We don't have a ring at my gym and I've done ok so far. It has been a disadvantage at times and there are times when we travel to the next town over to spar with their guys and work in the ring so that's nice. Yeah, a ring would be ideal, but it doesn't mean you can't spar.
According to the original poster there's no sparring either. I sometimes spar lightly outside the ring when other people use it, but there are certain things you need a ring for, cutting it off for example, or fighting from the ropes.
My gym doesnt have a ring, but we spar often. We put cones on the floor basically, and just try to imagine a ring I do recognise that there are elements of ringcraft that we'll be missing out on. If I'm lucky enough to get my virtual ring next to a wall or corner, I try to use that to trap the elusive *******s. Luckily, now that we've moved to a new facility we're preparing to get a ring. That'll be good. In any case, while the lack of ring isnt a deal-breaker, lack of sparring altogether is. There's no way I'd join a gym that doesnt have sparring, not worth it at all.
That was my thought as well. I went for a free lesson and it was good, but in all honesty, I want to fight lol.
