EverybodyFights - Midtown Athletic Club Chicago

Class I took:

BagsxBody

Instructor:

N/A

Location:

Midtown Athletic Club - Chicago

This club is impressive - everything you wish a gym could be, really. Tennis, paddle tennis, fitness floors, a clothing store, a spa, a pool, a restaurant, a hotel, the list goes on (as I'm starting to sound like SNL's Stefon). Honestly, what more does a person need? According to their website, https://www.midtown.com/chicago, they have specific names for all of their specified fitness areas:

• THE THEATER: Group Exercise Studio

• RIDE: Cycling Studio

• EverybodyFights: Boxing Fitness Program Founded by George Foreman III

• THE FIELD: 40 Yards of Indoor Turf

• THE OUTFIELD: 60 Yards of Outdoor Turf

• Golf Simulators

If I would have had more time during my visit to Chicago, I would have tried so much more than the boxing class because this facility is a dream.

The Breakdown:

The 45 minute boxing class I attended, BagsxBody, is somewhat similar to other classes I have taken in New York. The main focus is a solid workout and not so much learning boxing technique. The class is broken down into 10 rounds of boxing mixed with total body workouts, such as burpees, push-ups, squats, etc. The class ends with a concentration on core fitness.

What I liked:

EverybodyFights was a great sweat session for me. Since I have come to love boxing so much, BagsxBody was fun for me and I was excited to try something different than the classes I take in NYC. The class area has a boxing ring with a bright "FIGHT" sign, which set the tone for my workout specifically. Each of the 10 rounds were posted on two TV screens in the room, which was super helpful whenever I missed exactly what the instructor said. I liked that the punching was broken up by total body workouts and that those workouts were always different.

What I didn't like:

The instructor presented a good class, but he did not go over any boxing technique before the warm-up began. The class also lacked a bit of energy, but I did go on a Saturday morning, which can be rough for some after a long Friday night.

You cannot sign up for class ahead of time, so you have to get there early to get a good spot, a slight inconvenience for those who aren't prompt. The gloves were in fairly good condition, but it's up to the attendees to clean them afterward, and I did not see more than 3 people clean them out before throwing them back in the bin - kind of gross.The instructor did repeat a few times to everyone that they needed to clean them, though.

The bags are also slightly close together and I got hit a few times by my arm-flailing neighbor, but my main issue was with her lack of control and not so much the bags.

Final Thoughts:

The excitement of the club itself made the class exciting. I thought it was a great workout for an athletic club that is not focused primarily on "studio" fitness. Overall, EverybodyFights will leave you sweaty and sore and leaving as if you have accomplished something.

Pro Tips:

Get to class early. My class filled up fast and you cannot sign up ahead of time. If you don't know anything about boxing, definitely get to the class early and ask the instructor about technique beforehand or look up technique online.

Also, if you have your own gloves, bring them. Bring wraps as well as I did not see any available to purchase or rent.

Price:

Classes are free for members. Non-members can only enter the club with a member and there is a guest fee, which I believe is $30.

Will I return:

There is an EverybodyFights location in NYC that I may check out sometime. If I am back in Chicago, I would definitely return to Midtown Athletic Club, but I might just have to try one of their other classes that they offer.

UPDATE:

On 1/5, Midtown's Instagram posted the following:

"You asked for more - and we've got MORE #everybodyfitghts all weekend long!! In addition to more open classes, join [trainers] for their RESERVED classes at 9am or 12pm. Pay for a month or reserve a drop-in in advance, and never worry about snagging a spot in the hottest class in Chicago again!"