The Class: One-hour kickboxing class at Title Boxing Club on Lemmon Avenue
The Appeal: A girlfriend recently purchased a membership, and it shows. Michelle Obama would covet this girl’s arms. The website claims its boxing and kickboxing classes provide a total body workout and can burn up to 1,000 calories in just one hour. Who’s with me?
The Instructor: Ryne Gleich
The Space: The gym holds a boxing ring, basic cardio and weight equipment, and a large boxing/kickboxing space. The class area is made up of several rows of black punching bags hung in a large grid pattern with plenty of room to spread out between.
Who’s There: The women outnumbered the men in a class of about 15, and the group varied significantly in fitness level and age. I could easily tell who was there for the calorie burn and who was there because they enjoyed punching things hard. (Looking at you, barefoot guy. No judgment.)
How It Went: We got right to work. No leisurely stretching or long-winded introductions here, just jumping jacks and burpees. My heart rate climbed to the 170s, and I immediately regretted my sports bra of choice as we did a series of plyometric moves. Assuming that this was the cardio portion of the class was a mistake I soon paid for dearly. The next 20 minutes involved jogging, squat jumping, lunge walking, and high knees through the rows of punching bags. I hadn’t done the “crab walk” since elementary school, and it showed. I was so happy to get back to my punching bag I almost hugged it. Once my heart rate monitor stopped blinking the “!” symbol, I really got into the kickboxing portion of the class.
Our instructor would demonstrate a short series of punches and kicks to throw at the bag, and we would repeat those until he switched it up, breaking occasionally for push-ups, jumping squats, or a drink of water. Knowing this was my first class, he helped me learn the names of each punch and tried his best to help when my lack of coordination was getting the best of me (“left hook, right cross … what?”), and I eventually caught on. We wrapped up class with core work. We each grabbed a drink and sat down near our punching bags to complete seated twists, crunches, and planks, all while incorporating a weighted medicine ball.
The Aftermath: Ouch. I spent the next few hours in a haze that I finally recovered from after a healthy snack and a long shower. The next morning I woke up aching all over in the best way. I couldn’t move an inch without feeling the work I put in the day before.
Loved: I’m typically drawn to the crisp, clean yoga or pilates studios around town, but I had a blast working out in a more “bro” environment. I liked the no-nonsense attitude of the space and staff. Everyone was there to work, and that’s exactly what we did.
Hated: When I return I will buy my own hand wraps and gloves because the loaner gear smelled like moldy feet.
Cost: There are several membership options. After a one-time fee of $99, you can pay monthly dues of $79 that you can cancel with a 30-day notice, enroll in an annual membership of $69 per month if you pay the first and last month at signing, or put down a full year upfront for $708 ($59 per month) and skip the $99 fee altogether.
Difficulty Level: Prepare yourself for cardio. I consider myself relatively fit, and this class was a challenge. Unless you’re already a serious athlete, you won’t be able to do everything full-speed from day one, but you will still get a killer workout and absolutely see results.
Bottom Line: If you’re looking to maximize your gym time with a high-intensity class, you’ve got nothing to lose. But be prepared to work.
