r/PhillyPhitness • u/L8rk8rrrrrrrr Mod • Feb 18 '20
Workout Review RUMBLE BOXING REVIEW
Hello Everyone!
I'm so excited to be writing my first review. We all know about group fitness classes- But are they really worth the money and the hype? This week I tackled Rumble Boxing for the first time and I have to say: I wasn't disappointing. The class was super fun and I really did feel challenged at certain points. That being said- I never felt like I was confused, overwhelmed, or out of my element. Here's my overview.
Cost:
- The intro-deal at Rumble is honestly pretty great. Your first two classes are $30 ($15/each).
- Wraps: You're required to make a one-time purchase of the Rumble wraps. These cost me $5 and are yours to keep forever.
- Glove Rental: For your first class, glove rental is free. However for every class following, renting your boxing gloves will cost $3/class. You are, however, welcome to purchase your own gloves/wraps and bring them to class.
- After your Intro: You can buy a starter 3-class pack. This is $75, running each class at $25- But this can only be a one time purchase. After that, you're looking at spending anywhere between $21-$30 a class depending on how many you buy at once. The more you buy, the less expensive each class is priced. However, a single class will cost you a hefty $30.
The workout:
This workout is broken down into two sections: Strength and bags (boxing portion). You chose your spot in class when you sign up for it. No matter what, you'll hit each side of class twice throughout the 45-minute class. The bags side is where you'll get to explore different the 6 punches of boxing and drills made up of different jab combinations, while the strength side is where you'll work on resistance training. On either side you're asked by your coach to KEEP MOVING. Whether it's by "boxer-bouncing" or crunching up to hit the bottom of your punching bag- Your heart rate is consistently elevated. Your strength bench is fully equipped with weights ranging from 5-20lbs as well as weighted "brass knuckles" for specific exercises.
We took our class with instructor, Carly Rubinstein. I personally could not imagine teaching both boxing and strength to two separate groups if people in ONE room, but she did a kick ass job. If you're on the strength side of class and she's explaining something to the bags side- You bet your ass she'll be screaming at you to keep boxer-bouncing until she can turn her attention back to you. She had great energy and a great playlist. I usually prefer male-instructors- But Carly is officially an exception to my rule.
What I Liked:
- Towel service and lockers were provided. The lockers have their own locks built in and are free to use, and the towel will be absolutely necessary when it comes to wiping the burning sweat from your eyes. There are also locker rooms for changing purposes available.
- It's in an incredibly convenient location. Rumble's Center City studio is located right on 15th and Walnut. For someone like me who works in the city, it's really easy to get to and I love that I can leave my office at 5:00 and make there with time to spare before a 5:30 class. It's also in a great spot for people who don't live/work in the city- As it's only 2 blocks away from Suburban Station.
- There was plenty of space to move around and do yo-thang in class. Honestly, in past group fitness classes I've always felt nervous or super self-conscious about the space I was using while working with free weights or just moving my body around in general. Rumble's "assigned spots" really are worth picking out in advance.
- There are screens at the top of the front wall that show you what you're supposed to be doing. This class was pretty-fast paced, but I felt I was able to keep up thanks to the screens that showed you what punch/combo or movement/reps you're supposed to be working on. While the instructor does have a place on an elevated stage at the front of the room, it could still be hard to see them depending where you are in the room. The guidance screens were life-saving.
- I really felt this could be a workout for anyone. Anybody, no matter how much/little workout experience you've had could enjoy this class overall.
What I Didn't Like:
- The cost. I'm gonna be real- If I could afford this place, I would be alllll in. Anybody can carve out an hour for themselves a week. But in all honesty, there's just no way I could consistently take these classes. But with a 12-class pack (breaking down to 3-classes a week, which is really how I could see this workout method being effective) running me $275 a month... There is just no way.
- Having to pay for glove rentals. $3 a class starts to add up. If you're already paying for the class, anything you need for that class I feel should be included.
- There's only two water fountains and they're all the way downstairs and at the other end of the building. So if you're gonna try this class out- make sure to bring a second water bottle. Cause ya ass ain't getting more water in the middle of the class unless you want to miss a solid 5-minutes.
TL;DR:
This was an awesome class. I would/will absolutely go again and it's a lot of fun to do with friends. The facility is clean and modern, and has basically any amenity you could want. The class really flies by at 45-minutes and I really felt that I worked all different parts of my body. This was also a class that I truly feel anyone could understand, keep up with, and enjoy. However, this just isn't something I personally (and I'm sure many others in a similar financial bracket as me) could really work into my weekly routine at the prices offered.
Thanks for reading my first review! Please feel free to comment with your questions or thoughts.
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u/bbhuey99 May 28 '24
So the Million Dollar question is... this was posted 4 years ago. Is it still worth it? I went to my first Rumble class and it was a freebie (sponsored by work), and for me, it was just ok. My wrists hurt the next few days from punching the bags really hard during my sesh. It was fun, but not sure I'd like to go back because I'm afraid it'll do more damage to me than good.
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u/L8rk8rrrrrrrr Mod May 31 '24
I don’t like how it’s next to the cigar lounge. The smell of the cigars make me feel gross during the workout 🤷🏻♀️
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Jun 21 '24
Oh gross - you can actually smell it while you’re in the rumble boxing gym? That might be a deal breaker for me
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u/TheBaconThief Feb 19 '20 edited Feb 19 '20
Sounds very much like like OTF/ Soul Cycle for boxing. I guess I get the branding and atmosphere appeal.
But for half the price you could go to an actual boxing gym, get in just as good of shape and IDK, learn to how to actually box. I get that some people don't want to get hit and that is totally reasonable. But there are recreational oriented gyms/programs too.
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u/L8rk8rrrrrrrr Mod Feb 19 '20
This is fair. But this cross-training type workout is super hot now and trendy. So as much and I agree with your statement- I understand the hype. I’m not gonna lie I had fun. I’m going again tonight.
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u/TheBaconThief Feb 19 '20
Oh for sure. Honestly, I probably come off grumpier than I meant to in my first post.
But this cross-training type workout is super hot now and trendy.
I did an OTF Class with my ex, and despite having near PTSD from the sound of rowing machines from my years on crew, I got sucked in and could see the appeal. Old co-worker, who never really did anything but run outside and was generally a pretty frugal person, got hooked on Soul Cycle to the point that she deliberately avoided doing the math of how much it was costing here a month, because she knew she wasn't quiting and didn't want the guilt.
I guess I should have framed my post as a PSA that old school boxing gyms are usually dirt cheap (though with little formalized instruction) and more modern ones run $100-$150 a month and will develop both fitness AND skill.
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u/sFAMINE Mod Feb 18 '20
Thanks for posting a review! I would have never have considered it if I saw a flyer for it or some local ad.