IN THE D: Get Fit 2015 with Boxing Gyms & Kickboxing Classes

By: Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers | January 6, 2015
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Oh, January—a month full of diets, resolutions, hope and determination for all of us. People want to start over. They want to turn over a new leaf. For a lot of folks that begins at the gym. Getting in shape is great for your body, your psyche and your attitude. Unfortunately, not every month seems to be as ambitious and dedicated, and as the year goes by, the number of people hitting the gym or working out tends to decrease. Why is that?

I’m no exception. While I can proudly say I consistently went to the gym each and every week possible in 2014, the frequency in which I went decreased toward the end of the year. Maybe it is because the year wears us down. Maybe it is because we become bored with our routines. Or maybe it is because we just lose focus or interest. Whatever the reason, it is important that we work out and remember the positive effects that proper exercise has on our bodies.

While we are on the topic of working out, boxing gyms and kickboxing classes can provide a tremendous full-body workout. Metro Detroit offers several gyms in which you can accomplish said task, no matter your skill level. Listed below are a few examples of places to train or exercise.

Kaizen Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 40340 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth, offers boxing in addition to BJJ, Muay Thai, judo and other forms of mixed martial arts and self defense techniques for men, women and children. The gym is beginner friendly and well-known. It teaches the basics of boxing: the jab, the cross, the hook and the uppercut, as well as head movement and footwork for offense and defense. Classes are very conditioning-based as well, as boxers are some of the most conditioned athletes in the world. The gym teaches four ranges of self defense: kicking, punching, clinching/takedowns/standing grappling and ground grappling through its various classes. If you start training here, you will receive 30 days free.

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Bad Boy Gym has locations in Royal Oak, Shelby Township and Macomb Township. If you’re looking for a workout to push your endurance level to the limit, you may want to consider one of the Bad Boy Gym locations. Personal training is offered here for both boxing and conditioning. If you are looking for less of a commitment, walk-ins are welcome and will cost you a mere $15. In addition, a beautiful weight room, a “military training room” and dozens of kickboxing, aerobics, cardio and Pilates classes are all offered. Kid’s classes are also offered. The gym is named after 2012, 2013 and 2014 Junior Olympic Champion “Bad Boy Brandon.”

Cooper’s Gym offers locations in Detroit, Dearborn, Warren and River Rogue and makes our list of boxing gyms to try for the second consecutive year. Cooper’s has served Detroit and its metropolitan area since 1972—needless to say that you will be taught by veterans. The boxing regimen is disciplined, but well worth it. Three official rings, one floor ring, over two dozen heavy bags and more are provided. There are separate gyms for beginners, amateurs, white collar boxers and professionals, so you’ll never need to feel out of place. Cooper’s is also well-known for mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and self defense. The gym offers a ton of programs, so you can’t go wrong.

Smash Hit Kickboxing Gym, 48 N. Saginaw, Pontiac, also made the cut two years in a row. Smash Hit is kickboxing-based and offers quite a few classes on that subject matter. Such classes include Cardio Thai Kickboxing, Interval Blast 101 and even Kickboxing for Dummies. Any of the classes offered here will be sure to give you a fantastic workout and leave you sore in the morning (which, though painful, means your muscles are working). Personal training is also an option. A great thing that this gym does is offer a Recovery Kickboxing program for those struggling with weight gain, depression, addiction or anxiety. You never know how impactful a program like this can be. Kudos to Smash Hit.

Final Round Training Center, 3770 Plaza Dr., Ann Arbor, offers a cardio kickboxing class allowing you to burn up to 800 calories per hour. The class is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays twice a day, and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays once a day. High intensity interval workouts go in “rounds.” Perfect for dropping weight, adding muscle tone and working on your cardiovascular conditioning. Final Round offers several other programs as well, including “mittology” classes, combat conditioning, Muay Thai, No GI Grappling, Jiu-Jitsu and more. Free children’s classes will be offered every Saturday in January from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. You can also experience a class for free to see if it is your cup of tea.

The moral of the story is to try stay as motivated as possible this year. I am throwing down that challenge to myself and all of my dear readers. I can only hope you just said in your best Barney Stinson impersonation: “Challenge accepted!” 

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