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Maximum strength
Velocity Sports Performance
“Have you ever thrown up after a workout?” asks Lily Panchasarp, who works in Velocity’s marketing development, right before I head into class. It’s not what you’d call an auspicious beginning, although it does mentally prepare me a little bit for what I’m about to go through. Velocity has helped NFL players, Olympic fencers and other athletes bring their A-game to every competition. The instructors are athletes too: Our instructor, Bryan Jackson, an ex-pro European soccer player, took us through 35 minutes of light warm-ups, including footwork training, sprints and numerous stretches that opened up our groins—presumably so he could kick us in the balls the remaining 60 minutes. We were then made to do reps of box jumps, Bulgarian split squats and Spider-Man crawls…while pulling an 85-pound sled. Afterward, I was slammed with two leg cramps, and I passed out in the lobby’s massage chair while trying to recover. “This is my seventh time here,” sympathized Will Rivera, 28, from Washington Heights. “The first three times, I threw up.” 133 E 58th St between Park and Lexington Aves, sixth floor (212-593-3278, velocitysp.com). Times vary, $75 a session.
Barf-o-meter: 6/6
An alternative for wusses: Sports Conditioning at New York Sports Club (various locations, visit mysportsclubs.com for info).Gleason’s Gym
I have the eye of the tiger—but the arms and legs of a gazelle. So reasonably, I expected to be knocked out in the first round at the historic training grounds for boxing greats such as “Raging Bull” Jake LaMotta and Muhammad Ali. I was partnered with “Country” James Thornwell, a wise-crackin’ 67-year-old from East New York, who has been coaching face-punchers—including Heavyweight World Champ “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon—for 30 years. Country wrapped my hands and showed me proper fisticuffs techniques, replacing my previous fighting style—hair pulling, eye gouging and screaming—with upper cuts, jabs and hooks. We worked on my footwork, and Thornwell had me tackle the bags as I floated like a butterfly and stung like, well, an angrier butterfly. After demonstrating my slo-mo speed-bag skills and working on my (fl)abs, I was sweating a decent amount. Luckily, my training was mostly focused on form rather than knocking me down to the canvas. 77 Front St between Main and Washington Sts, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-797-2872). Times vary, $30 a session.
Barf-o-meter: 5/6
An alternative for wusses: Wii boxing game at Gravity Fitness 119 W 56th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-708-7340, parkermeridian.com/gravity).Warrior Fitness
Hitting the snooze button is all the exercise I normally get at the ungodly hour of 5am. I made an exception to be drafted into this psychotic boot camp run by drill sergeants Alex Fell and Ruben Belliard, two real-life Marines. Their military background shows: Our class was screamed at—they stopped just short of calling us maggots—and made to drop and give ’em 20. They have a shockingly impressive retention rate of 80 percent—about 200 to 250 members (the majority of which are female!). I felt like I was trying to catch my breath for the entire high-intensity hour, as we yelled out the rep count for leg lifts, jumping jacks, push-ups, squats, laps, multiple runs up the building’s flights of stairs and visits to their obstacle course. After the punishing code-red workout, I realized I couldn’t handle the truth: The girls were tougher than me. 29 W 35th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, third floor (212-967-7977, warriorfitnessbootcamp.com). Times vary, plans from $500 to $1,500.
Barf-o-meter: 6/6
An alternative for wusses: The circuit for ladies at Curves 36 W 34th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-564-8436, curves.com)CrossFit South Brooklyn
UFC fighters, SWAT members, FBI agents, Marines—the toughest have all gotten an ass-whupping through this cultlike workout movement. Every day’s ball-busting workouts are listed online and on-site, each focusing on turning you into “the quintessential athlete: equal parts gymnast, Olympic weight lifter and sprinter.” Visiting the Brooklyn gym—a huge loft with a gigantic cage for pull-ups—feels like walking onto the set of The Silence of the Lambs. The whiteboard showed me the day’s menu: five power cleans (a weight-lifting exercise) at 155 pounds, and 50 pull-ups! Trainer David Osorio, 24, spends the first half of the class working on technique, then he starts the clock for my Workout of the Day. Thankfully, CrossFit rarely lasts longer than 30 minutes; unfortunately, each minute feels like an eternity. I’ll admit, Osorio watered down the workout for me (even with the help I couldn’t finish my pull-ups), but I was floored afterward and created what they call a “sweat angel,” a common decorative motif at CrossFit. 227 Fourth Ave between President and Union Sts, Park Slope, Brooklyn, second floor (973-610-3628, crossfitbrooklyn.typepad.com). Times vary; $20 a class; free beginner class Mon, Thu 7pm; Sat, Sun 1pm.
Barf-o-meter: 6/6
An alternative for wusses: The judgment-free zone at Planet Fitness (various locations throughout the outer boroughs, visit planetfitness.com for info).See more in Spas & Sport
Time Out New York / Issue 709 : Apr 30–May 6, 2009
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Oooh Mr. Lee, clearly you didn’t research your story…if you had properly done your homework you probably wouldn’t have enough strength to write this article! MK I agree definitely a retraction is in order, PSC Spartan style!
As a fellow PSC Spartan I can personally attest to the ass whooping we receive week in and week out. I do not believe the comment about NYSC is accurate nor fair. If the author of this article is so quick to point the "wussies" I suggest they come to Queens for a retraction.
Correction to the "alternative for wusses" option after the Velocity entry: not all NYSC sports conditioning classes are for wimps. Out in Queens and up in Harlem there are 2 dedicated crews of "PSC Spartans" who would challenge any of these athletes. Just a few of our mottos: "if you're soft, get lost" and "no b@#$-@## ness". The instructors are so fantastic that I'm not going to give their names - classes are too crowded already! - but for the price of membership you get private instruction.
Crossfit South Brooklyn has been a total life-changer. All the coaches are exacting, excellent and supportive. Everyone there is equally into their own workout and encouraging each other to go a little harder.
www.crossfitnyc.com
Crossfit South Brooklyn is an amazing environment. This program can be tailored to meet an individuals level. Every workout you do surprises you. The coaching is fantastic and the environment very supportive. I have never been into strength training but since crossfit south brooklyn I'm hooked. I can actually do strict pull-ups!
Crossfit South Brooklyn has done away with my mommy belly. I now plan on spending the entire summer topless. yay CFSBK!
CFNYC is where its at. Even though I tell mom I come home from the Marines to see her, its really because I wanna get smoked by Alison, Josh, Hari and the gang.
My first day at Warrior Fitness was the day the reporter for this piece was there. A few weeks later, I believe the retention rate - and understand it. My wife and I are both hooked. I can't recommend Alex and Ruben highly enough.
I currently train at CrossFit South Brooklyn, but have also attended Warrior Fitness before Both are great gyms with supportive trainers & guarantee to kick your ass every time you step through the door. Ultimately, I settled on CFSBK because it implemented more weightlifting techniques and I liked the online aspect (there are affiliates everywhere). I've been training for about 5 months and have noticed a huge leap in my fitness level. Good trainers make all the difference.
Both CrossFit South Brooklyn and CFNYC (Manhattan and Brooklyn locations) are great gyms with great coaches. You can't go wrong!
CrossFit South Brooklyn is -awesome-.
Been training at CFNYC for about 3 months. I have been continually impressed by the trainers there as well as amazed at how quickly I have improved my own fitness level in such a short time once I started doing it regularly. If you have never experienced a Crossfit workout, you owe it to yourself to come try a free beginner class. You certainly won't regret it!
From the sound of it, all of those gyms would whip most anyone into the best shape of their life pretty effectively. I, personally, am a member of Crossfit NYC (I've been one for a couple of months now) and would encourage everyone give it a shot. The difference between crossfit and the other gyms here is that a typical crossfit workout is not supposed to last more than 20 minutes. Just be prepared for the most physically demanding 20 minutes of your life... every time you enter the gym.
I have been training at CrossfitNYC for about a year now, and I can honestly say it is the best and most effective means to getting in the best shape of your life. The trainers and the community are knowledgable about all things fitness-related, from proper movements to proper nutrition. They will get you motivated, and still treat you like the human you are. I highly recommend coming to a beginner's class for an eye-opening experience about how to become truly fit.
I started Crossfit a couple months ago and have to say it is THE BEST and MOST EFFECTIVE workout you will ever get. Having done or tried just about everything else, I feel qualified to say this is the only way to workout. Not only is it fun and challenging, but the people and coaches are amazing. Check out a class!
CrossFit NYC is at 25 W. 26th St. in Manhattan and we have free beginners' classes 6 times a week--come check us out! Also, our Brooklyn location (which is not the one mentioned in this article) is at 817 Metropolitan Ave. in Williamsburg (www.crossfitbrooklyn.com). They've got plenty of free beginners' classes, too. Check our websites for details or email us at info@crossfitnyc.com!
WFBC is the best workout in NYC. Alex and Ruben are tough but they will push you to do your best. This is my second week and I love it!!! Also, everyone in the classes are very nice.
Thanks, "Fact Checker" Also, the free beginners class is only on Saturdays at 11:15am, not the days listed. Come check us out!
The CrossFit gym you mentioned is actually called CrossFit South Brooklyn. The URL is http://crossfitsouthbrooklyn.com/
WFBC is the real deal. 10 weeks and I'm in the best shape of my life. And mostly female classmates is just a bonus :-)
Once you try Warrior, nothing else compares. Ruben and Alex will give you a workout like you never had before -- no matter what your current level of fitness might be. And the team aspect of the classes provides not only more encouragement. Don't miss it!
If I could take one piece of NYC with me (after being sent packing via layoff), it'd be WFBC. Alex and Ruben know exactly how and how much to push to help you achieve your best. I never knew how much I'd miss being yelled at.
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I belong to Warrior Fitness and it is the most amazing place. Alex and Ruben inspire all the members to give it all they've got--and we do it happily and enthusiastically. If you want to get in great shape, make fantastic new friends, and just feel better than you've ever felt before, you should give it a try. It is like no other place.