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LA Boxing Sterling 1 Year Anniversary Party
Friday, March 8th, 2013
Join the team at LA Boxing Sterling to celebrate their one-year anniversary this Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Free food, prizes, memberships and more.
spinning jams, dropping beats, and throwing punches!
Wednesday, March 6th, 2013
Great Blog about The LA Boxing Workout in Long Beach, CA
http://ohanadjs.com/2013/03/
Everyone’s New Years resolution: Live a healthier lifestyle. This consists of eating healthy, being active, and staying fit. Sure, these things sound easy on paper but lets get real, “KukaKuka”- lets talk story. These things are much easier said than done. The main reason people tend to get left behind on the healthy bandwagon is simply because there’s nothing really enticing about it. What’s so enticing about running on a treadmill? Some may argue that it’s relaxing and therapeutic but for others it can be a one-way trip to Snooze-Ville! Lucky for you snoozers who are in need of that extra oomph of motivation, Ohana has got you covered! Two little words…LA BOXING!
The LA Boxing Instructors & Management of Long Beach
Just this past week we were lucky enough take part in LA Boxing’s Member Appreciation Day! DJ StrongWill was dropping only the sickest beats and tunes for all of the evening boxing and kickboxing classes. We’ve never seen so many people pumped and hyped to get their fitness on! It’s always fulfilling to see just how much music makes a difference in the little things- like exercising for example. When exercising, music is what moves and motivates us to work harder. That day, following every beat, there was an up roar of enthusiasm surging from every LA Boxing member as they went in for that knockout punch. Wow! Talk about a workout!
DJ StrongWIll & MMA Fighter & LA Boxing Instructor, Jonathan Rivera
For those of you who haven’t heard of LA Boxing, don’t let the name intimidate you. Have no fear! This gym isn’t just for aspiring fighters; it’s for anyone who wants to get into shape and who needs that extra push of motivation! It’s a gym for real people with real expectations. You can burn up to 800-1000 calories in just one hour with high intensity interval training…. and lets not forget serving up a few rounds of punch & kick combos on the bag! KAPOW!
We’re not going to lie and say it’s easy. The LA Boxing workout is definitely not a walk in the park. It’s is what the Ohana Team calls an, “Oh My Gosh-I Have Sweat In My Eye- This Is Nuts- But Oh So Awesome” workout. Yup. It’s one of those. I think it is safe to say you just might be seeing the Ohana Team at your local LA Boxing throwing punches and taking names. =]
Don’t take our word for it! Check it out for yourself! Visit laboxing.com to find a gym near you. Your first class is complimentary and after that the rest is up to you. So what do you say? March into that gym with confidence, strap on those green prospect gloves, and ask yourself this, “Am I up for the challenge?”
“A hui kaua”- Until we meet again,
-The Ohana Team
UFC GYM® Acquires LA Boxing with Open Workouts to be Held at First Location Under New Ownership
Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
For Immediate Release:
January 21, 2013
*MEDIA ALERT*
UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON MAIN CARD ATHLETES TO HOLD OPEN WORKOUTS FOR MEDIA
Wednesday, Jan. 23 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. CST
UFC GYM® Acquires LA Boxing with Open Workouts to be Held at
First Location Under New Ownership, 644 North Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654
Las Vegas, Nevada – UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON main card athletes will hold an open workout for media on Wednesday, Jan. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST at UFC GYM, 644 North Orleans.
UFC GYM® recently acquired LA Boxing® and announced plans to bring its ‘Train Different’ philosophy to LA Boxing’s already established elite facilities. Open workouts will be held at the first location under new ownership. With the addition of the current 81 LA Boxing locations, UFC GYM will begin to franchise this new model of boutique clubs while preserving the character and guiding principles of its brand. Franchisees will have the unique opportunity to own and operate the new UFC GYM franchise model across the US and the globe.
UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson makes his first ever title defense against current number one contender and The Ultimate Fighter® season 14 winner John Dodson on Saturday, Jan. 26 when the Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to United Center in Chicago, Ill. Unbeaten in his last three performances, Johnson defeated Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152 in September to earn the inaugural UFC flyweight championship, while Dodson earned his shot at the title following a TKO victory over Jussier Formiga in October.
In the night’s co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson takes on the heavy-handed Glover Teixeira, while final WEC® lightweight champion and Milwaukee’s own Anthony Pettis meets the always exciting Donald Cerrone in an explosive matchup.
In addition, UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON also features Chicago native and Elmhurst College grad Ricardo Lamas vs. Erik Koch in a featherweight fight that could earn the winner a title shot.
WHO: Main Card Athletes from UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON
12:30 p.m. CST – Ricardo Lamas, Donald Cerrone & John Dodson
1:15 p.m. CST – Erik Koch, Anthony Pettis & Glover Teixeira
2:00 p.m. CST – Demetrious Johnson & Rampage Jackson
WHAT: UFC Open Workouts
· Media only, closed to public
· Video and interview opportunities available
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 23 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. CST
· Doors open to media at 11:30 a.m. CST
WHERE: UFC GYM, 644 North Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654
All of the main card action airs live on FOX on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Limited tickets for UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON are still available at the United Center Box Office, Ticketmaster Outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
About UFC GYM®: UFC GYM® is the first major brand extension of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the world leader in the sport of mixed martial arts. In alliance with New Evolution Ventures™(NeV), developers of many of the world’s most successful fitness brands, the UFC Gym brand gives UFC enthusiasts and fitness seekers of all ages the opportunity to practice the training techniques of famed UFC athletes. Offering a full-range of group fitness classes, private MMA training, personal and group dynamic training, plus MMA style youth programming, UFC GYM creates something for all ages and fitness levels. As the first to combine the world of mixed martial arts and fitness, UFC GYM has developed an atmosphere where members can see immediate results. UFC GYM is the ultimate fitness experience. The brand is not what you expect, and more than you can imagine, aiming to continue revolutionizing the fitness industry. For more information, please visit www.ufcgym.com.
About LA Boxing®: LA Boxing® is the world’s largest boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts fitness franchise with nearly 81 locations open nationwide and another 50 in various stages of development. The LA Boxing Workout™-aimed at suburban men, women, and children-which burns 800-1,000 calories per hour, is taught by professionally-trained boxers, kickboxers and mixed martial arts fighters. For more information about LA Boxing, visit http://laboxing.com/.
About New Evolution Ventures (NeV): Based in Northern California, New Evolution Ventures (NeV) has a two-decade plus record of success in delivering superior returns on investment, specializing in the acquisition, development and operations management of both domestic and international fitness endeavors. Founded in 2008 by Mark Mastrov, Jim Rowley and Mike Feeney and following a strategic partnership with Vision Capital in 2011, the current team of NeV professionals is setting industry-wide standards one brand at a time. Operations have spanned over 20 countries worldwide and included hundreds of facilities. Our team’s industry experience has positioned NeV as a global leader in its field, expanding and reinventing the vision of fitness. For more information, visit www.nev.com.
About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®: Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which now airs on FX.
In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries and territories, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 30 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with over two million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, the best-selling UFC Undisputed® video game franchise distributed by THQ, and a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.
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New Evolution Ventures
Linell Killus
Linell@nev.com
925-297-6372
UFC GYM
Kelly Farawell
Kelly.Farawell@ufcgym.com
212-993-0375
UFC
Shauna Wilson
Swilson@ufc.com
702.851.2477
UFC GYM® KICKS OFF 2013 WITH ACQUISITION OF LA BOXING® FRANCHISING PLATFORM
Monday, January 14th, 2013
UFC GYM® KICKS OFF 2013 WITH ACQUISITION OF LA BOXING® FRANCHISING PLATFORM
Date: 1/14/2013
UFC GYM® Kicks off 2013 With Acquisition of LA Boxing® Franchising Platform
Fitness Brand Announces Plans to Rebrand LA Boxing Facilities to UFC GYMS and Pursue Worldwide Expansion
LAFAYETTE, CA, January 14, 2013 – UFC GYM®, the ultimate fitness destination and first major brand extension of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, continues its worldwide expansion with the acquisition of LA Boxing®. UFC GYM looks to bring its ‘Train Different’ philosophy, which combines the best of traditional fitness with the innovation of mixed martial arts, to LA Boxing’s already established, elite facilities.
“The UFC GYM experience is second-to-none. Our gyms have incredible energy and through innovative programs members see amazing results,” says UFC President Dana White, “With this acquisition, we continue to grow our footprint as leaders in the global fitness industry.”
Founded in partnership with New Evolution Ventures, LLC™, UFC GYM currently has five full-service facilities which average 35,000 square feet in California and Hawaii. It has also started selling membership for locations in New York Metro and Sydney, Australia which will open by April 2013. UFC GYM will begin to transform the boutique LA Boxing facilities, which average 5,000 square feet, to the UFC GYM format.
“The goal of UFC GYM when we launched it three years ago was to create a unique MMA-styled fitness experience for men, women and children that went far beyond the traditional workout,” says, Mark Mastrov, Chairman of New Evolution Ventures. “We were drawn to LA Boxing based upon the similarities in our brand DNA. We are thrilled to partner with the existing LA Boxing team and their franchisees in expanding our shared vision worldwide.”
With the addition of the current 81 LA Boxing locations, UFC GYM will begin to franchise this new model of boutique clubs while preserving the character and guiding principles of its brand. Franchisees will have the unique opportunity to own and operate the new UFC GYM franchise model across the US and the globe.
“Our new partnership will build upon LA Boxing’s growth over the past 10 years in boxing, kickboxing and MMA. We will grow the franchise in the US and internationally benefiting current LA Boxing franchises, their staff, trainers, and members,” said Anthony Geisler, President of UFC Gym Franchise. “The partnership will enable UFC GYM to continue to provide a superior workout experience at a great value and will add even more benefits for current members and franchisees.”
The first location under the new ownership will open in Chicago’s thriving River North neighborhood with media invited to visit the facility on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 11:30 a.m. This media-only event will feature a workout with main card athletes from UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. DODSON which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 26 at the United Center and will be broadcast on FOX. For more information visit www.ufcgym.com.
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About UFC GYM®: UFC GYM® is the first major brand extension of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the world leader in the sport of mixed martial arts. In alliance with New Evolution Ventures™(NeV), developers of many of the world’s most successful fitness brands, the UFC Gym brand gives UFC enthusiasts and fitness seekers of all ages the opportunity to practice the training techniques of famed UFC athletes. Offering a full-range of group fitness classes, private MMA training, personal and group dynamic training, plus MMA style youth programming, UFC GYM creates something for all ages and fitness levels. As the first to combine the world of mixed martial arts and fitness, UFC GYM has developed an atmosphere where members can see immediate results. UFC GYM is the ultimate fitness experience. The brand is not what you expect, and more than you can imagine, aiming to continue revolutionizing the fitness industry. For more information, please visit www.ufcgym.com.
About LA Boxing®: LA Boxing® is the world’s largest boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts fitness franchise with nearly 81 locations open nationwide and another 50 in various stages of development. The LA Boxing Workoutt-aimed at suburban men, women, and children-which burns 800-1,000 calories per hour, is taught by professionally-trained boxers, kickboxers and mixed martial arts fighters. For more information about LA Boxing, visit http://laboxing.com/.
About New Evolution Ventures (NeV): Based in Northern California, New Evolution Ventures (NeV) has a two-decade plus record of success in delivering superior returns on investment, specializing in the acquisition, development and operations management of both domestic and international fitness endeavors. Founded in 2008 by Mark Mastrov, Jim Rowley and Mike Feeney and following a strategic partnership with Vision Capital in 2011, the current team of NeV professionals is setting industry-wide standards one brand at a time. Operations have spanned over 20 countries worldwide and included hundreds of facilities. Our team’s industry experience has positioned NeV as a global leader in its field, expanding and reinventing the vision of fitness. For more information, visit www.nev.com.
About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®: Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which now airs on FX.
In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries and territories, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 30 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with over two million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, the best-selling UFC Undisputed® video game franchise distributed by THQ, and a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.
OC Register: BullyFight.com & MMA fighters take on bullies at H.B. High
Wednesday, October 31st, 2012
LA Boxing hosts Tito Ortiz and Rob McCullough at anti-bullying assembly on Tuesday
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Using mixed martial artists seemed a good way to bring home a message to Huntington Beach High students about the dangers and impacts of bullying.
They’re famous. They’re big. They command attention.ADVERTISEMENT
But most importantly, they’ve been bullied themselves.
Fighters Tito Ortiz and Rob McCullough, both from Huntington Beach, talked to students Tuesday at the high school as part of Santa Ana-based LA Boxing’s anti-bullying campaign.
Ortiz, known as the “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,” is a light heavyweight who went on to be World Champion and start his own gym and product line, Punishment Athletics. He teaches youth mixed martial arts classes at his Huntington Beach training center twice a week.
McCullough, known as “The Razor,” fights in the lightweight class and is the former World Extreme Cage Champion.
“We connect with kids,” Ortiz said. “They see us as fighters, yes, but they see us as normal people too. It’s coming from guys who’ve been in these same situations.”
The men stood on the school’s gym floor in front of thousands of students hoping to get a simple message across: Stop bullying.
“We need to support each other, let’s stop the cycle,” Ortiz told the students. “Let’s not be bullies, let’s mentor each other.”
The kids applauded when both men shared their stories of bullying and told students to be accepting of others, no matter their race or sexual orientation.
“It was inspiring,” said junior Brianna Owens, 16. “I think everyone here learned something today.”
McCullough, director of training at LA Boxing, kicked off the campaign earlier this month at a kindergarten in Anaheim.
“This is really an epidemic,” he said. “Kids need to be held accountable.”
The Huntington Beach presentation was Ortiz’s first lecture as part of the LA Boxing program – which has gone nationwide and hit seven Orange County schools.
“These kids look up to me. I guess I’m just a role model for them,” he said. “If I’m making a difference, I’m doing my job.”
Ortiz and McCullough both attended Huntington Beach High – Ortiz for four years and McCullough for one.
They both came from similar backgrounds – forced to learn to care for themselves at a young age with little parental guidance.
Ortiz said his family lived in hotels and cars because his parents battled drug addiction. McCullough said at age 14 he moved out of a Santa Ana hotel room where he lived with his mother because he could tell she was struggling to make ends meet and take care of him.
“I lived with friends,” he said. “Yeah, I grew up fast, but I wouldn’t change any of that.”
Ortiz, 37, said he was scrawny when he entered high school, which made him an easy target.
“I was a little kid with no muscles. I was 5’6″, 120 pounds,” he said. “My freshman year, I was sick of getting bullied so I started lifting weights.”
By his senior year, he grew five inches and packed on 60 pounds, thanks to wrestling at school, he said.
McCullough, 35, attended four high schools in four years – three in Orange County and one in Alaska. With every new school, came new bullies.
“I was always the new kid,” he said.
He said he used athletics to build confidence and battle frustrations that come with being a teenager.
“That was something that changed my life,” he said.
Both men eventually found mixed martial arts, established confidence and built a career.
Students said the message coming from Ortiz and McCullough was easy to receive and made a big impact.
“It really made you feel like you’re not so alone and isolated,” said freshman Emily Bird, 15.
Although some students said they have heard talks about bullying before, the assembly with the MMA fighters offered a new perspective.
“I thought it was pretty cool,” said freshman Mike Alexander, 15. “I learned what’s better to do … instead of getting in a fight to stop the bullying, because that’s normally what I would do, you should tell someone.”
Contact the writer: 714-796-7953 or jfletcher@ocregister.com
Link to story: http://www.ocregister.com/news/ortiz-376183-mccullough-students.html
Link to photos: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ortiz-376183-mccullough-students.html?pic=2
LA Boxing Anti-Bullying Campaign featured in Club Solutions
Friday, September 21st, 2012
LA Boxing Launches Anti-Bullying Campaign
In an anti-bullying video produced by LA Boxing, professional MMA Fighters and Boxers including WEC Lightweight Rob McCullough, former UFC Champions Tito Ortiz and Quinton Jackson, current UFC Fighter Michael Bisping and five-time Welterweight Boxing Champion Zab Judah, explained the reasons why they fought competitively — for example, they have fought for fame, money or to prove they’re one of the best fighters in the world. However, the professional fighters vividly expressed that they didn’t fight for bullying. “I fight for many reasons, but I don’t fight to be a bully,” said Rob McCullough in the video.
The video is part of LA Boxing’s anti-bullying campaign, targeted at reaching the hundreds of thousands of kids adversely affected by bulling each year. According to LA Boxing, every minute a child is bullied. The slogan of the campaign is “100 percent competitor, zero percent bully.”
At each of the nearly 75 LA Boxing franchise locations in the U.S., local anti-bullying assemblies will be held for students in local school districts. According to LA Boxing, the assemblies will feature LA Boxing trainers and possible select professional fighters, who will speak to kids about bullying and provide them with effective ways to communicate about the issue and express their feelings without violence.
The featured video will be shown at the assemblies. As part of the campaign, LA Boxing has sponsored the website BullyFight.com, which works as a platform for videos about anti-bullying awareness and examples of how kids have been negatively affected by bullying. Students can submit their own videos about their bullying experiences to the site.
To further fight bullying, LA Boxing has extended the opportunity for kids to take a free class — according to LA Boxing, this is an effort to spread the message that fighting should only happen within the confines of regulated combat sports. “We as a company are at the absolute forefront of anti-bullying,” said Philip Jacobs, the director of franchise development for LA Boxing. “We have found that bullying happens for different reasons, and kids can work that out in our gym.”
LA Boxing opened its first franchise location in 2005, and since then has expanded to 75 franchises currently opened in the U.S., with 60 or more locations in the works and plans to expand overseas. “All over the world fitness is here to stay,” said Jacobs. “The words ‘LA Boxing’ have panache overseas — we’re going to leverage that.”
According to Jacobs, the franchise capitalized on the effectiveness of boxing, which can burn 800 to 1,000 calories per hour. Jacobs credits LA Boxing’s fast-growing success to the franchises “Three E’s” — efficiency, effectiveness and engagement. “We believe that a boxer is the most well-conducted athlete in the world, from the workout they do and their dedication,” said Jacobs. “We put that all together in a clean and welcoming environment.”
The franchise hopes the campaign will get kids and their parents into the club, boosting family memberships, said Jacobs. In addition, the campaign will work to boost brand recognition. “The number one purpose of the campaign is goodwill,” said Jacobs. “The second is branding in the local community and third, the campaign should work as a profit center for the owners. When the kids ask to go into the club, we hope their parents will follow.”
To find out more about LA Boxing and its anti-bullying campaign, visit www.bullyfight.com or laboxing.com.
Women’s Boxing to Make its Debut in Summer Olympics
Tuesday, July 17th, 2012
Women’s Boxing to Make its Debut in Summer Olympics
Finally, female boxers are getting the chance to fight for a medal in the Olympic games. The Summer Olympics, with the opening ceremony July 27, will feature women in boxing for the first time, with three ladies on the U.S. team.
Representing the U.S. will be Claressa Shields, Marlen Esparza, and Quanitta “Queen” Underwood. As the first female boxers to compete in the Olympics, they’ve already made history. The ladies will join 33 (a small number compared to the 250 men competing) other fighters, in three separate weight classes (the men’s competition has 10), all competing for the coveted medals.
While boxing joined the Olympics in 1904, it was the only Summer sport without females until now. The entire US boxing team has 12 members, making it the largest at the London games. The women’s tournament begins on the second Sunday of the games (August 5 and 6), and will last five days, with semifinals on August 8 and the gold-medal matches on August 9.
Meet the U.S. Women’s Team:
- Claressa Shields: Flint, Michigan, 17, competing as a middleweight (165lbs)
- Marlen Esparza: Houston, Texas, 22, competing as a featherweight (112 lbs)
- Quanitta “Queen” Underwwod: Seattle, Washington, 28, competing as a lightweight (132lbs)
Related articles:
The Detroit News: Flint boxer Claressa Shields helping to make Olympic history
Yahoo Sports: Women boxers get long-awaited Olympic chance
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/women-boxers-long-awaited-olympic-140512595–oly.html
The New York Times: U.S. Has Its First Female Olympic Boxer
Yahoo Sports: Women’s USA Olympic Boxing Team
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/womens-usa-olympic-boxing-team-fan-overview-222300187–oly.html
Tampa Bay Times: New Clearwater gym features boxing workouts and a lot more
Thursday, July 12th, 2012
By Theodora Aggeles, Times correspondent<
In Print: Thursday, July 12, 2012
 [Photos by WILL VRAGOVIC | Times]
Leon Brooks, 29, of Clearwater hangs from his punching bag after a high-intensity punching drill during a boxing class.
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Link to original story
CLEARWATER
Step inside the door of LA Boxing and the feel isn’t what you might imagine. It’s bright and airy, a cheerful-looking gym. All of the machines and padding are painted in reds, whites and blues.
The new place on U.S. 19 offers workouts based on boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. It’s the first Pinellas location for the chain, which also operates in Orlando and Miami.
“We’ve been open three weeks, and this is the first of many locations we’re planning for the Tampa Bay area. We’re not coming in with one and run,” said Pete Guzman, partner and general manager. “LA Boxing is celebrating 20 years as a gym right now, and this is the 76th one to open.”
Besides classes, the gym has cardio equipment, free weights, strength building machines and personal trainers. Of course there’s a boxing ring and a bag cage with dozens of 150-pound punching bags.
“As society becomes more sedentary and people grow older, they have to seek out something to get into great shape,” said Guzman, 41. “The LA Boxing Workout burns between 800 and 1,000 calories, and a trainer takes you through it every time. You get muscular development, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, you learn something new and have fun.”
Proper punching and kicking techniques are taught along with basic fighting techniques, with an emphasis on mind, body and emotional well-being.
Guzman knows all three are important.
A New Yorker, he had been to Tarpon Springs several times visiting his wife’s family in her hometown. Then he lost his business and the family lost their home.
“We went through what a lot of America has been going through,” said Guzman. “About a year ago, our family down here took us in. We started from zero, but I’m ready to rock and roll. With the business model from LA Boxing and the discipline I’ve learned from martial arts, we won’t fail.”
Guzman believes LA Boxing will continue to grow. In New York, he says, he helped one martial arts business go from eight to 50 gyms.
After he was introduced to his business partner, Scott Wafer, who owns an LA Boxing gym in New York, Guzman became enamored with the business model and Wafer’s business expertise.
“I watched that business for about a year and thought, ‘This is it,’ ” said Guzman.
The gym has several different membership packages with costs ranging from $44 to $84 a month, the latter of which includes unlimited classes and full use of all of the gym’s equipment.
A gym to get in shape
Guzman is dedicated to the techniques taught at LA Boxing. The workout includes three-minute rounds with a one-minute break and incorporates music, jumping rope, boxing gloves, the heavy bag and lots of positive reinforcement.
“There is nobody in better condition than a mixed martial artist,” said Guzman. “People have the ability to do the workout of authentic boxers, kickboxers and mixed martial artists without the lumps and bruises. The sparring and contact is not necessarily a part of most people’s workout, but for those who want to take it to that level, the facility is set up for it and we will offer that too.”
Norine Troupe, the business’ assistant general manager, starting working on fitness in gyms about 14 years ago, seven of those in martial arts. Now she teaches boxing and kickboxing as a personal trainer and instructor.
“Personally, there is no good excuse (for not getting fit),” said Troupe. “Everybody has a reason: I hurt my knee, my back, World War whatever, I can’t get out of bed, I have no time, too much work, my husband this, my daughter that, I can’t sleep. Everybody has to start somewhere.”
Helping children feel self-confident will be the crux of a bullying prevention program that Guzman intends to have running within the next six weeks.
Phillip Jacobs, LA Boxing’s director of franchise development, said successful franchise owners are people who have fitness-oriented lifestyles.
“They love the fitness environment, the sweating, the testosterone, people setting and achieving goals,” he said. “It becomes a labor of love.”
One other thing: This is the first year the Olympics will feature female boxing. Jacobs believes that women everywhere will have a light bulb go on and realize they can get in shape by taking these classes.
Guzman is in Clearwater to help make that happen.
“Even though LA Boxing is a huge franchise, we are a local gym,” said Guzman. “We plan to have local charity events and want very much to be a part of this community.”
Correspondent Theodora Aggeles can be reached at cotheo@tampabay.rr.com
LA Boxing
Location: 28784 U.S. 19, at Hodusa Plaza
Information: Call (727) 265-2269 or view www.laboxing.com/Clearwater
