Gloves Up
According to American boxer George Foreman III, there’s always been a boxing culture in Philadelphia. Rocky Balboa threw combinations in the 1976 film Rocky; Philly boxing star Joe Frazier became the first to beat Muhammed Ali in 1971; and the UFC returned to the Wells Fargo Center for the first time since 2011 last month. “The UFC has been the greatest beacon for boxing fitness ever,” Foreman says. “They get people in to fight sports that never would’ve been interested.” With that in mind, Foreman opened his fifth flagship location of EverybodyFights in February. “Our approach is a gritty, boxing workout juxtaposed with high-end luxury,” he says. The state-of-the-art gym offers a variety of classes that prepare fighters for their fitness goals—or the ring—through circuit training, treadmill classes, yoga and more. There’s even private sessions available. But for the serious fighter? Foreman created an EverybodyFights community app where members can track classes, challenge their friends and compete with others on a leaderboard. Unlimited monthly membership $155, 1900 Market St., everybodyfights.com
Breaking the Barrier
Those who work out at Fit Academy follow the mantra “Think Fit/Live Fit.” “It’s about understanding that if you can’t visualize living a healthy lifestyle, then it will be hard for you to actually do it,” says owner Osayi Osunde, who started the gym in Philadelphia as a boot camp with friends in 2014. In January, Fit Academy celebrated the opening of its second location in Rittenhouse; the original location is still open in Brewerytown. Both gyms offer a variety of services, including personal and group training, and sponsored events with big names like Nascar and Red Bull. Osunde, who played football at Villanova before advancing to the NFL, even holds a free six-week fitness challenge. “It’s for people who are legitimately serious about hitting their goals and need the extra layer of accountability coaching to ensure success,” he says. With the goal of changing the game in group fitness, Osunde is continuously looking for new ways to bring health and wellness to the community. Next for this month? A top-secret collaboration with Pod Park in Northern Liberties. One month membership $199, 1923 Chestnut St., fitphl.com