people we find who love it, the more we attract the right people for BARCH. That’s what creates this brilliant community—everyone buys into the same thing.
Everyone is Welcome—And We Mean It
The biggest issue with competition-focused gyms? They can be off-putting to people who aren’t naturally competitive or who are just starting out. We’ve seen it before—people walking into a gym and immediately feeling like they don’t belong because they’re not ‘strong enough’ or ‘fit enough.’
That doesn’t happen at BARCH.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never lifted a weight in your life or if you’re an experienced athlete. The person next to you is cheering you on, not trying to ‘beat’ you. That’s what makes our community special.
We Do Track Scores—But Only in Our Own Way
We have one class a week where we put scores on the board, but we purposely do not put anybody’s names next to them. People could have made them up for all we care! The reason? It’s not about ranking or competing—it’s about effort. We don’t care who did what; we care that you showed up and gave it your best.
Non-Competitive Doesn’t Mean Easy
Don’t mistake BARCH being a non-competitive gym for being a walk in the park. The sessions here will push you. They are designed to make you fitter and stronger. The difference is, you’ll never feel like you’re in a race against anyone else—you’re just becoming a better version of yourself.
Seven Years of Doing It Differently
For the past seven years, we’ve stuck to this philosophy, and we’ve watched it work. Members who used to quit other gyms because they felt out of place stay at BARCH because they feel supported. People who were afraid to step into a fitness space find their confidence here.
We’ve built a gym where progress is celebrated, not compared. Where people come to train hard, but without the pressure of proving anything to anyone. And we’re not changing that any time soon.
If you’re tired of gyms that make you feel like you need to compete to fit in, come and see what we’re about. BARCH Richmond: The Least Competitive Gym in the World. Always has been, always will be.