Mind & BodV
The latest fitness fad,
aerobic-kickboxing, has
taken Eugene and the
nation by storm
Where to go
Local aerobic
kickboxing classes can
be found at the follow
ing locations. Call for
specific days and times
for classes:
8 Ironworks Gym and
Fitness: 485-4475
8 Courtsports Athletic
Club: 687-2255
8 24-Hour Fitness:
344-1028
8 Oakway Fitness:
343-3314
By Kristen Howard
lortheEmeiald
. j weating profusely, Sam James is jab
bing and punching at no one. Strands
| I of her short black hair are plastered to
■J-J her face, but she doesn’t notice the in
trusion. She is concentrating instead on
kicking her imaginary opponent.
Is it amateur boxing night? No, it’s aero
bic-kickboxing, a new exercise trend that is
spreading to health clubs and gyms all over
the country.
Aerobic-kickboxing is a blend of aerobics,
boxing and martial arts, rhythmically set to
music. The fitness industry’s largest publi
cation, “Muscle and Fitness” magazine, rat
ed aerobic-kickboxing as the No. 1 calorie
burning workout in comparison to all other
forms of aerobic exercise.
This appealing statistic, along with a mas
sive advertising campaign for an aerobic
kickboxing home video called “Tae Bo,” is
attracting so many new participants that
gyms and health clubs are fighting to keep
up with the demand.
James’ class was taught by Alaina McCul
lough at Ironworks Gym and Fitness in
downtown Eugene. McCullough describes
her class as an intense, fat-burning workout.
“The class uses kicking, punching and
jump rope moves to get you mean and lean,”
McCullough said. “It develops balance, co
ordination and mental strength,”
McCullough’s class is one of many ex
ploding onto the exercise scene. A survey of
fitness centers in Eugene found that most
aerobic-kickboxing classes were developed
because of the bombardment of inquiries.
All of the gyms surveyed introduced their
classes within the past few months.
McCullough believes the demand for aer
obic-kickboxing classes began with info
mercials for “Tae Bo,” an aerobic-kickbox
ing program developed in Los Angeles by
Billy Blanks. Blanks, a seven-time national
champion in karate, created “Tae Bo” for
home exercise use.
The "Tae Bo Video Library” has been
heavily advertised, attracting Hollywood
celebrities such as Farrah Fawcett, Sinbad
and Neve Campbell. Celebrity endorse
ments can add to a trend’s hype and, unfor
tunately, can cause safety considerations to
be ignored.
Debra Kneble, a physical therapist and
athletic trainer at Orthopedic and Sports
Therapy in Eugene, explained additional
safety concerns.
She said aerobic-kickboxing, like most aer
obic activities, is a high-impact exercise, and
participants run the risk of musculoskeletal
injuries. Kneble said possible injuries in
clude hip strains from kicking and ankle and
knee injuries from the impact of the jumps.
She also said that because the aerobic
kickboxing trend is so popular, classrooms
are being packed to capacity, running the
risk of exercisers accidentally kicking each
other. Fortunately, Kneble said she hasn’t
seen an aerobic-kickboxing-related injury
yet.
McCullough believes the aerobic-kick
boxing trend will continue, especially
through classes. She said there is an added
value in taking a class, as opposed to work
ing out to a home video such as “Tae Bo. ”
“I make my classes different every time;
the videos are always exactly the same,
which gets boring,” McCullough explained.
Only time will tell whether the aerobic
kickboxing trend will endure or whether it,
like so many other exercise trends, will soon
be forgotten. James said she thinks she will
stick with aerobic-kickboxing because it
makes her forget she’s working out.
Still breathing heavily, she says the work
out was intense.
“I am going to be so sore tomorrow. But it
was great. That was a whole lot more fun
than running on a treadmill.”
Scott Hamett/EmeraU
Members of Alaina
McCullough’s aerobic
kickboxing class at Iron
works Gym and Fitness
in downtown Eugene
practice their moves.
Aerobic-kickboxing is a
combination ol
aerobics, boxing and
martial arts set to
music.
005921
• A maagjjpim of 45
participants may
enter a workout
• In order to enter a
workout, the
participant must
present both their
punch card and
photo ID.
• Classes last 50
minutes.
12 i3 i4 is it i; ii if a fr.
RIM Fitness
Program ha6 a
format to provide
better service. We
have developed a
PUNCH CARD
system! This will
allow you more
flexibility In planning
your fitness
workouts. It also
allows greater
variety.
COST:
10 punch card
20 punch card
30 punch card
Unlimited card
$15
$25
$30
$35
CHECK US OUT! http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~pare
REGISTRATION -102 Essllnger: Registration begins Monday, March 29th, 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.; CLASSES RUN
FROM April 5 - May 26,1999 (8 weeks.) For more information call 6-4113 or drop by 102 Esslinger.
OdCow could
something healthy? taste
10% UO Student discount
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O&read &o.
2564 Willamette • 345-5398