Forget the treadmills, leave the basketball courts for the real players, and put on a pair of gloves. Kick a bag for an hour, or two. The stress will disappear and you will get in shape, according to Club KO president Joe Andreula.
The large gym at 720 Monroe St. has been instructing kickboxing for thousands of Hudsonites since 1997. It started as Take it to the Max, but Andreula recently changed its name.
A typical workout is held for an hour, with more than 30 people in a class following an instructor’s guidelines. Everyone works in his or her own space alone or with a partner. At last Saturday morning’s class, instructor Jose Que watched a class of two dozen health enthusiasts punch and kick bags, while running around the gym. After the class, a few people went to the weight room adjacent to the gym for a quick cool down.
"This is a cardio workout. Once a week we like to really stress cardio," Que said.
West New York resident Lisa Rose, an attorney, has been kickboxing at Club KO for more than two years. She signed up for the classes immediately following the Sept. 11 attacks.
"I felt I needed something to do to relieve my stress," Rose said. "So far this is far and away the best workout. Each class is different."
Rose has taken Andreula’s 10-week course modestly priced just under $300. In addition to the exciting kicking and punching, the classes also address nutrition and lifestyle issues.
"Everybody who comes in here will see results if they follow the plan," Andreula said.
Through the years Andreula has seen men and women lose anywhere from 30 to 80 pounds through the exercises. The gym is also an ideal place to meet new people and socialize after a workout.
"People who just move in have met a lot of people in our classes," Andreula said.
Hoboken resident Marcella Derubeis has been kickboxing since February and she admits she’s seen results and met new people.
"I feel stronger and better. I can defend myself," she said. "The workouts are addictive."
Que, an instructor for more than three years, said he mixes cross-training routines with kickboxing elements and plenty of cardio.
"They come here to lose weight and tone up. If they follow the program they’ll see results," Que said.
Since 1997
Andreula, a lifelong Hoboken resident, opened the gym on the corner of Eighth and Monroe streets in 1997. He attended Montclair State University and earned a black belt in Karate while in college. He worked as a physical trainer for several years at a few area gyms. His fascination for the sport of kickboxing and his physical training background motivated him to open his own gym.
"Every gym I worked at I didn’t see people really working out and getting fit," Andreula said. "We have excellent instructors who care about our students."
Andreula convinced one of the landlords at 720 Monroe St. to lend him the space for a few months until he could earn enough money to pay him back. After an aggressive promotional campaign, Andreula opened the club. When he first opened the venue, only a few hundred people signed up for the classes. Now, his enrollment is in the thousands.
"People come back and stay with the program because they really work out here," he said. "Who doesn’t want to kick and punch a bag after a long day in the office?"
Things are going so well for Andreula, he is planning to branch out and open new locations throughout North Jersey.
Club KO is located at 720 Monroe St. on the corner of Eighth and Monroe streets. For information call (201) 963-7774 or visit www.club-ko.com. q