Gym

A Pokémon Gym (Japanese: ジム Gym) is a place where Pokémon Trainers go to train their Pokémon. Just like real life gymnasiums, where one can go to work out and build physical strength, Pokémon Gyms are places where Trainers can go to sharpen their battling skills and where their Pokémon can go to gain experience. Often specializing in a particular elemental type, Gyms create an environment which allows Trainers to test both their skills and Pokémon against those of others. The most powerful Trainer in a given Gym is called the Gym Leader, whom the lower-ranking members of a Gym look up to greatly. In the games, there is a character that stands near the door giving tips on how to beat the gym.

Official Gyms

Gyms that are certified by the Pokémon League are vital to a Trainer's Pokémon journey. Leagues are designed so that conventional Trainers must travel far and wide before entering a League Competition, as the only way to enter one is by gaining at least eight official Gym Badges, and there can only be one official Gym per city.

In the games

There are eight known official Gyms in each region.

Kanto

• Pewter Gym
• Cerulean Gym
• Vermilion Gym
• Celadon Gym
• Saffron Gym
• Fuchsia Gym
• Cinnabar Gym
• Viridian Gym

Orange Archipelago

• Mikan Gym
• Navel Gym
• Trovita Gym
• Kumquat Gym

Johto

• Violet Gym
• Azalea Gym
• Goldenrod Gym
• Ecruteak Gym
• Cianwood Gym
• Olivine Gym
• Mahogany Gym
• Blackthorn Gym

Hoenn

• Rustboro Gym
• Dewford Gym
• Mauville Gym
• Lavaridge Gym
• Petalburg Gym
• Fortree Gym
• Mossdeep Gym
• Sootopolis Gym

Sinnoh

• Oreburgh Gym
• Eterna Gym
• Veilstone Gym
• Pastoria Gym
• Hearthome Gym
• Canalave Gym
• Snowpoint Gym
• Sunyshore Gym

Anime

In the anime, Gary Oak reveals that he has more than eight Badges, suggesting that there are more Gyms in the anime than players are given access to in the games. Specifically, he has at least ten badges excluding the Earth Badge. Before the Indigo League competition, Ash encounters Otoshi in Bad to the Bone; he owns eight badges, but only shares four in common with Ash. Later in the episode, another Trainer appears with eight other completely different badges. In total, Ash, Gary, Otoshi and the other Trainer displayed 27 different types of badges prior to competing in the Indigo Plateau Conference, so there must have been at least this number of official gyms in the anime version of Kanto at the time (there may be fewer now, as the PIA eventually cracked down on gyms with low standards).

Whilst on her journey collecting badges, Sakura collected badges from both Kanto and Johto, so it is unclear what the rules are for competing in championship tournaments.

At the Hoenn Pokémon League Championship, Morrison is shown to have an eighth badge different from Ash's, suggesting that there are at least 9 official gyms in Hoenn. Many believe it could be a badge from Slateport or Pacifidlog.

During Barry's Busting Out All Over!, in the Sinnoh saga, Barry was seen to have a badge that is not present in the games and most likely will not be possessed by Ash.

Unofficial gyms

Games

Saffron City Dojo

Main article: Fighting Dojo

The Trainers of this gym specialize in Template:Type2 Pokémon. It used to be the town's official Gym until Sabrina defeated its leader. After the player defeats the Dojo's leader, he will give the player either Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan as a reward.

Pre Gym

Main article: Pre Gym

This unofficial Gym of Phenac City doubles as an academy. In Pokémon Colosseum, its leader, Justy, will not battle the Trainer until they have at least six Pokémon, and will give away TM27 (Return).

Anime

A.J.'s Gym

This gym is run solely by the Trainer A.J., and is notable for its rigorous training methods. It is unknown what prize if any A.J. gave to any victorious challengers, because he left it to enter the Pokémon League after he defeated 100 challengers in a row using only his Sandshrew. This gym appears in The Path to the Pokémon League.

Fighting Spirit Gym

This gym was run by Anthony, who was training his Hitmonchan for the P1 Grand Prix. It did not appear to be used for actual Pokémon battles. Instead, it had the appearance of a gym used for training and exercising.

Kas Gym

This gym in Dark City wanted to become an official gym to earn money, but was rejected by the Pokémon League. It has Pokémon of various types, but its primary Pokémon is an Electabuzz. This gym appears in Showdown at Dark City.

Yas Gym

This gym in Dark City wanted to become an official gym to earn money, but was rejected by the Pokémon League. It has Pokémon of various types, but its primary Pokémon is a Scyther. This gym appears in Showdown at Dark City. Their Gym Leader is voiced by Ted Lewis in English.

Coastline Gym

This is an unofficial gym that was featured in Just Add Water. It is located on the outskirts of Blackthorn City. Lead by Dorian, the gym specializes in Template:Type2 Pokémon. Unlike the other Water-type gyms, Dorian holds his battles underwater.

Although the gym is unofficial, Dorian is hoping that by word of mouth it will become more popular. In fact, after Ash and his friends visited the Gym, they promised they would tell everyone at the Silver Conference about it. However, it hasn't been mentioned since then.

Trivia

• For Gymbaliar, Professor Oak's lecture is about Gyms. He writes this Pokémon senryū about them: かてるまで　なんどもちょうせん　ポケモンジム Kateru made nando mo chōsen, Pokémon Jimu "Until you win, battle again and again; that is a Pokémon Gym."
• In Generation I, a glitch allowed Trainers to fish at the statues at the front of the gyms.
• No known Gym has specialized in Template:Type2 Pokémon.
• Pokémon Platinum is the only game where the gym order is changed from its predecessors, which are Pokémon Diamond and Pearl in this case.
• If one counts the Fighting Dojo in Kanto, every region has a Template:Type2 gym.
• A Trainer in the Glitter Lighthouse says Jasmine used to specialize in Template:Type2s. If this had happened, every region would've had a Rock-type Gym Leader.