It’s noon on a Wednesday, and the music is pumping inside the recently opened Title Boxing Club in the Capitol Shopping Plaza on Storrs Street.
And when we say pumping, we mean the people trying to pick out shoes in Payless next door could probably hear the words loud and clear – along with the voice of head trainer Paul Gaffney. Gaffney is pushing his group of six kickboxers to push through the pain and tiredness that the non-stop 60 minute class produces. We’re talking a 15-minute warm-up with eight, three-minute rounds separated by one-minute of active “rest,” finished off by a 15-minute cool down of stretching and core work.
“As hard as you tell them to go, they’ll go,” Gaffney, who doubles as an MMA fighter, said. “You’ll never know what it’s all about until you try it.”
That’s what a typical class looks like, and Gaffney is the kind of energetic motivator that general manager Kaila Gray wanted. Gaffney is one of five trainers at the club, which opened May 11 and is currently occupying the real estate where Blockbuster resided for years. Now that’s kind of a unique reversal, because if you look at it, the space that used to promote sitting around for hours on end eating popcorn and candy is now a place that’s all about removing you from the comforts of the couch and getting active.
“It’s a personal trainer in a group setting,” Gray said. “(Our trainers) want to make sure they involve everyone.”
But the newest workout spot in town shouldn’t be confused for a gym. Sure, there are free weights up to 50 pounds, as well as an elliptical and treadmill, but this place is all centered on workouts designed for boxing and kickboxing – with one catch.
“We’re not a gym, we’re a boxing club,” Gray said. “And our motto is ‘get fit, not hit.’ ”
That’s right, there’s no hitting allowed inside Title, even though there’s a rather large boxing ring and you throw plenty of punches, elbows and knees. But you don’t have to worry about some rando coming up and asking you to spar and then leaving with a black eye you have to explain at work the next morning.
“We do not promote hitting,” Gray said. “It’s the techniques of boxing and kickboxing in the fitness setting. Most people think they’re going to get hit, but that’s not who we are.”
If you want to hit something, pick one of 48 heavy bags or two speed bags and go to town. You can even pretend it’s a person if you want. Or just take one of the classes and you’ll hit the bag more than enough for one day.
“You go at your own pace, you go as hard as you can,” Gray said.
The club opens a half hour before the first class of the day and closes 30 minutes after the last one. On Mondays and Wednesdays that means the doors open at 5:30 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., with a total of six classes. There are five classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 9 a.m. that keep the joint open for 12 hours, and five more on Fridays (5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) On Saturday, there are three morning classes starting at 8 a.m. and, unlike the other six days, Sundays feature a 75-minute, 12 round class at 8 a.m.
During the times when classes are not going on, which means you could actually carry on a conversation if you wanted, the club is open for members to use the heavy bags and weights, or take a quick jog on the human equivalent of a rat wheel.
“If they are a member, they can use the facility whenever we’re open,” Gray said.
When it comes to membership, there’s the yearly option or the month-to-month route, as well as a warm up card, good for two weeks, but before you even consider signing up, Gray wants you to come in. Title offers a thing called ‘First Shot Free,’ where you can take part in a free 60-minute workout. All you need is hand wraps, and Gray’s pretty sure how you’ll feel once you’re done.
“We want people to come in and experience it before we even talk about membership options,” Gray said. “After they take (a class) they’re usually sold. It sells itself.”
And if you do decide to join, you get a free half hour personal training session, which they offer in addition to classes, and the first 100 yearly members get a free bag, hand wraps and gloves.
There will be a grand opening on June 6 with a kickboxing class at 8 a.m. and boxing at 11 a.m. In between classes, there will be a plank challenge at 9:30 a.m., in addition to prizes, raffles and food.
“Right now we’re talking to our members and getting them to bring their friends in,” Gray said. “Word of mouth is the best way for marketing.”
For more on Title Boxing Club, visit concord.titleboxingclub.com and facebook.com/TITLEBoxingClubConcord or call 219-0351.
