Let’s Get Reeeeady...to be HUMBLED: CKO Kickboxing

The 411

CKO Kickboxing is a franchise found in many locations across the country.  We all know that when it comes to fitness, the F word (franchise) does not always have the best reputation. You know the type. Sterile (as in no personality, not cleanliness), facilities that cut corners on equipment and staff while offering cheap initiation fees, and overpriced year-long monthly commitments with the hope you never come. But CKO and OrangeTheory Fitness have broken the mold. They are both popular and reliable fitness franchises that seem to be popping up faster than nail salons.

I went into CKO thinking it could never rival my regular twice a week boxing workouts. On my walk over I was even wondering if I'd have time for some jump rope after in order to redeem my wasted workout. I was as wrong as the 2016 presidential election polls.

CKO offers group kickboxing classes for the masses. Each class is an hour of non-stop, full body strength, cardio, and bag work that could humble the fittest contender.

Class

The class I took started off with an intense warm up of mountain climbers, push-ups, jumping jacks and running laps around the studio while switching between high knees and grape vine.  5 minutes in and my legs were already burning. We then broke up into 3 groups consisting of about 5 people each at various stations for 2 minutes. My group started with box-jump squats, then we moved on to another station where we did mountain climbers and a third was TRX bicep curls. Next up was bag work. The instructor, Dylan C. gave us combo moves with both punches and kicks, which he first demonstrated and we then attempted to imitate. After a few rounds, we'd fire drill and run around the studio, then back to kickboxing. After quite a few sweaty rounds, we finished up the class with about 10 minutes of hard-core abs and push-ups.

A lot of other studios flaunt high-tech inventions like anti-gravity treadmills or winged sneakers, but CKO relies on tried and true, old-school functional moves which are both challenging and exhausting. Although the classes are full throttle, there is flexibility for each participant to go at their own pace. If you can't keep up, you can slow down, do every other push up, etc. and modifications are encouraged. As you get more conditioned, you can build up your pace.

Space

The space was clean and efficient with lots of CKO branding. Check-in was easy and straightforward.  There are lockers for storing your stuff while you’re in class and showers with towels, but it's BYOB with regard to soap, shampoo, and conditioner.  This ain't the kind of class where you can skip a rinse and head straight out for matcha lattes unless it's a very, very good friend,

$$

The first trial class is free. If you want to join there are three membership options. All membership levels have access to unlimited classes, members-only classes, small group classes and technique Tuesdays. Members also have access to a small workout area in the front that has jump ropes, barbells, kettle bells and other weights but no cardio machines.

Yearly: one annual payment of $1,070

Monthly: $139 a month to month, no contract

Annual: $99 a month (commit to a year-long membership)

*At the time of my inquiry, they said they’d waive the $99 enrollment fee for each membership level