CKO Kickboxing

I was a huge fan of this place until I had to move and cancel my membership. When I signed up I was told that if I had to move more than 25 miles away than I would be able to cancel my membership free of charge with amicable proof that I had moved. Please don’t get me wrong, the instructors are great, motivating, and really want you to succeed throughout your work out, but unfortunately that is over shadowed with the disrespectful service I received when I tried to cancel my membership. Background — I live in Hoboken, NJ (as we all know it is not cheap, especially for my salary) and I unfortunately had to move home due to being unable to pay my rent. I figured I should call my gym (CKO) to cancel as I would be moving. In order to cancel my membership I needed to provide a bill in my name that was addressed to my current household (not hard right?) until I realized that it has to be an electric, or water bill. I asked her if a cell phone bill would work, and she said no. My response — why would I be paying the electric or water bill when I am moving back home to my parents house? She told me I could use a receipt from the moving company I used (she must think I am made of money, as my parents are bringing our van up to move my things home), and she also said that I could sell my membership on craigslist. I have tried, but unfortunately have gotten no responses to my craigslist post. This was not the process that I was hoping for when I am moving back to PA to live with my family and on top of that, the lady I spoke to was less than accommodating and did not care as her response was — we have plenty of members (like I was not important by losing me as a member). I am now stuck paying $ 77 a month or I could pay $ 250.00 to get out of my membership. Yes I understand I signed a contract for one year, but I made sure to double check before I signed that I would be able to cancel in case of moving.
This is not to defer anyone from joining this gym as the work outs are great. But please be aware that they are less than helpful when an issue arises.

I came to this place with excitement. I was looking forward to have a good exercise in kickboxing class here.
Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. I had my group class with Susan. She did very little demonstration for each exercise so it’s very hard for a beginner like me to know what’s going on. I have to look around to see what other people doing to know each exercise. Also, there was loud music played in the studio so it’s hard to hear any instruction she gave. Plus, during the entire class, she went to play with her phone many times (at least 15 times during a 50 minutes class!!) instead of giving us demo or coach on us. I feel that’s very unprofessional.
The gym is good with lots of bags and equipment. I’ll try different instructors in the future to see whether anyone better.
Definitely won’t go with Susan in the future.

I took my first kickboxing class here with instructor Robyn, and it was AMAZING! The staff are super cool and help you out with everything, and the instructor Robyn was super cute and spunky but FIERCE, and her music selection was pumpin’!
This work out will leave your upper body, lower body, and core sore in the greatest way afterwards, and the work out leaves you feeling exhilarated. You feel like a bad-​ass for getting through such a tough work out, and it leaves you feeling great, and not completely exhausted.
You get the hang of it really fast, even if you are a complete beginner (like myself). Robyn got me hooked and I recommend this work out to everyone!

Love this workout. The gym is smaller than the sister location on Madison but the instructors here are top notch. I am specifically talking about Susan Tee And Bill V. They are both amazing!
I come all the way from the city for this workout, and I am officially addicted!
It’s a full body work out in an hour, but it goes by so fast because they are constantly changing the rotations and movements. Plus there is some kick ass music being played.
They also offer personal training on site and have a full gym. By far the best gym I have been to.

Love this gym! The grand street location is awesome — they know your name when you walk in, help you with form during class and keep you motivated. I always leave feeling like I got a great workout. I’ve done other boxing and this gym is great — plenty of bags and space, good trainers. I also do personal training with Susan — she got me in amazing shape for my wedding, keeps me motivated and is always willing to work around my schedule. The uptown location has a different feel (larger, lots of running laps as opposed to boxing) so I actually go out of my way to go to grand street.

I joined CKO almost 4 years ago and it is true what they say… It is totally addicting! I never saw myself as the «workout» type and had never committed to a gym before. The workouts are fun and you can go at your own pace — 4 years later, it is still kicking my butt. I am stronger and more toned than before. Susan T’s classes are amazing. She pushes you out of your comfort zone and you feel accomplished and proud of yourself at the end (in addition to an amazing workout) Susan’s classes are never boring and she always tries something new. She takes the time to correct your form to make sure you get the most out of the exercise. I would highly recommend her classes… just don’t take my bag! :)

This location of CKO is great for a no-​frills, solid work out. You’ll feel like you’re a member of your own fight club the minute you walk into this un-​finished warehouse feeling studio, and (if you fully engage the class) you will leave feeling it too. One of my favorite things about the class was that even though it’s in a group, you can absolutely go at your own pace. I went on a Wednesday afternoon in July and the class was small (about 10 people), which I liked (extra pointers on form from the instructor). The sign up process was also pretty painless (I was here through my Class Pass membership) and took less then five minutes. On the membership note, it looked like an unlimited month was $ 79 (and a $ 99 activation fee), which seems generally reasonable to me.
While I liked this studio and workout and would definitely return, there are a few things that keep it from being a four or five star review. First, as a lot of past reviews have mentioned, they charge $ 20 for a pair of cheaply made gloves, even if you’re doing a trial class or aren’t sure your going to return. I would try to borrow from a friend and then look into investing in some higher quality gloves if it’s something you’re going to commit to.
Second, no shower! I love morning workouts right before work, so any gym or studio without one is basically a nonstarter for me.
All in all, a fun class!

I’ve been working out for as long as I can remember, but wasn’t satisfied with the results I was getting from traditional weight lifting and cardio. So, I thought I’d give kickboxing a try, and, man, it’s really changed my ways. No more jacked dudes staring at mirrors, no more waiting for benches, once the class starts… its you, your bag, and your drive. No two classes are the same. The instructors changed daily, but down here, at the 127, your go to class is with Susan. Strap your gloves in, turn your mind off, and be prepared to sweat. After an hour, you’ll leave feeling that you can conquer the world. If you really want a new workout, a new set of friends, and a new you… CKO Grand is your answer.

I had previously gone to LA Boxing, but had to cancel my membership because of financial reasons. I purchased a Groupon recently for CKO, and based on reviews, made sure I took my first class here with Susan — and I’m glad I did! Her classes are challenging and she’s tough, but she really pushes every to try their hardest during class. Every class is different — some classes we’re running laps. a few classes we’ve alternated punching combos with weights. Susan is also great about correcting form to make sure that you are punching and kicking correctly.
I ended up joining, and have been committing to 3 classes a week and I am already seeing results. Check it out if you are looking to switch up your workout! It’s made me realize how much time I’ve wasted on an elliptical at my gym.

So I went here the first time for a free-​trial class but ended up leaving because I didn’t have gloves and the cheapest ones (sold on location) were $ 20. Not that I think they’re overpriced (I wouldn’t know anyway:/) but it is A FREE TRIAL class (not free if I have to purchase $ 20 gloves). What if I DON’T like the class or what if I break my arm during my very first class? Eh? Eh? What happens then? Do I get my $ 20 back? Can I return my used sweaty gloves? No, I’m just kidding! But seriously they should really consider having gloves rental for those people that would like to try the class but don’t feel comfortable investing in something they are not certain they will keep on doing. By the way, I got my gloves for free from a friend woot woot! Donation to the poor please! Lol. And thank you Jesus I did because otherwise it would have taken me longer to try this AMAZING gym. So far I have only trained with Susan at this location (Grand) and she is so nice and her energy is great too. She checks my form constantly and pushes me to the limit! No, like boot camp status stuff! I love it!
I have not tried the gym equipment yet. Did I mention? They have machines like a regular gym! Awesome! So you can do weights or whatever you like. I think it would be nice if they had a locker room for people that would like to go to work right after but honestly it doesn’t make a difference for me. I prefer not to shower in any other shower that’s not mine, especially at a gym eeeugh! Lol. I understand sometimes you need to though.
Ok, so actually I signed up for a year (only membership you can pay monthly). It was $ 182 first time, that hurt! but anyway done. $ 77.04 per month this includes both locations in Hoboken (downtown and uptown). Worth it to me because I NEED the motivation and I just can’t stick to walking or jogging like a hamster on the treadmill day after day. They make the classes fun and every day is different. Some days tougher than others, especially before the weekend. They want to make sure you work extra hard before your days off.
I recommend CKO if you have a fitness goal. It’s friendly, you go as fast or slow as your body allows you and great motivation from instructors. Now, if you go to the gym to look hot and flirt while you stretch and do squats, this is NOT the gym for you. I guarantee you that you will not look cute while doing these exercises. Hey there! Yeah, you girl with sweaty hair sticking to her face. Yeah… not hot… Lol
Want sick cardio/​strenth training plus your regular gym machines? Give CKO a try! :D I’m gonna go lay in a bed of ice now, my body hasn’t gotten used to this yet… Hey! I said I just started. Don’t judge me! ;)
Why not five stars? Needs locker room + gloves rental so I can bring more friends to try. Other than that. CKO is excellent.

I’ve been kickboxing for 8 years all over the country — Long Island, Boston, Los Angeles, and now Hoboken. Currently, I’m a member of CKO and it is the best kickboxing gym I’ve ever been to!
I started to take classes on a Groupon about a year ago and quickly signed up for a membership. After attending kickboxing class for a year and enjoying Susan’s challenging classes on Monday nights, I recently signed up for training with Susan. She’s a great motivator and pushes you out of your comfort zone to a place where she knows you can go. It’s amazing how much more confidence I have in my abilities at the gym after training with Susan and now when I take classes I’m able to get so much more out of them! Susan and I have a lot of training ahead and I look forward to meeting my goals this year!
I agree that it would be nice to have the water back but they do sell water bottles for a dollar so if you think you may run out or do not have time to grab water before just bring $ 1 with you.
All in all, a great gym! For first timers, I highly recommend attending Susan’s class on Mondays at 7:15 pm.

I am a member CKO Grand St. I’ve been a member there for years and have taken classes with a-​lot of the trainers, I have to say that Sue is by far the best trainer.
I take the 6:15am class and have never seen her there after 6:05. Sue is the first trainer there in the mornings and has to get the gym up and running on her own, while doing this she greets everybody as they come in and is often multi-​tasking to ensure that everyone has a great tough workout.
She is a great motivator and person and really does take the time before, during and after class to make sure that you are OK and that you are performing the exercises correctly. She is always willing to answer any questions regarding the workout, classes, diet and whatelse you could be doing to further your physical health.
Make no mistake this is a real gym! Sue is tough with only your results in mind you will get pushed but that is only for you to get the best results possible.

I was excited to try my first kickboxing class. I followed instructions and signed up online for the following days’ 6:15am class. I received an email instantly telling me to come in 15 minutes early so I could learn the basic moves and lingo. OK, makes sense.
I woke up crazy early the next day, motivated to start out what I thought could be a new workout regular… I’m lucky because the gym is nearly next door to my apartment, so no long travel times for me.
6 am…6:05…more time goes by and the teacher finally shows up at 6:15 to unlock the doors of the building. Now I’m a little nervous because I don’t know anything about the class or those moves I was supposed to learn or even where to go when I walk in. Hate that feeling! But, whatever, I can deal and s*it happens, instructors are allowed to be late, too. And you kind of count on them to take you through the class, that’s their job.
The teacher, whose name could be anything, but we’ll just call her ‘Crass’, looks up at me as she’s putting her things down and says, ‘Don’t tell me this is your first time?’ –in the worst tone you could ever imagine. I reply back that, yes, it is. Crass throws a form at me and says, ‘Fill this out… have you ever done kickboxing before?’ No, I say. ‘Like, never? You’ve never done kickboxing in your life?’ so accusatory. Jesus, lady, sorry to bother you. I was under the assumption that you have a job because people pay you to teach them to kickbox. I had no idea we were expected to have paid someone else to teach us to kickbox first then come to you.
Crass says, ’ $ 20.’ I say, ‘But i signed up for the free class. I thought it was free?’ Mind you, it’s 6:15am, this lady is kind of scary looking, I’m being as nice as I possibly can. And, it’s supposed to be free. Crass: ‘You need gloves. No gloves, $ 20.’ I figured something like that would happen, so I have my card and some cash with me, but I’m still totally uncomfortable by this exchange– she’s not making eye contact, she’s literally acting like this is the worst day on Earth to ever possible have your first day of class, so I say– ‘Would it be better if I came back a different day?’ Crass says, ‘If you don’t have $ 20 then you have to come back a different day’ I say, ‘No, that’s not it.’ she cuts me off, ‘Do whatever you want to do.’ Everyone in the class is watching this 10-​second exchange. She’s loud, I’m not. I’m so mortified!
I don’t know what the class is actually like, I never took it. I turned around and walked out. I’m not overly-​sensitive at all, but why would I ever take the class after she treated me like that? She’s not going to make me feel welcome. She’s not going to give me extra attention when I don’t know how to do something– and I won’t know how because she didn’t show up on time to teach me. If she can’t be even be nice to me when she’s trying to take my money, she sure as hell is not going to be nice when she’s instructing me.
And there is nothing– nothing– worse than going to a class first day that makes you feel like you are crashing an exclusive club. It is the instructor’s job to make you feel like you made the right decision walking though those doors for the first time at 6:15 am but she made it clear that I was bothering her.
Peace out, CKO, you just lost a customer. And any other friends who come over to my place, look out my window, and say ‘CKO– have you ever been there?’ Yeah, I have. Don’t ever go.

First, let me say I will never use another gym. I started at CKO two years ago, and until then I could never commit to working out. I’d work out for 3 months straight, then stop completely.
This is what I love: I dove in, started going 5 times a week, and after my 12^th visit I had major muscles! I mean, I had real arm muscles, I could see definition in my stomach – it was really amazing. You sweat your ass off every time. Some instructors are amazing (Alex, Zee and Leslie are my favorites). I don’t feel like I’m constantly looking at the clock or waiting for time to pass. Some drills suck, some are easier, but instructors switch it up, so I don’t get bored. And, personally, I like hitting the bag.
The more in shape I got, the more motivated I became. I’ve never been this in shape in my life (not even when I played high school sports) and it’s really a gratifying feeling.
Here’s what I don’t like:
1.) does the place ever get cleaned? Because I feel like I’m going to get a staph infection every time I do ab work on my back. Uptown seems a lot cleaner (but I really don’t know if it actually gets cleaned) and the bathrooms are very clean. Downtown is gross.
2.) The downtown location used to have water coolers and then one day they disappeared. I was told they’d be replaced, but it’s been 8 months. It’s kind of bs not to give us water. The only water is from the sink and you can’t angle your water bottle to get more than a quarter full.
3.) Susan (the manager of downtown and the main instructor) is always hostile. I don’t want to give too many details, because if she can identify me, she might kill me. But you can’t ask her even a simple question without getting a giant dose of attitude. «Hey Susan, do you know about the promo that I just got in my inbox?» Susan: «No idea. No one tells me anything. That’s an uptown thing.» and then she’ll go on for about 2 more minutes with grievances about how uptown keeps her totally in the dark. She’s just really unpleasant and sort of scary too.
Otherwise, greatest gym ever. I recommend it to everyone. My friend wants me to do a circuit training/​bootcamp with her, but I think I’d be bored. CKO is fun!

I took a class with Susan and she was a great instructor. She kept us moving through the whole hour at a pace that I would normally pass out at. I felt great afterward, a little sore the next day :)
The class size was small enough for her to notice that I was new and she took the time to correct some of my moves.
I will definitely go back again.