Long gone are the days that the only boxing gym in your area had a distinctive smell and tough attitude. Boxing is now trendy, it’s gone boutique and will only get more so as high profile models and celebs post pictures of themselves on instagram with sweat dripping and their boxing gloves slung over their shoulder. In London the latest boxing gym to arrive is KOBOX on the Kings Road. It’s all shiny and new, has a nightclub standard sound system and not in the slightest bit stinky…. Amy from HLL checks it out!
I love boxing, I have done a little over the years in various gyms so I was so excited when I heard about KOBOX. It has been founded by Shane Collins (you may have sweated buckets at one of his signature ‘Psycho Sunday’ Barry’s Bootcamp classes) and you should expect a similar intensity at KOBOX. All of the trainers here have great and hardcore training backgrounds – these guys are not messing about!
THE WORKOUT
The studio is split into two areas – there are the boxing bags where you are allocated one to yourself and there are also numbers on the wall where you have your wall/floor space. The class is divided up into rounds which alternate between the two areas. It’s nightclub dark in there (I like this no-one needs to see me looking this gross) and the music is pumping – and I’ll warn you now – you will not stop for the next 60 minutes.
You wear wraps – either your own or if you get their introductory 2 classes for £20 you also get some wraps to keep. You will also need gloves – either ones they provide or you can bring your own. The class starts with a warm up and the instructor will take your through all the basic punches you will need to know for the class ahead so you don’t need to worry if you have never boxed before.
Once the warm up is done – you start your rounds of boxing and strength training in your floor space using your own body weight as well as a mixture of dumbbells, plates, resistance bands and medicine balls. The punching bit is so fun – they teach you short simple routines by numbers – and if you forget the numbers in the routine are projected up onto the wall so you don’t get confused. The alternation between the two stations work really well and mean it is impossible for boredom to creep in! Music is blasting throughout and the atmosphere is great.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I really like KOBOX. Not only is the studio cool and a great new concept but also the changing rooms are nice with REN products (I heart) and GHD’s etc and the smoothie bar is fab (you can pre-order before class, and they are also probably the best I’ve tasted yet). The workout is hardcore, but it is amazing and thoroughly enjoyable. One of the thing I noticed, and really like are the boxing bags. They are heavy balloon like bags which are really nice to punch – they don’t hurt at all, they give enough so you don’t feel like you are punching a brick wall and yet they are still heavy so you can really give them an almighty right hook without sending it flying! Would I go back – YES absolutely – without hesitation- its definitely a new gem in the west London fitness scene!
Who’s It For? Anyone that isn’t afraid to get sweaty and punch the stresses of your day away!
How Much? First Timer package is 2 classes for £25 and you get a pair of KOBOX wraps for you to keep! After that there are various packages and a drop in class is £20
Where is it? 122 Kings Road, London, SW3 4TR (It is at the back of the shopping arcade)
More Information: http://www.koboxlondon.com/
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