CKO Kickboxing South Philly

I purchased a deal thru Groupon and unfortunately I was only able to attend ONE class out of the whole months voucher, due to me getting sick two days after purchasing it. It sucked because I really enjoyed the one class that I got to experience with Abby. I had trouble getting into a class online so I stopped in. Abby was able to get me signed up for the class that was about to start. I’m so out of shape and I was so uncomfortable. Abby made sure my posture was correct without being demeaning. She is very stern but nice! She gives you that push. Hopefully, I’ll catch another deal so I can get the full experience. Then I would probably end up signing up. Try a class! It’s worth it!

Stacy is AMAZING! My sister and I had our first class today and we will definitely be coming back! Such a great atmosphere and when I tell you it’s a full body work out!! Hunniiii Get into it

CKO KICKBOXING - SOUTH PHILLY is a clean and sanitary gym, with ample free parking. Once inside, you’ll be performing a high octane workout that “helps you achieve fitness goals and RELIEVE STRESS by TAKING IT OUT ON THE BAG“! This isn’t a gym where seeing someone workout longer, or lift more weight can leave you feeling low. CKO SOUTH PHILLY is “a community driven gym”, conveniently located to roadways, and highways. The personal text messages I received in my 1st 10 days at the gym, completely ceased thereafter. They were are all helpful, and provided a boost to my psyche. The texts received through my 10th day of membership were smart on many levels, a value add for clients, and market differentiator. I took time and consideration to wait until after class to tell the owner how impressed I was by the gym, her business acumen, the instructor, and the class. I was so grateful, that I accompanied a 5 star review with videos that needed to be specific time lengths on different platforms. As going to the gym is beneficial, the experience of using a new video editor over a day expanded my mind. Why the high praise for the owner, the gym, and the entire staff, bothered the owner, and me want, so deeply, I canceled attending all, but two classes, feeling dejected by the same person I thought extremely highly, receiving a different response at the gym from the owner, and, ironically, all texts ceased. I’ll leave up the initial texts, which provided a belief that the owner deserved to be praised for taking an extra step that was incredibly kind, and motivating. Therefore, my expectations were raised, and I was more eager to attend a gym than ever before. CKO South Philly is a place with diverse people who all check their egos and/or issues outside the building. You could not ask for more attentive, energetic, and upbeat personable instructors, with class sizes so limited in size, that you feel as if you have a personal trainer who motivates you. My first two classes were both led by a fantastic instructor, Stacey Secreto. What Stacey fits in a 45 minute class will sharply increase your heart rate, make you sweat, and burn maximal calories. The pace is non-stop, except for a couple 30 second breaks. The repetitions of exercises are intense and rapidly changing. On that day, the class was “Kickboxing & Resistance”, which integrates kickboxing with a resistance band around your ankles along with movements that combine 3-6 different movements, from an array of punches, kicks, jumping jacks, to squats, planks, and more. My second class, with Stacey, was “Kickboxing & Conditioning”- an HIIT workout that incorporates kickboxing with strength training. So, in addition to punches and kicks at the bag, you push the bag with your hands, then your feet, while integrating exercises, and picking up a weighted ball above your head, throwing it to the ground and doing a series of punches, jabs, hooks, crossovers, roundhouse with your feet, exercises with weights, and stretching before and after work outs. On any given week, there’s usually 8 different types of classes. Sometimes, there’s pop-up classes added in. There’s currently 10 types of classes, offered at a variety of times- morning, late afternoon, early evening, weekdays and weekends. They cover and combine techniques that utilize one or more of the following, kickboxing, strengthening, conditioning, breathing, core, contrology, resistance bands, skills, drills, rhythm, and bruise! They sell kickboxing gear, juice cleanses, workout clothing, and more. Check out their Facebook page for information and updates, as well as their other social media sites. If you eat right (read labels and know what is going into and/or on your body), and go to several classes a week, you’ll shed pounds like a German Shepherd sheds hair in the summer.

What a difference a couple of weeks can make. In any aspect of life, the unexpected can occur for better or for worse. For some, to go to the gym, it's about getting in the right mindset. You may need a person who pushes you- to kickstart your own drive. Asking for help is OK. What went wrong at CKO South Philly, I take accountability for, because, like most things in life, if you want it done, you need to take initiative, and ownership. Few people are empathic, and less are available when you need help. That’s life, and reality. This isn't a gym where seeing another exercising longer, or lifting more weight leaves you feeling low. CKO SOUTH PHILLY is kickboxing gym that "helps you achieve fitness goals and RELIEVE STRESS by TAKING IT OUT ON THE BAG"! The gym is clean, and sanitary. The staff is dedicated to ensure so. The members are as diverse as the staff. Everyone is focused, cordial, and aiming towards achieving a common goal. A week prior to my 1st class, I received personal texts to offer assistance. The most valuable texts, occurred during the 1st week. They were UNEXPECTED, ENCOURAGING, as are words of affirmations on walls across the gym. Texts showed care, and thoughtfulness. From business and psychology standpoints, they were a smart value add, and provided a boost to my psyche, that I needed. Who knew messages would push me to drive 25 minutes over going to the gym, I never utilized, 2 floors below? The texts were ingenious marketing, and optimized fitness effectiveness- a personal touch, and market differentiator. I was HIGHLY impressed, and expressed such to the owner. My first 2 classes were both led by Stacey- she’s amazing! 1st class, “Kickboxing & Resistance”, integrates kickboxing with a resistance band around your ankles along with combined revolving movements from punches, kicks, jumping jacks, squats, planks, pushups, etc. My 2nd class with Stacey, “Kickboxing & Conditioning”- incorporated kickboxing with strength training. In addition to punches and kicks at the bag, you push/kick the bag with your hands, feet, weights, the bag, and stretching before and after work outs. A class I highly recommend, especially for beginners, is CKO Technique: Skills and Drills. Ray Reese, an outstanding instructor, begins and ends with stretching, and teaches you the fundamentals of kickboxing. Repetitions of punches and kicks have you constantly in movement, raising your heart rate, and working on 2 bags. As class progresses, so does the pace, the mixture of punches, kicks, action work to the bag with your forearms, and knees, pushing the bag, rotating feet and arms. Positioning alters from in front of bags, between 2, moving from a starting place, rotating moves, right to left, and returning where you started- all continually modified repetitions. You’ll kick from behind, side, and at different heights on the bags. The last portion, with lights off, is akin to the final lap of a race- shifting between bags, legs, and arms, combinations, forces change from 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 95%, called out at any moment by Ray. Speed, and changing momentum ensure a maximal workout. The texts set a belief that the gym affords a thoughtful, and caring approach. When texts ceased, I became dejected, canceled all but 4 classes in my 1st 3 weeks. My mindset went back to where it was, prior to ever contacting the gym. My desire to attend, and renew halted. Weight that quickly shed began to come back, from no exercise. It must be routine! What made the gym distinguished, and a unique inspiration departed abruptly. It’s disappointing on many levels, no fault to any fantastic instructor. A standard was set that no longer existed. Motivation, solely, must be my own. Self-inspired in other aspects of my life, it was eye-opening. Your mental health, is as important as your physical! Both are stigmatized in society. What I experienced, and learned from the superb training staff, is well worth the price of admission.

Love CKO-south Philly, been coming for a few years periodically and is the best place for a great full body workout. Love all the trainers but my favorites are Abby, Stacey and Ashley and for the first time today did a class with trainer Alex and wow definitely will be coming back for his classes as well. Love this place everyone is very welcoming and makes you feel like family. 🥰