CKO Kickboxing Carroll Gardens

You will never push yourself to the limits that the instructors get you to go. The instructors change your life! Hands down greatest gym I’ve ever been a member of. The addiction to going to class becomes uncontrollable and next thing you know you start feeling great and pushing yourself to do other things. Don’t wait. Try the free class today.

I’ve been a member for over a year and I love it here! The instructors are so encouraging and friendly. I still remember my first class, which was with Wade. He remembered my name and would always put a smile on his face as soon as I walked in. So do all of the other instructors :). They push you to keep going, and the instructors are VERY creative with their routines. I absolutely love it here!

Dear Rosa,
Green Day is never conducive to a good workout. Ever.
Thaaaaaaaaaanks.

This place is great! Super nice staff and great classes. The teachers are really great!

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Been training here since June and what a difference in my energy and confidence level. I’ve had the experience of 4 different trainers here and they’ve all been on their game. I can workout at any pace /​level that i want and the classes are always challenging. I definitely get a sense of community and the instructors and owners are very welcoming and informative. It is impeccably clean. Overall i was looking for something different than a «gym» and this is it!

CKO is the BEST! Working out was never something I particularly enjoyed doing (or ever really wanted to do) UNTIL I joined CKO! It’s nothing like a «typical» gym workout… No two classes are ever same so you don’t get stuck in a same old boring routine. The instructors/​staff are beyond knowledgeable & friendly and they always make you feel extremely supported/​welcome! At the end of every class, I always feel that I’ve been pushed harder physically then ever before which feels beyond amazing.
For that extra push/​motivation, I highly recommend personal training sessions. I have been training with Adrianna for over a year now and the results have been FANTASTIC! I can’t thank her enough for making me stronger, faster, and feeling as good as I do!!!
Joining CKO was the best thing I have done for my overall health and well being and I strongly recommend it to all!

My body has been saved. My pudgy winter body.
I’ve been to classes-​aplenty now at this location, and worked with a bunch of different instructors and they are all great. After awhile you find the teacher that best suits you (and your musical taste) and then you’re set.
There are a bunch of heavy bags and even if the class is mostly full, you don’t feel scrunched. But most of the time the class is ²⁄₃ full and it’s perfect.
Note that there is no where to fill your water bottle.

This is the absolute best kickboxing gym in NYC period. Always a great workout, friendly staff and members that encourage you to your best. I can’t recommend this place enough.

Been going here for years, and want it to stay alive and kicking forever and ever, so thought i would add another five stars!
I love that CKO gives you one of the most challenging workouts ever, but it remains a very welcome, embracing, fun place to be. You’re laughing and smiling the whole time, even though you’re doing 50 burpees and running laps around the block. This is thanks to the wonderful instructors there who have made me feel like family. They DEFINITELY push you, but it’s all in good fun.
Whenever I go to other gyms (while CKO is great, it is a little tough on the body so it’s important to diversify… even the instructors will tell you that), I have dealt with unfriendliness, pretentiousness, and tons of alienating rules posted everywhere around the gym. Not to mention, you will never get a workout like this one, anywhere. CKO is for people who hate pretense, and who want an intense, high-​impact workout with no BS.
Even years later, I still feel like I get a workout, because it’s designed to help out beginners AND advanced students. I didn’t need to lose weight before, but I did need to harden up, which I have achieved. I feel very proud of myself for how far I’ve come, I started out unable to do any pushups, but now i can basically get through everything in all the classes. And I still want more!
One tip: do not judge your experience by one class alone. All the instructors are different, and each of their classes are completely different, too. My relationship with CKO has changed a lot through the years, so if I catch anyone giving them a bad review after one class, I’m coming for them. (though, that doesn’t seem to be a problem yet!)

Great people, great vibe and great results!

CKO Carroll Gardens kickboxing is my absolute favorite way to workout! I was training for the Miss NY USA pageant and needed routine cardio to get me into shape. Over the course of 3 months I lost about 15 pounds total and I give a most of the credit to the start I got training at CKO!
Especially in the beginning, CKO kickboxing classes were amazing because they are fast moving, high-​energy with the great music, and get you working out HARD. It could be tough to get motivated when I still had a long way to go on my physical goals, but once I got to class I always worked really hard.
The staff here is friendly, smart, and so chill. It is an inclusive and friendly environment. Overall, CKO is a great place to go whether you need to lose a few pounds, get motivated to get into shape, or just maintain your current level of fitness!

CKO Kickboxing is AMAZING! I have been coming here consistently for over a year now and every class is still as hard as it was when I started. They really push you to give it your best and work hard. I always leaving there feeling like I can take on the world. All of the instructors all have different and unique teaching style… which I LOVE. You never get the same workout twice and every instructor is awesome. CKO has been such a game changer in the way I work out. Class schedule is perfect and they are very accommodation. I would def recommend trying a class.
You will be hooked. ;)

The Sunday morning kickboxing class with Rosa kicked my butt! That tiny woman is tough, but fair. She’ll call people out for incorrect form and/​or not trying hard enough and will work with you to push you to achieve more.
I came here through Classtivity, although they currently have a deal that if you check in through Unilocal,you get a free orientation class, and it was a great discovery. If it’s your first time here and especially if it’s your first time kickboxing or trying a martial arts or self-​defense class, I highly recommend that you come early to review the basics with the instructor. There’s not really time for detailed instructions during the class; it’s just go go go.
The class is set up as a series of intervals. After a quick warm-​up with the jump rope, there’s stretching, then you go into an instructed round of jabs, hooks, and front kicks with the punching bag. Then there’s a round of burpees and jump squats, all those things you love to hate but know you must do to keep that heart rate up and keep you strong. Then there are «attack» rounds which is like everyone’s secret dream of being able to just go crazy and beat the crap out of a punching bag however you want. Blah blah blah more rounds of bicycles and side touches followed by rounds of instructed punching and kicking moves then jumping jacks followed by more attack rounds. Lather, rinse, repeat.
The place is set up with two lines of about 10 punching bags and the class I attended was pretty full of both regulars and first timers. They provide you with gloves or you can bring your own. Obviously, if you can bring your own gloves, please do as borrowing gloves that are laid out for public use isn’t always ideal both in terms of fit and smell. Also, you should bring your own towel and water bottle as you will be sweatin’. They have lockers in the back or you can just keep your things by you in the cubbies.
Overall, great class that gets you going. As with all workout classes, you get what you put in and I would recommend that for people not so familiar with kickboxing, they try some kind of beginner’s class first so they don’t hurt themselves or accept the learning curve as there really isn’t much time for detailed individual instruction once class starts.

CKO is great. Very welcoming and friendly. Great for beginners too. I am definitley making this place part of my regular routine. So happy that they added classes on Sundays.

Love CKO! Have been a member close to the time they opened the doors in Carroll Gardens. Have been through numerous «kickboxing» and martial arts clubs over 40+ years.
At this stage in my life (am getting OLD), I mostly wanted an intense workout that allowed me to brush up on MA skills in a «NON-​COMPETITIVE,» very POSITIVE environment. CKO is just that. .. encouraging, positive, challenging and fun.
None of competitive BS and dominant hierarchy that the traditional MS club pushes, worse for those of us that are women. Every age and fitness level welcome — so those of you new to this, don’t be worried, you will be in great company.
Love being able to go in, work out in a friendly community, work at my own level and feel great afterwards.

CKO Carroll Gardens has plenty of glowing reviews, and it is well deserved. I’ve been going to CKO for almost a year now, and every class I’ve taken has kept me interested and pushed me past (what I thought were) my limits. The facilities are clean and well-​equipped, and they have recently added more days and times of classes. The best part about CKO are the instructors and staff — who are always friendly, welcoming, and motivating. Now, for probably the first time in my life, I actually look forward to going to the gym!

For 2 years, I have been trying to find a way to afford CKO, but wasn’t sure if I wanted it. I am terrible with gyms and working out, and didn’t know if I was going to trek all the way to carroll gardens… The gym I used to go to is literally 5 blocks from my house, but I absolutely hated that place, but having a gym membership made me feel «healthier» .
Once I saw the deal on groupon, I snagged the deal. When I say I hate working out, I do. I am so out of shape and have never been one of those athletic types. Lets just say, after my 8^th class at CKO, I have learned to appreciate squat thrusts, and spiderman crunches a little more.
When I took my first class at CKO, I loved it and hated it. Me being lazy and giving up for every time I couldn’t do a push up, I kept on saying ugh I hate this. But after my second class, I realized I needed this and I was actually enjoying it.
CKO kickboxing classes have become a staple for me every tuesday and thursday morning. I love the fact that I can punch a bag those days, take out all my frustration and feel relieved. I love the fact that the class is filled with different people and that the instructors are great. I love the fact that when you need help, there is always help, and everyone is willing to help out (my coordination sucks, and trust me there was always some there to show me how to do the right move).
I love that Rosa is also there to guide people like me, she is very helpful and I always pester her with my confused look, when she participates with the class. I also think its really great that not every class has the same workouts, there is always something different, like today we used the medicine ball (maybe we can use kettle balls one day?) I am actually looking at membership deals now, and I think I will be buying the yearly membership, yes it is going to hurt my wallet, but I absolutely think its going to be worth it, especially since I have a wedding coming up, and I know CKO will get me into shape no matter what, even if I don’t want to do the spiderman crunches, or the many core exercises. I know one day soon enough, I will master them, because of the great instructions provided by the great instructors.

A friend of mine has been going pretty regularly and convinced me to try an intro class, just to get a taste.
OMG, I think I almost died. But this is a good thing, trust me!
I was given a quick tutorial and walked right into a class. I’m not what you would call a fast learner, so I was thankful to have my friend showing me the moves. Note: Pick a spot where you can view the instructor.
All in all, I didn’t think I would survive the full hour, but I’m proud that I was able to. And it’s funny how you think you’re fit, but really you’re not.
I’m a fan. Will wait for a Groupon/​Lifebooker offer before I return, just so it’s a little more easy on the wallet.

It’s been a long time and even though everything was shaking and jiggling and rolling about, and my face was as bright as a tomato, and I lost a few pounds in sweat, it wasn’t just okay, it was great!
To give some background:
Let’s just say that I look like a petite Asian girl who’s in shape, but in reality I’m secretly packing away some jelly rolls – of the non doughnut* variety – in my hips, arms, thighs, and tum tum region. And so, naturally, before I came here, I envisioned that the place would be filled with people with chiseled, Spartan-​like Abs (Oh, Gerard Butler! *swoon*) and fists that could put Mr. T’s brass knuckles to shame. But it wasn’t the case at all. The people working out were friendly enough, and everyone was in different places of the «It looks like I’m in shape» spectrum.
Ways this place knocks you off your feet:
From the friendly front desk that welcomes you when you come in to the seriously amped up workout, this place is awesome. Even though they had a few music problems my first class, it didn’t at all detract from the high energy atmosphere they’ve got going on here. The hour went by really fast. Planks, spidermans, lunges, squats, pump outs, squats, squat thrusts, jumping jacks, jump ropes, high knees, kicks… all of it was engaging and very challenging.
Suggestions:
It would be helpful to have some gloves on hand for new students who don’t want to choose to pay $ 25 or $ 65 for a pair to try one class. I opted for the higher model fingerless gloves because I made a commitment to myself (and to Groupon) to get my body in shape and get my money’s worth in the 10 classes.
Another tip might also be to teach how to wrap your hands. After using the gloves, some of my knuckles still had big red bruises. I asked a friend who also does kickboxing, and she said I should wrap them. Hopefully, someone will be able to teach me how to wrap my hands before I use the gloves next time.
It might also be useful to have a few beginner warmups that concentrate on proper form. While I got a hang of the punches and kicks after a few classes, I still wasn’t sure if I was doing things properly. Emphasis should be on doing things safely and well first, even if it’s a larger group class.
Also, it might be useful to have instructors get to know their clients a little more. A quick, «Why are you here and what do you hope to accomplish?» Would make things more personal. I didn’t quite get a tour of the place beyond the first floor after 10 classes because I didn’t really chat with any of the instructors. This might be solved if more of an effort was made to connect with clients in-​house, pre and post class.
In short, all in all this place is a 1 – 2 punch; I just wish it were more affordable. $ 89 a month for a year contract (with a $ 49 enrollment fee) left me looking for other options. I’m checking out Harbor Fitness for a free trial week and then making a decision.
*Doughnuts? Where!

Insane workout, at least for me. I used to do Bikram Yoga and I think I sweated more during my first kickboxing session than I did in hot yoga.
The classes are great, every teacher has his/​her own style plus they mix it up all the time. No two classes have been the same. You feel leaving completely worked out, from head to toe.
Also, the hours are convenient (they have classes every hour in the evenings til 9P) and they’re not over-crowded…yet…
Only minus is that they’re closed on Sundays. Some of us need to work off brunch!

This class added a missing element to my life. After going through a lot stress with family and relationships, I signed up for a membership and I was surprised. I walked into the first class thinking I was in okay shape, but left feeling sweaty and disapointed because I could not finish the entire work out. I made it my mission to make it through every other class since then. These classes have given me a dicipline and a great push to set goals and complete them. I feel stronger both physically and more importantly, mentally. I did not notice a huge drop on the scale, but my body is showing results. I lost 6 inches around my waist in just three weeks, and 2 inches from each thigh. I feel very powerful.
As for the staff… they are so encouraging, and not in the suck-​up way. They push you and make you want to push yourself.
I do not think there has been a day where I have not mentioned kickboxing to everyone around me since I started.
I have def. found a new passion in life and I am starting on the path to a new lifestyle!
Thank you CKO

Experienced workout bliss at CKO last night. I run at a gym on the treadmill normally for 3-​miles at or under about 30 minutes which seems like a lifetime b/​c let’s face it, running on the ‘mill like a hamster in a cage is redundant and lacks any morsel of physical creativity besides putting one foot over the other. Unlike a boring running routine, however, kickboxing is intense and a great challenge.
You’re in a class room of other students who are serious about getting into better shape and working on their form and fitness. Their bullseye focus only encourages you to step up your game and workout with just as much vigor and drive. The hip-​hop music in the background also helps grease your joints and puts you in the mood to punch and kick the heck out of the punching bag in front of you (i espeically appreciated lil wayne’s «a milli»). What’s also great is obviously the stellar instructors who keep you motivated with their «keep-​it-​going, can-​do» mentality. In the 55 minutes that I worked out, I did in fact sweat a good amount and I had fun doing so. What more could you ask for?
I went in for their free trial session (only had to pay $ 20 for gloves which you get to keep of course). The price list is fair as I believe it would be an investment that pays off fabulously at the end. I hope and intend on coming back on a per diem basis, perhaps 2 — 4 times per month.
Another great thing about CKO is that it’s right off the F line at Smith /​9^th Street. I’m not a Brooklynite but I wouldn’t mind making my way out here after work from the City or even from Queens b/​c I think (the owner) Joe, who btw, is really helpful and super nice, has got an excellent venue here with CKO.